40 Years of Drakos DMC!

This year we not only celebrate the 40th anniversary of the founding of euromic Cyprus, Drakos DMC by Christina Drakos, but also celebrate 30 years as a proud member of euromic. We speak to her about those early days:

“During the 80’s, we had a strong cooperation with Francois Bourcart of TPI (euromic Belgium), with whom we had operated many groups of Unilever and Upjohn Pharmaceutical from 1982 to 1989. I was introduced back then to Harry Baum of Spectra UK and Elhami El Zayat of EMECO Egypt, with the possibility of becoming the first euromic member from Cyprus.

We had a series of meetings at the euromic office, back then in Rue de Richelieu in Paris, and we submitted our complete application for full membership. In September 1989, Elhamy personally came to Cyprus to oversee that our operations were up to euromic standards. He was impressed. At the time three other Cypriot companies applied for the position, but we overtook all of them.

So in late 1990 euromic confirmed they would accept our membership. However, in 1991 the Gulf War started which severely affected travel to the region, and things remained at a standstill until early 1992.

Our first AGM with euromic was in January 1992 in Amsterdam, were we attended as a full member. At the time, Harry Baum, Elhami El Zayat, Giancarlo Carrera (Switzerland), Issy Scher (Isreal) and Ingrid Teyema (Netherlands) were members of the board. Later on I also served the board under the presidency of Marc Dans (Belgium) for 3 years, and that’s how our history started with euromic and continues strong until today, 30 years later!”

Fellow members have been full of praise and congratulations for what first Christina, and now her son Orestis Aristides  – like many euromic members, a true family business – have done, for Drakos DMC, for euromic, and for Cyprus.

Jarmila Pipková Škoríková, of euromic Czech Republic Maxin Prague was in awe: “40 years since foundation – this is a real BIG ANNIVERSARY! We wish you at least 40 more and equally successful years.” Amnon ben David, euromic Israel Eshet Incoming praised Orestis and with it Christina with, “Amazing news. Congratulations to you and your mother; you have built a great DMC”.

Andrew Hulewicz of euromic Poland Mazurkas DMC expanded on all these well-wishes with his experience of working alongside Drakos: “40 years in this business is an amazing achievement! You are both along with your team a great example and great ambassadors of your country, showing and proved to the industry how amazing and unique MICE destination Cyprus can be!!!

I have been following Drakos almost from the very beginning, and have admired Christina’s work for all those years and I always enjoyed us exchanging our thoughts, inspirations and business opportunities. We also always spoke [to each other] back then about our kids, both of whom now continue our businesses [for and with us]. I like such stories and family business continuation.”