Bill and John: The five-star luxury short-term rental company
The owners of "Bill & John" share with us how they brought five-star hotel amenities to the accommodations and villas in Greece.
- 13/04/2023
Vasilis Vasileiadis and Yiannis Velonias envisioned an experience of accommodation and amenities they wanted to offer to all tourists visiting Greece. They grew up knowing the essence of hospitality as they matured in their family businesses early on. Andy’s Tours, the company that has been providing tourist and travel services since 1969, and Acropolis Select, a 72-room hotel in the Acropolis area, were the two cousins’ first contact with tourism. The idea and essence of Bill & John were born by always following the pace and progress of tourism in Greece and, at the same time, experiencing the growth of the industry through travelling and global tourism fairs.
“After a business trip to London, we realised that Greece was lacking in luxury short-term rental services combined with the amenities of a five-star hotel,” Vasilis Vasileiadis tells NouPou. They created Bill & John Developments, starting with the name, which they wanted to reflect the essence of personalised hospitality, and always aiming to provide luxury accommodation.
For Vasilis and Yiannis, luxury accommodation is about meeting the guests’ needs before they arise. It is about guests being able to communicate directly with Bill & John for anything they need, at any time, even after they have departed from their accommodation.
The trust, service, and amenities they offer to all their guests, combined with their tenacity and love for tourism, have led the company to manage properties throughout Greece, mainly in the centre of Athens and the Athenian Riviera of the southern suburbs.
“In addition to villas and apartments, the properties we manage include boutique hotels. Our interest has now expanded beyond Attica to all of Greece, i.e. Crete, the Peloponnese, Patmos, Mykonos, Tinos, Andros, and generally, anywhere there are accommodations and owners that match the professionalism we represent. A condition for us to undertake a property is that it is in line with the quality of accommodation we offer to our clients,” adds Vasilis.
When we asked Yiannis Velonias about the partnership options available to each owner who wishes to work with Bill & John, he explained that: “They fall into two categories, with the first being the long-term renting and reconstruction/renovation of the property by our company, and the second being the exclusive management of the property by us. In the case of management, the owner has the following options. As a company, we can undertake the exclusive management of online sales, which includes adjusting prices daily based on occupancy, season, competition, location, etc., promoting the property on all online platforms, and managing reservations. The other option is full management, which includes all of the above. In addition, we take care of arrivals, departures, cleaning, reservations, etc.”
Six years and 150 properties later
Bill & John currently holds about 150 properties and continues to expand its portfolio. “Our goal is to double our company’s momentum every year regarding the number of properties while staying true to the quality of services we offer. So far, we have succeeded,” Yiannis points out.
“It all started in 2017, when we acquired our first apartment and discovered what we can achieve. Within the first year, we got the number up to 6 apartments. Up until then, Yiannis and I were physically present to welcome all our guests at their arrival and to see them off at their departure. Good memories, admittedly. I remember how every time a client would depart, regardless of the time, we would leave our house to meet them at the respective apartment, say goodbye in person, and make sure that everything was perfect during their stay. Our philosophy of being so close to our clients at all times has rewarded us with returning clients from all over the world, as well as excellent reviews on all online property booking platforms. In 2019, we successfully reached 50 properties. This was followed by the pandemic, which temporarily halted our progress. However, we did not stop growing even for a moment until today, and we now hold more than 150 properties and hotels,” says Vasilis.
From travelling with a BMW motorcycle to renting a private jet or inflatable boat
The list of services offered by B&J to its guests is endless. Vasilis and Yiannis have ensured that, on every arrival, a company representative is responsible for transferring the guest’s luggage to their apartment, giving them a tour of the place, and informing them about the monuments, locations, and tourist attractions that the area offers. Until their departure, the company, and more specifically the person who welcomed them to the apartment, remains at the clients’ disposal 24/7 for anything they may need. In addition, B&J provides services such as picking up guests from the airport, providing a private chef, renting boats or sailboats, or even a private jet to anyone when needed.
“This is exactly the philosophy we have successfully instilled in our company’s staff. With time, those who work with us become part of Bill & John,” says Yiannis. “Our expertise in the tourism sector often leads even our competitors to us. They are entrepreneurs that own 10 or more properties and have seen the way we work, so they ask us to undertake the management of their properties. From our side, we always maintain the professionalism and hospitality that we developed starting out as hoteliers in our family business and then creating our own company,” he adds.
Only growth in mind – Strong presence in the southern suburbs
Vasilis and Yiannis have only growth in mind. And in this journey, the southern suburbs have their unique role. Today, Vasilis and Yiannis manage approximately 40 luxury villas all along the Athenian Riviera, which offer unobstructed views of the Mediterranean and a private pool.
In the near future, apart from their offices in Koukaki, Vasilis and Yiannis will open their new branch in the southern suburbs. “All our attention and interest is focused entirely on the tourist areas, such as the southern suburbs, which will play a crucial role in the coming years. We have happened to turn down a proposal to undertake a villa in the area of Kifissia because it is not a tourist area,” Vasilis explains. “We are not interested in including every property we are asked to undertake in our portfolio. All the properties we manage and that Bill & John represents are the result of thorough research and careful selection. And that is how we will continue to move forward.”