The Social Cooperative Enterprise (SCE) Phelloe provides services in the field of tourism and cultural management. It was founded in 2023 to gather its members’ activities under one umbrella, creating its own identity based on its pluralistic character.
OUR OBJECTIVE is to develop a series of actions of social benefit, with an anthropocentric character and guided by the environment and sustainability, to strengthen the local community, to highlight the incomparable cultural heritage of Greece, and to increase the productive stock of the region, offering a holistic approach to sustainable development.
OUR VALUES
Human-centered philosophy
Enhancing cultural identity
Simplicity and minimalist perspective
Longing to bring out the hidden treasures of the country
Vision to create new business opportunities
Ethics based on our values
Our Services
The Social Cooperative Enterprise Phelloe provides a variety of services tailored to the needs of each customer.
01
TOURISM PROMOTION & VISITORS INFORMATION
04
SERVICES OF CULTURAL ASSOCIATIONS & UNIONS
02
ORGANIZATION OF SCIENTIFIC & CULTURAL EVENTS
05
COORDINATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVITIES
03
CULTURAL EDUCATION & ORGANIZATION OF TRAINING COURSES
06
VARIOUS RECREATION SERVICES
Portfolio
In the short period of its operation, Phelloe has already managed to enter into partnerships and synergies with Municipalities and Regions in Greece, Embassies and Organizations. At the same time, our company supports and perceives smaller units of each local society, such as Cultural Associations and private initiatives.
Our narrative
What has been lost - Ancient Phelloe
Topographically, it is positioned where Seliana is today -located in the mountains of Aigira, in Aegialeia, Achaia, at an altitude of 750 meters, on the border with Corinthia. Its lyrical name (felloi<fellos which means cork in Greek) comes from the Ionians who first inhabited the area, which was famous for its abundant waters and fragrant vineyards. Pausanias mentions it in his “Achaika”, while findings from European archaeological excavations accentuate its cultural and commercial contribution.
What we love – Phelloe of today
A place of well-being with absolute respect to man and nature. On the one hand, the verdant and fertile valley with all kinds of cultivation, and on the other hand ancient relics and preserved stone houses, where among them there is a century-old single-arch stone bridge over the river Krios. An ideal backdrop for meditation, yoga, and Greek language classes, as well as hunting wild mushrooms or other activities in nature, the area attracts hundreds of visitors and volunteers from Greece and abroad, who have slowly moved here to engage in the production and processing of agricultural and livestock products, or hospitality, giving new life to the area.
What we dream of – Phelloe of the future
Based on the original vision of Phelloe, we design and implement a link between localism and multiculturalism. That is why we decided to locate the headquarters of the SCE here and even to name it after this place, where its values, its philosophy and the long experience of the team are united with new technologies and are a source of inspiration for creative projects all over Greece.
Getting to know each other
Phelloe has a creative team of partners with recognized credibility and artistic value whose qualities have been carefully selected to express its profile, such as photographers, filmmakers, copywriters, scriptwriters, and art directors, and also a large network of volunteers depending on the region where it operates.
Dimitris Balis
Founder - CEO
With a continuous presence for more than 35 years in the Media and partnerships with the most powerful journalistic groups in Greece, he is one of the longest-serving contemporary journalists in tourism and transport. From his position as a conference coordinator, television and radio presenter, and columnist, he has been continuously and systematically following and monitoring developments in the tourism sector, and comparing and evaluating its results. In his dual role -as a real traveler and a dynamic journalist- he has a deep knowledge of the Greek tourism product and the secrets of good branding, which he incorporates and creatively composes in more and more tourism promotion projects and cultural activities, both locally, regionally, and internationally.
He is the inspirer of Phelloe and an inexhaustible source of ideas.
Maria Vafeidou
Co-Founder - Project Manager
Born in a seaside village of Halkidiki, she was fascinated early on by tourism and the possibilities it offers. She has cooperated with some of the biggest brands in the tourism industry in Europe and the United States and successfully organized and managed numerous challenging events in various sectors. Having traveled to more than 55 countries, today she has a strong portfolio and dynamic networking in the tourism world and business in general. Creatively combining a bachelor's degree in Greek literature and a master's degree in hospitality and tourism business management, she has officially added yet another “entry” in tourism terminology that reminds her that personal bets are won through persistence and devotion.
In Phelloe she is the organizational force that strategically implements the vision and makes it work.
Anagnos Stavrou
Chief Financial Officer
He addresses the challenges of the market, accounting and logistics, as it is the field in which it has been active for the last 25 years. Through continuous training in his field and participation in educational seminars, he has evolved in the field of financial strategy and consulting. He has been trained both in preventing financial risks and in their immediate resolution.
In Phelloe he possesses the sacred “secret mantras” that control the financial correctness of projects and the handling of tax procedures.
