Ross Daly: The simple is not simplistic

The music of Crete is essentially a music that is simple, but this is important because the simple is not simplistic. The simple is something else entirely — it is very difficult and is based on very delicate and sensitive balances, and for that reason it can very easily be lost, said Ross Daly, musician and founder of the Labyrinth Musical Workshop.

“What we do at the Labyrinth Musical Workshop—and we are not the only ones, there are others making these efforts as well—is to cultivate this dialogue between cultures so that each one can learn from the other, take from the other, and give to the other, with the aim of enriching each individual tradition,” he said.

As he explained, each piece representing the music of Crete could serve as an example of what the island truly is. Anyone who presents this music with both knowledge and, above all, love for it creates what he believes to be a very convincing experience for the listener.

13/03/2026 16:10

The voice of the place: How the music of Crete speaks to the world

15:30 – The voice of the place: How the music of Crete speaks to the world
Ross Daly – Musician, founder of the Labyrinth Musical Workshop

13/03/2026 16:07

Katerina Xekalou: It’s impossible for someone to have tasted a better Vidiano or Sideritis

For every dish, every olive oil and every wine, my colleagues and I know everything about them, said Katerina Xekalou, head of AVLI AXTE.

“There is meaning in it, there is ethos, there is a philosophy. Nothing in life is easy—at least for me nothing has been easy. But when you work and strive for something… I belong to the generation where results came through effort, not through an influencer,” she noted.

She also referred to specific choices that have been made.

“The wine lists of the restaurants and the hotel include more than 300 Greek labels, of which at least 120 are from Crete, and they contain only indigenous Greek varieties. No Chardonnay, no Cabernet, no Syrah, because we cannot compete with those. Someone may have tasted a better Chardonnay somewhere else. But it’s impossible that someone has tasted a better Vidiano or a better Sideritis.”

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Greece Talks by Travel.gr opens a dialogue about Crete’s role in the new era, focusing on how the island makes a difference and shapes the future.

Travel.gr, the largest travel media outlet in Greece, in collaboration with Proto Thema and with the support of the Region of Crete, is organizing the conference “Greece Talks, Crete Forward: Experience, Culture & Connection.”

The conference will feature Kostis Hatzidakis, Kyriakos Pierrakakis, Christos Dimas, as well as influential figures from Greece and abroad, representing the fields of Tourism, Business, Economy, Culture, and Gastronomy.

Conference Speakers

10:00 – Arrival

10:30 – Opening & Welcome Remarks
Androniki Kolovou – Director, Travel.gr

10:40 – Crete: Making a Difference, Shaping the Future
Stavros Arnaoutakis – Regional Governor of Crete

10:50 – Tourism, Development, and the New Big Opportunity
Kyriakos Pierrakakis – Minister of National Economy and Finance, President of the Eurogroup
Fokion Karavias – Chief Executive Officer, Eurobank S.A.
Michalis Lempidakis – CEO, Plastika Kritis
Moderator: Antonis Sroiter

11:30 – Building Crete’s Tomorrow: Infrastructure that Changes the Map
Christos Dimas – Minister of Infrastructure and Transport
Pavlos Geroulanos – Member of Parliament (PASOK–KINAL), Parliamentary Spokesperson
Manousos Manousakis – President & CEO, ADMIE
Anastasios Aranitis – CEO, AKTOR Construction & AKTOR
Dinos Benroubi – Vice President & CEO, METKA ATE
Christos Panagiotopoulos – CEO, TERNA S.A.
Moderator: Giorgos Evgenidis

12:25 – Lunch Break

13:15 – Crete: Connecting the Destination with the World
Kostis Hatzidakis – Deputy Prime Minister
Mari Daskalantonaki – CEO, Grecotel
Ioannis Grylos – Founder & Chairman, IOGR Group (SKY express)
Kyriakos Mageiras – Executive Chairman, Attica Group
Andreas Taprantzis – CEO, AVIS Greece
Moderator: Babis Koutras

14:10 – The Experience in a Global Tourism Brand
Andreas Fiorentinos – Secretary General, Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO)
Ilias Kikilias – General Director, INSETE
Andreas Metaxas – CEO, Metaxa Hospitality Group
Giorgos Spanos – Vice President & CEO, Domes Resorts
Ilias Kokotos – Director of Business Development, Elounda Collection Hotels & Resorts
Moderator: Kostas Panagakis

14:55 – Crete: Gastronomy as an Identity
Dimitris Kalaitzidakis – Operations Director, Grecotel Hotels & Resorts
Nikos Douloufakis – Winemaker, Oenologist
Katerina Xekalou – President & CEO, AVLI AXTΕ
Panagiotis Magganas – Owner, Peskesi Restaurant and Peskesi Organic Farm
Moderator: Tina Mandilara

15:30 – The Voice of the Land: How Cretan Music Speaks to the World
Ross Daly – Musician, Founder of the Labyrinth Musical Workshop

15:45 – Closing