Square Lime joins the first Cycladic Biennale as its exclusive Premium sponsor, supporting culture as a driver of sustainable tourism development

The inaugural Cycladic Biennale is currently underway, establishing a new international contemporary art institution that aims to position Naxos as a destination for culture and creativity. Square Lime is participating as the event’s exclusive Premium Sponsor, supporting an initiative that highlights culture as a key pillar of sustainable tourism development and the long-term competitiveness of Greek destinations.

Entitled “What Re-mains,” the first Cycladic Biennale is taking place in Naxos through September 18, co-organized with the Municipality of Naxos and Small Cyclades and held under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports. Through exhibitions, talks, educational workshops and public events, the Biennale creates an open dialogue around memory, identity, and the ongoing transformation of the Cyclades.

Square Lime’s support for the initiative is a natural extension of the company’s presence and activities in the Cyclades. The company believes that the quality of a destination is shaped not only by its hospitality infrastructure, but also by the power of culture, local creativity and collaborations that strengthen its identity.

This approach is also reflected in Square Lime’s latest data on the performance of Greek tourism during the first half of 2026. According to the company’s analysis, travellers are increasingly drawn to destinations with an authentic identity, a strong local character and a meaningful connection to place, with Naxos ranking among the Greek destinations experiencing the strongest growth in interest. At the same time, the extension of the tourism season underscores the importance of cultural initiatives that enrich the visitor experience and create new reasons to travel beyond the peak summer months.

This philosophy is also reflected in the way Square Lime develops and manages boutique hotels and luxury villas, with an emphasis on preserving and showcasing their authentic and distinctive character. Each hotel is treated as an integral part of its destination, with respect for local architecture and culture, connections with local producers and businesses, and the meaningful integration of the destination’s character and identity into the hotel’s overall identity.

As part of the Cycladic Biennale, on Sunday, September 6, Square Lime’s Head of Marketing, Eva Triantafyllidou, will participate in the panel discussion “Cultural Decentralization: From Vision to Practice,” alongside representatives from the fields of culture, architecture and the arts. The discussion will explore how culture, entrepreneurship and hospitality can work together to create sustainable cultural ecosystems and strengthen the identity and international profile of the Greek islands.

As Konstantinos Th. Spyropoulos, Founder, Artistic Director and Chief Curator of the Cycladic Biennale, stated:

“Hospitality and art have something in common: they both create space for the Other. They invite people to pause, observe, feel, and ultimately take something with them that they did not have when they arrived. In the Cyclades, where the landscape is imbued with centuries of history, hospitality can become a means of transmitting memory, while art can serve as a catalyst for encounters between people and place, past and present.

“This is the foundation of our collaboration with Square Lime: the belief that visitors should not simply be hosted in a place. They deserve to discover it, experience it and, through a meaningful encounter, become, for a moment, part of its memory.”

Vassilis Lapanaitis, Founder and CEO of Square Lime, also emphasized the importance of connecting culture with sustainable tourism development:

“We often discuss the sustainable development of Greek destinations in terms of infrastructure and investment. Equally important, however, is investment in the culture and identity of each place. Travelers today choose destinations that have stories to tell and people they can connect with.

“The Cycladic Biennale embodies precisely this dynamic, and we are delighted to support an initiative that strengthens Naxos’ position as a contemporary cultural destination while creating lasting value for the local community.”