Hotel Talk with Farah Shammas

Send us Fan Mail Lia Haraki is a Cyprus-born interdisciplinary performance artist whose work blends dance, theatre, spoken word, and music. With over two decades of experience, she has created more than fifty works presented across Europe, including at the Venice Biennale, Athens Festival, and Royal Festival Hall in London. Her artistic practice explores the body’s movement and voice as powerful t...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Hotel Talk with Farah Shammas , we sit down with Marina Christoforou , the founder of En Healthy, a delicious and nutritious dessert lab in Pareklissia, Limassol. Marina’s journey into the world of healthy treats began when her mother faced a health challenge, inspiring her entire family to embrace a better lifestyle. Now, she creates 100% vegan, refined sugar-f...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Hotel Talk , we dive into an eye-opening conversation about failure, resilience, and personal growth. Our guest shares her journey from Ukraine to Cyprus, her experiences in marketing, and why Fuckup Nights is an event that celebrates the mistakes we all make. We discuss how failures shape us more than successes, the lessons learned along the way, and why embrac...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with Aleksander Eng, the Managing Director and Owner of Agora Hotel, a luxurious boutique hotel in Cyprus with a truly unique style. Alex grew up in the UK and has traveled the world with his family, gaining inspiration from different cultures before settling in Cyprus. He also spent several years in New York, where he was one of the founding co-owners...

Send us Fan Mail In this special Women’s Day episode, we sit down with Jessica, one of our beloved housekeeping team members at St Raphael Resort. Jessica shares her incredible journey from Ethiopia to Cyprus, opening up about the challenges she faced, how she built a new life, and why Cyprus now feels like home. We also dive into the demanding yet essential role she plays in keeping our resort at...

Send us Fan Mail Brace yourselves because Limassol’s Carnival King 2025, Vasilis Papavasiliou, is joining our podcast! 👑🎉 We’ll dive into his incredible journey, how he earned the crown, the excitement of carnival week, the intense preparations, and the whirlwind of events leading up to the grand parade. Plus, we’ll explore his life beyond the carnival and what this experience truly means to him...

Send us Fan Mail Meet two young brothers who started their journey from Lebanon to Cyprus and built IY Media. We’ll dive into their life, vision, and goals, discuss marketing trends for 2025, explore how they became Meta Partners, and discover how they balance entrepreneurship at a young age while running a company! 🎧 Don’t miss this inspiring story! Nour Samaha Fadi Samaha IY Media Adency Host F...

Send us Fan Mail In this powerful episode, we sit down with Heather R. Hayes, a renowned interventionist, counselor, and expert in trauma, addiction, and mental health. With over 30 years of experience, Heather has dedicated her life to helping adolescents, young adults, and families navigate the complexities of psychiatric disorders, substance abuse, and recovery. Heather opens up about her perso...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we’ll be joined by Cleo Papadopoulou – Partner at PwC Cyprus, Head of Connected Compliance Managed Services CoE, Chief Learning Officer, Chief Inclusion & Diversity Officer, and leader in the shipping sector. We’ll dive into key topics like: ✅ The importance of compliance ✅ Inclusion in the workplace ✅ Why wellbeing matters ✅ Leadership tips for success ✅...

Send us Fan Mail What an amazing interview that was with Dr. Marianna Prokopi-Demetriades, a trailblazing biotech innovator and entrepreneur whose journey from Greece to Cyprus has revolutionized personalized cancer care! From her academic roots at King’s College London to founding three groundbreaking biotech companies, Marianna’s story is one of passion, resilience, and a deep commitment to empo...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Gemma Fraterrigo is a dedicated Endocrinologist specializing in diabetes management, hormone health, and achieving balanced wellness. Based in Limassol, she combines her expertise with a passion for helping individuals manage weight and improve their overall health. In this podcast, Dr. Fraterrigo shares her inspiring journey from Italy to Cyprus, her love for her profession,...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we welcome Natasa Pilides, former Minister of Energy, Commerce, and Industry of Cyprus, to share her inspiring journey. As the first Deputy Minister of Shipping, she broke barriers, led impactful initiatives in energy and commerce, and championed innovation. We discuss her challenges in public service, her achievements, and her efforts to empower women in leadersh...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we talk with Viola Edward, a psychotherapist, social entrepreneur, and expert in mental health and breathwork. Viola shares her story of moving to a new country as a teenager, starting work at 13, and building a life full of purpose. She gives simple and powerful advice about the importance of relationships in our personal and work lives, showing how being around...

