Meet GK
“The gods visit us disguised as strangers” - The Odyssey, by Homer
I oftentimes refer to my homeland, Greece, as the “birthplace of hospitality,” and the reason for that lies deep within its history.
Ancient Greek hospitality was practically sacred duty, similar to a religious sacrifice. It was believed that any stranger who “rang the doorbell” could be a god in disguise, there to test the mortal homeowner’s hospitality.
This unmistakable spirit of Greek hospitality can be found all across my country, in every Greek person. Philoxenia (hospitality), literally translated as “friend to the stranger,” is the ancient Greek concept of welcoming and caring for all visitors coming to your doorstep.
The art of hospitality is in my genes, intertwined in my homeland’s incredible culture. Simply put, it is who I am at my core.
I was born in Athens, and fortunate enough to attend a prestigious American school in Greece. Growing up overseas in one of the most well-known tourist destinations in the world, I quickly became accustomed to different cultures, personalities & people. I did whatever I could to make friends with whoever I met, and so began my love story with hospitality. This business has become my life-long passion, intrinsically rooted in my DNA.
At the age of 18, I moved to New York City to attend the College of Technology, where I majored in Hospitality Management and became certified in Food & Beverage Cost Control, Operations Management, Culinary Arts, and Hospitality Management.
Over the course of the next eighteen years, I became a top-level hospitality professional at several establishments on the East Coast of the United States, including The Walt Disney Company, Morton’s Steakhouse, The Boro Hotel, Hungry Pop, Beebe’s, and Avra Madison Estiatoro.
My number one priority is getting to know you and your specific needs— down to that very last customizable event detail— and making sure it’s all executed upon, flawlessly.
