Name Alexandros Skourletis | ||
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Alexandros (Alex) Skourletis (1901–1975) was the President of the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels and a prominent businessman in the Tourism and Hearth Industry, both in Greece and in France.
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The Early Years
Alexandros Skourletis was born and raised in Athens, Greece in a French Catholic home. He was the son of Dimitrios Skourletis and Louise De La Sud. His great uncle was Konstantinos Skourletis. His brothers and sisters were Eric, Othonas, Theodore, Aristidis, Maria, Angelike and Anastasia. In the early 1920s, Alexandros moved to France where he studied Law and Political Science at the University of Paris.
The years during the Axis Occupation
During the Axis Occupation of Greece, Alexandros Skourletis became a member of the resistance group “Midas 614” which was organised under the command of Major Ioannis Tsigantes In 1942, right after the arrest and execution of Ioannis Tsigantes by the Italian forces, Alexandros Skourletis was arrested and thrown into prison, sentenced to death. The Skourletis family managed to get him out of prison, escaping execution.
Professional Life
After graduating from the University of Paris, Alexandros Skourletis focused on his career in the Hearth sector to later buy and manage a restaurant and nightclub, in Paris, France. Having grown his entrepreneurial skills in Paris, Alexandros returned in late 1930s, in Greece and opened a restaurant in Kolonaki, Athens, named “Alex”. The restaurant soon became the “it” place of the city where many distinguished personalities chose to dine.
When the Axis occupation of Greece during War World II ended, Alexandros Skourletis founded and managed three upscale hotels: “Trianon” and “Mon Repos”, in Athens and the hotel “Xenia”, in Ancient Epidaurus, near to the legendary Greek Ancient Theatre. In 1950 Alexandros Skourletis was elected President of the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels and remained as President until the Greek military junta, in 1967. During the 17 years of his Presidency, Alex, among other achievements, created the Reception Office of Tourists to ensure that all foreigners visiting Greece will receive excellent services, founded the "XENIA Mechanical Laundries" to ensure better measures of cleanliness, created and established the Hotel Owners Welfare Fund, which is still active.
Alexandros Skourletis was also the Vice President of the Organization of Tourism Education and Training (O.T.E.K) and a Board Member of the Greek National Tourism Organization. Furthermore, he owned the Bar of the Greek National Opera and he was Editor In Chief of the Xenia Magazine.
Alexandros Skourletis’ vision for Greece combined with his creativity and brilliant entrepreneurial spirit were put into good use for the benefit of Tourism in Greece and Greek Tourism Education.
Personal life
Alexandros Skourletis, while being a Paris resident, got married to his French sweetheart, Magdalene. The couple got divorced a few years later and in late 1930s, he returned to Athens, Greece. In 1943 Alex got married to Evangelia Davri and two years later they had a son. Alexandros Skourletis descendants are his only son, Alexandros Skourletis Junior and his son's daughter, Evita Evangelia Skourleti.