Ikos incentive offers chance to win stay at new Crete resort

UK travel agents have the chance to be among the first guests at Ikos Kissamos when the resort opens in Crete during spring 2026.

The luxury all-inclusive resort operator launched the incentive on March 27 – its 10th anniversary – offering agents the chance to win a stay as part of the resort’s soft opening.

Ten holidays are up for grabs over a 10-week period, offering an agent and their partner a three-day stay at the resort, which is near Chania.

Agents can enter the weekly prize draws by booking rooms in the Deluxe Collection at Ikos properties – a range of suites with concierges and other perks.

Lee Barker, regional sales and marketing director, revealed details of the incentive and other trade activity marking Ikos’ 10th anniversary during a Travel Weekly webcast.

He said Ikos Kissamos is the eighth Ikos resort and the first in Crete – and sales are due to open in May or June.

“It is a beautiful, brand new build for us…with beautiful white sandy beaches and lovely views of the bay,” he said.

“We are building up to share some of the artists’ impressions…so we’ll give the trade plenty of time to find out about it. I think it’s going to be really well received by the trade [and] by the clients as well.

“The time is now [for agents] to build that database of people that might want to go on a wait list.”

More: Sani/Ikos beefs up UK and Ireland trade support

Ikos to open first resort in Crete

He said Ikos is planning trade events around the UK to talk about Kissamos and the brand’s other resorts.

“We’ll have 10 brunches, for our 10th birthday, across the UK, where agents can come along and find out a bit more,” he said.

Ikos Resorts scooped the Best All-Inclusive Resort Operator award at the Globe Awards ceremony in January – marking the fourth consecutive year that it has won the honour.

Explaining the appeal for agents, Barker pointed to “good” commission and revenues, adding: “When a client stays with us, they have a great time. There are no issues.

“They come back happy and they want to book again.

“The luxury sector is very resilient [to cost-of-living issues] but people still want to know they are getting good value.

“We get a lot of different types of clientele, all the way up to famous footballers and film stars.”

He continued: “We are here to support the agents and support their business in any way we can.

“We’ve increased our sales team to help the market do that.

“Predominantly, the bookings come through our tour operator partners, and we work really closely with them to support them and drive that business together.”

As well as the incentive and brunches, Ikos is planning some “surprise and delight” trade events through the year.

He urged agents to contact the new team for training or support, adding: “We want to help agents to grow their business and get more business for us.”