Send us Fan Mail This Festive Season, we’re thrilled to hand the mic to Parisa for a heartfelt interview brimming with festive joy and her unique holiday perspective! 🌟 From all of us at the Hotel Talk Podcast and the St. Raphael Hotel , we wish you a Christmas filled with love, laughter, and the company of those who matter most and a Happy New Year.  Host Farah Shammas : Instagram Facebook Linke...

Send us Fan Mail This Christmas week, we sit down with Mrs. Ilona Markosyan , who shares her inspiring journey from Armenia to Greece and finally to Cyprus. Ilona opens up about the universal truths that unite us,  love, acceptance, and support, reminding us that, no matter our background, we are all searching for the same things in life. As a licensed counselling psychologist, Ilona also shares v...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with Lina Maalouf Husseini, a French-Lebanese, self-taught artist. Lina's art bridges cultures, influenced by her life between Lebanon and France. Known for her contemporary approach, she transforms ordinary materials, particularly PVC, into stunning works of art, thanks to a unique collaboration with her husband, Roland Husseini. Together, they m...

Send us Fan Mail Anna-Maria Athanasiou, a Greek Cypriot author from Leeds, began her writing journey in secret, jotting down her first stories on napkins. Her debut novel, Waiting for Summer, grew from these humble beginnings into a 900-page best-seller, eventually becoming the first book in a two-part series. Encouraged by her family, especially her supportive brother, Anna-Maria embraced her ide...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of our podcast, we're thrilled to introduce Holly Johnson. Holly is the inspiring editor of Vegan Food & Living magazine and the host of the Simply Vegan podcast. During our conversation, Holly will share her personal journey of going vegan seven years ago, what motivated her to make the switch, and how it has shaped her life in the UK. With a wealth of ex...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we speak with Rebecca Pierides, a Cypriot leader in the hospitality industry and Managing Director at Churchill Hotel Management, which operates the Crowne Plaza Limassol. With years of experience Rebecca shares her passion for delivering true hospitality and the incredible stories behind it. Rebecca takes us through her life, from growing up in the family-owned h...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with Taras Lozhenko, a Ukrainian entrepreneur and one of the passionate founders of Octopus Microbrewery, a rising local favorite in Cyprus. Located in Sotira, near Ayia Napa, Octo Microbrewery is known for its unfiltered and unpasteurized beers that capture the essence of clean, aromatic flavors. Taras shares insights into their unique experiments wit...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we’re so happy to introduce Christine Keeble Watson, a founding member and Past President of Cyprus International Women of Today (CIWOT). Christine has been with CIWOT since it was established in 2009, and with her extensive experience living across various countries, she understands first hand the profound need for a welcoming community when arriving in a new pla...

Send us Fan Mail In this podcast, we’ll meet Lusine and hear her inspiring journey from Armenia to Cyprus, filled with challenges she faced along the way. With her positive outlook and sharp mind, Lusine has achieved remarkable success in Cyprus. She is the Director at Vestnik Kipra Group, a company dedicated to serving the Russian-speaking and expat communities in Cyprus through publishing, event...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we are joined by George Xydas, co-founder of the Swiss Biological Medical Center in Cyprus. George shares the story behind the center, which focuses on holistic health and wellness by integrating advanced medical practices with natural healing. The center aims to help people achieve longevity and optimal health through personalized treatments based on biological m...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with Baria Alamuddin, a renowned British-Lebanese journalist and writer, whose passion for her work shines through her decades-long career. An award-winning journalist and editor of Media Services Syndicate, Baria has interviewed numerous world leaders and played a significant role in shaping political discourse in the Middle East and the UK. In this p...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Hotel Talk, we are thrilled to welcome Carine Khoury Niemann, the visionary director of Floral Image, a sustainable flower service based in Cyprus. Join us as we explore her unique experiences growing up in a multicultural environment, balancing different languages and traditions, her academic journey, and the challenges and joys of motherhood. This episode is p...