Saranta Associates has welcomed Claire Griffiths to its team following a “fortuitous” conversation with the representation agency’s founder Sally Marchant.
Marchant set up the business in 2019 and was joined by David Bruce in 2022 and Mark Renshaw the following year, and said the team were now looking to expand as a result of new client additions to the portfolio in Europe and further afield.
Having worked in sales for several European resorts over the past decade, north-west based Griffiths will be using her experience to support the business’s newest signings in Italy and Greece.
Speaking to TTG Luxury, Marchant revealed she’d bumped into Griffiths at a trade event last autumn, when she was just at the early stages of expansion. “We were thinking of increasing to four people within the company, but we’d done nothing at all in regards to recruiting. I then met Claire and loved her passion and skills.”
Struck by Griffiths’ enthusiasm, Marchant said she was quick to sing Claire’s praises to her business partners and after discovering that Renshaw had previously worked with Griffiths in Abercrombie & Kent’s travel boutique in Harrods, she said she knew the collaboration was “meant to be”.
“I had no idea when I was talking to Claire at that event if I’m honest – it just turned out to be a very fortuitous meeting,” Marchant said. “The stars aligned. When somebody good comes along, you just bite the bullet and get them involved.”
As part of her new role as associate director for Europe, Griffiths will be responsible for managing Saranta’s relationships with tour operators in the UK and building the exposure of the properties in the portfolio. Her expertise will be particularly relevant in developing awareness of VRetreats, a collection of eight five-star hotels across Italy which has just signed Saranta for representation.
Griffiths’ previous roles included UK sales and marketing manager for Grecotel, and 10 years as UK sales manager for Sani Resorts and Ikos Resorts, building up the brands’ profiles in the trade and prior to that, she also worked for Elegant Resorts and Caribtours.
“I am super-excited to be a part of the Saranta team, and to work on such an amazing portfolio of luxury properties across the world,” said Griffiths. “My key area of focus will be looking after our European clients and to strengthen and grow business across the UK – I can’t wait to be out on the road again promoting our European portfolio and continuing to build and expand important trade relationships.”
She will also be looking after other clients such as Iniala Malta, Creta Maris and Meneghetti Wine Hotel in Croatia, as well as the expanded Santo Collection in Santorini which is due to launch Santo Mine and The Santo Villas, an eight-bedroom “super villa”, on the island this summer.
Outside of Europe, Marchant added that Baillie Lodges, a collection of luxury wilderness retreats, was now also part of the portfolio.
With properties in Australia, New Zealand and Canada, the company’s flagship property, Southern Ocean Lodge – on Kangaroo Island in South Australia – was relaunched in December after undergoing reconstruction following bush fires in 2020.
The lodge’s original architect Max Pritchard and his team have recreated the resort, whose facilities – which include a spa and gourmet restaurant – have been further upgraded, while a two-bedroom pavilion that can accommodate up to eight guests has also been added.
