The Myconian Collection: Good looking with exemplary service

The Daktylides family spends a lot of time thinking about deckchairs. Stroll through their portfolio of nine hotels, scattered across the Greek island of Mykonos, and you will find that each property takes a different approach to the poolside essential. At Myconian Korali, where pops of bright colour liven up the interiors, the deckchairs are a cheery yellow. At Myconian Avaton, a sleekly contemporary hotel, they are a chic combination of black and red. And at Myconian Villas, the dusty pink deckchairs have an invitingly soft, velvety finish.

"Yes, guests are loving that fabric," beams Vangelis Daktylides. "We're going to be rolling those out across more properties."

Together with his three brothers, Daktylides runs Mykonos' largest collection of boutique hotels, Myconian Collection, employing more than 1000 staff across their properties. Their portfolio is designed to appeal to a range of travellers, from partygoers to those in search of undisturbed downtime. "Different areas of the island are almost like little villages," Daktylides says. "You can have the party experience or you can choose something completely different."

Those who want to browse Mykonos' boutiques can stay in one of the hotels sitting above Mykonos Town, such as the Korali or the Kyma. Feel like avoiding the crowds? Try one of the hotels overlooking Elia Bay, such as the Imperial or Utopia. Want the best of both worlds? Then do as I have done and check into the Myconian Ambassador. Just a short drive from town, it overlooks one of the island's loveliest beaches, Platis Gialos.

The hotels share a common design DNA, all clean lines and classic white interiors, but each has its own character, reflected not just in the deckchairs but also in countless other details. Even the staff uniforms are tailored to each hotel: staff at Avaton teaming dark linen shirts with skinny black pants, while the Ambassador staff saunter past in flowing white suits.

It's not just about looking good. The service is exemplary – as I lie by the pool at the Ambassador, the staff not only top up my water regularly, but also offer to clean my sunglasses. The food is also impressive. Staff will happily organise a reservation for you at any of the restaurants across the collection; the sophisticated degustation at Cabbanes restaurant at the Villa Collection - accompanied by a spectacular sunset – is particularly memorable.

Daktylides tells me that the company's culinary reputation rests not just on its chefs, but also on its produce. "Mykonos used to be a fishing island; these days there are barely any fishermen left. But we have more and more restaurants," he points out. That makes sourcing fresh fish can be surprisingly difficult. With local ties going back generations, the Daktylides family is proud that it still gets its fish locally.