Celine Karamanian:
A Chameleon in Hospitality
From The Beach to The Agora
When Celine walked in for her interview, for a position at The Agora, she expected a quick-30 minute conversation. Instead, three hours later, she found herself swept into Aleks’ passionate vision—a half-built dream he described as though it was already complete. Despite the construction, Céline saw it clearly. Having once dreamt about opening her own hostel, she found herself in sync with Aleks’ enthusiasm.
"It was how imagined talking about my own place," she says with a smile.
That moment stuck with her, not just because of Aleks’ energy, but because she knew: this was where she was meant to be.
The Beginning
But how did she get here? The journey started in an unexpected place—on the beach, where Celine and her friends found themselves in a long debate about whether burrata belongs on a marinara pizza. The conversation was centred around Tutto Passa, Aleks’ renowned pizza spot, which her friends urged her to try before it closed. Celine visited, talked to a former employee, and boldly asked to work for the new hotel that was opening.
She secured her interview but while waiting for a response, her life took an unexpected turn—her current job, at the time, went bankrupt, and she lost her housing.
For a month and a half, Celine was unemployed and moving from one friend’s spare bedroom to another, waiting to hear back. She was at a crossroads: she would either stay in Cyprus or leave.
Finally, Aleks reached out, but there was one condition—she had to meet Kasper, Director of Operations. Following her meeting with him, she was hired.
A Change of Heart
Celine’s path to hospitality wasn’t straightforward. She envisioned herself in medicine, passionate about the human mind and body. However, the emotional weight of that career made her reconsider. Instead, she shifted her focus to hospitality, where human connection and positive energy took centre stage.
Her career began humbly, selling cookies and cupcakes in a mall, where she struggled to approach people. It wasn’t until a tough internship in France that she came out of her shell. From there, Celine's natural warmth and confidence blossomed, leading her to a career in hospitality.
Her career has taken her across the world, but it’s here she’s found the calmest chapter of her life. The village of Lefkara has grounded her in a way she never expected, giving her the space to grow up and take responsibility for her life.
She found peace in this little village, and this grounded her.
“It was a wake-up call to get my shit together,” she says, laughing.
The Storytelling at Novél
At NOVÉL, Celine’s love for storytelling fits perfectly with the hotel’s ethos.
While she doesn’t have a go-to dish or drink she shares with every guest, her soft spot for the beef tartare and a perfectly made Negroni often shines through.
“It’s all about flavours,” she says. For her, it’s more about tailoring the experience to each guest, offering personal suggestions based on their preferences.
Celine’s Philosophy
Describing herself as a “chameleon,” Celine thrives on adapting to each guest while staying true to herself. “Every guest interaction is like making a friend for the day,” she says, a piece of advice from a former colleague that has stuck with her. She adjusts her approach depending on who she’s talking to—not as a mask, but as a way of connecting authentically.
This ability to form personal connections keeps her energised, even when the demands of her role as Food & Beverage Manager start to wear on her.
At Home: An Eternal Refuge
Regardless of where she is, Celine’s connection to the sea remains constant. The beach is her refuge. “I feel most at peace in the water,” she confides. Whenever she can, she escapes to a remote beach, where it’s just her and the sound of the waves.
Her Reflection in a Drink
If there’s a drink that represents Celine, it’s the doudou shot—spicy, savoury, and full of flavour.
“It’s a lot like me,” she laughs. Its Lebanese origins and power speak to her own story, filled with different chapters and experiences.
Building a Team
When it comes to NOVÉL, Celine takes a personal approach. She looks beyond resumes and experience but rather values personality and conversation skills. She believes in creating a positive environment for her staff and even goes the extra mile, like lending them her car to help.
“I want to ensure people are cared for,” she says.
The Best of Both Worlds
Celine believes the restaurant offers the best of both worlds—relaxed, personal, and community-driven, yet still delivering the quality guests expect.
“You don’t have to choose,” she says. “You get luxury and chill vibes in one place.” That balance is what makes NOVÉL a place where guests feel both comfortable and cared for.
Every Day Gets a Little Easier
A friend once shared with Celine a quote from Bojack Horseman: “Every day gets a little easier, but you have to do it every day, and that’s the hard part.” It’s a mantra she carries with her as she grows in her role. She is reminded why she chose this path with each new connection, every story she shares, and each new guest she meets.
For Celine, it’s all about the people. And at The Agora, she’s found the perfect place to bring that philosophy to life.