UPDATE ON SANTORINI EARTHQUAKES

March 6th 2025

The last couple of weeks, Santorini is experiencing a gradual decline in seismic activity following a recent swarm of earthquakes that began in late January. Scientists have noted a decrease in both the frequency and intensity of these earthquakes, and residents have since returned. Given the reduced seismic activity, authorities are lifting restrictions. Schools, which had been closed due to the earthquakes, reopened. Santorini is once again becoming a safe and welcoming destination, with tourism infrastructure fully operational and reinforced with new safety measures. The government has implemented strict building inspections, removed hazardous structures, and introduced enhanced emergency protocols to ensure the well-being of both residents and visitors. Travelers can now enjoy the island’s breathtaking beauty with greater confidence and security than ever before.

Professor of Seismology at the Aristotle University, Kostas Papazachos mentioned, during his interview at the national TV that “The sequence in this phase has been completed and therefore there is no reason for schools to be closed”. He also added that “Right now, we have a capability to detect earthquakes and monitor activity that we didn’t have before the sequence began.”, reassuring that there is no concern for a stronger earthquake.

Additionally, during the ITB Berlin 2025 tourism exhibition, Greece’s Minister of Tourism, Olga Kefalogianni, affirmed that “the latest data indicates a significant decrease in seismic activity.” She emphasized that by closely following scientific guidance, life on Santorini is returning to normal, with the safety of both residents and visitors remaining the utmost priority.

At our hotels, your safety and well-being are our top priority. Santorini’s unique volcanic terroir has always experienced mild seismic activity, which has never impacted the safety or enjoyment of our visitors. In response to the recent events, we’ve enhanced our already established safety protocols to provide you with peace of mind during your stay. These measures include regular safety drills for our staff, clear and well-communicated emergency procedures, and easily accessible evacuation routes. Our hotels have undergone thorough inspections to ensure all structures are secure and compliant with the latest safety standards

To ensure reassurance and offer a peace of mind to our valued guests, we have updated our policies for both existing and future bookings.

UPDATED BOOKING POLICIES

Existing Bookings

For reservations with arrivals between April 1st and May 15th, 2025, that hold a non-refundable status or a deposit (such as Signature Room types), we are offering additional flexibility. One month prior to arrival, guests will have the option to reschedule their booking for up to 12 months at no extra cost if ongoing natural events (e.g., earthquakes, aftershocks) persist and safety remains a concern, even if no official restrictions are in place.  We strongly encourage guests with arrivals in April and May with flexible cancellation policy (21 days prior) to maintain their reservations and reevaluate a month prior as well.

Future Bookings

For new bookings, we have introduced the following updated cancellation policies:

For stays between April 1st and May 15th, 2025:

• Guests may cancel free of charge up to 7 days before arrival for all room types, except Signature Room types.
• For Signature Room types, a 20% deposit will only be required 21 days prior to arrival, instead of at the time of booking.

For stays from May 16th onward:

• Please refer to our standard booking policies for new flexible cancellation bookings with arrival after the 16^th of May 2025. canaves.com/policies
• For Signature Room Types non-refundable 20% deposit will now be applied exceptionally 60 days prior to arrival, instead of upon confirmation.
• In the rare case of a force majeure event occurring a month prior to the guests’ arrival— that will render the island closed to tourists, and the hotel unable to operate—guests will have the option to cancel at no cost and apply their deposit toward a future booking.
• New non-refundable bookings for arrivals after May 16th will remain non-refundable, unless an official force majeure event prevents the hotel from operating during the guests’ travel dates.

These measures have been put in place to provide our valued clients with a peace of mind guarantee, ensuring they have flexibility should circumstances change. While refunds will only be issued if the hotel is officially unable to operate due to a force majeure event during the guests’ stay, we remain fully committed to supporting our guests by offering rescheduling and credit options where applicable.

All the above policies will be reassessed based on ongoing developments. We place our trust in the experts, collaborate closely with authorities, and remain dedicated to ensuring a safe environment for everyone visiting.

We look forward to welcoming you to our properties in Santorini soon!

Warm regards,

The Management
Canaves Collection