Imaret is a monument hotel. It was built by Mehmet Ali-Pasha, the founder of the Egyptian dynasty, taking permission from the Sultan in 1813 and was completed ten years later. “It is an impressive monument which covers an area of 4.5 thousand square meters. Imaret means cookhouse and originally it functioned as an Islamic educational and charitable institution providing shelter and food to those in need. They used to make soups which they offered to all people, and most of all, of course, to the poor,” says Nikos Kouremenos, who has the role of wellness-fitness consultant in the Mishirian family’s project.

After the population exchange in 1923, Imaret was used for various purposes, but was gradually abandoned. “The building, over time, went through various phases: the Treaty of Lausanne housed refugee families until 1969 and later became a cultural centre. It was then abandoned until the Missirian family, from which the current tobacco production and sales group of the same name originated, and especially Anna Juma-Missirian, made many efforts to be able to rent it. Something she finally succeeded in 2001 when she started the renovation.”

Imaret’s new life

In 2004, it opened as a hotel, museum and research centre. Today the “owner” of Imaret (although the space belongs to the Egyptian state) invited fitness and wellness consultant Nikos Kouremenos to create an international class wellness destination based in Kavala.