Olive Green Hotel had a silent opening at the beginning of the fall, but it's already a hit with its first guests.

"We only stayed one night but had we discovered it sooner, we would have stayed longer and explored Heraklion. The rooms are absolutely lovely. Modern, efficient, well appointed," writes Lee T. from Sydney, Australia, in his TripAdvisor review.

"Very impressed by the decor and cleanliness of the hotel. Staff very attentive, all spoke excellent English. The best thing was finding complimentary olive oil, bread, and ouzo in the room," wrote another guest from London, UK.

These are just two examples of over 50 already published by guests on TripAdvisor, not counting similar accolades on Facebook, and over 200 verified reviews on Booking.com. It looks like Olive Green is up to a great start.

Yes, everything inside is new and clean, but the hotel owes its success to the features that make it unique on Crete and in Greece. It is the first 100% environmentally friendly hotel in the country that offers smart, intuitive technology that allows guests to individually control heating, air conditioning, music, TV, and room service, fostering a unique hospitality experience like nowhere else on the island. The hotel offers tablets to control these features, but also to allow guests to publish updates on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social networks.

Further on, its minimalist rooms are enhanced with QR-coded wallpapers featuring stunning images of Cretan landscapes. Guests can scan the codes to find out details about a particular destination within a short drive from Heraklion, points of interest, distance, and other relevant travel details.

48 sunlit rooms are expecting their guests inside a known architectural landmark dating from the early 1960s. This building was transformed by Karatarakis Hotels SA Company, to align nature, tradition, and technology into a harmonious haven for leisure tourists and business travelers alike.

"The name of the hotel derives from the Cretan symbol of purity and wildness, the olive tree. Our hotel was designed respecting modern principles of renewable energy," said Lefteris Karatarakis, Karatarakis Hotels SA Company CEO. "For instance, we employed reuse and recycle operational systems that utilize solar panels and other innovative methods that promote sustainable development," he added.

Olive Green Hotel is an urban oasis, not far from the Port of Heraklion, and in close proximity to the Heraklion Archeological Museum, which is a must-see for travelers young and old. This gives the hotel a substantial advantage and appeal with travelers who want a starting point to explore Heraklion.

Where dining is concerned, Olive Green has its own restaurant and café, the "626" All Day Lounge & City Garden. This is a spacious, airy place, with a modern, well-stocked bar, and a modest sidewalk terrace, which invites passersby to stop and linger sipping house signature coffees, or sophisticated cocktails. The restaurant is open to hotel guests and outside diners alike, offering a generous menu from breakfast till late. Exquisite seasonal culinary creations at 626" All Day Lounge & City Garden are envisioned by Chef Zinonas Christofidis, who hails from Herbs' Garden and Brillant Restaurant at Olive Green Hotel's older sister venue, Lato Boutique Hotel.

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