Reo Stakis dies

Stakis: "sorely missed"

Hotel tycoon Sir Reo Stakis has died, aged 88.
Sir Reo Stakis, who had been unwell after suffering a stroke in June this year, died at 5.40am yesterday at the Stirling Royal Infirmary.

 

Stakis devoted most of his life to creating and developing the chain of eponymous restaurants, hotels, bars and casinos.

 

David Michels, chief executive of the Hilton group, and formerly chief executive of Stakis, said: "It is great regret that we hear of the loss of Sir Reo Stakis, a man of great foresight and humility who has left an indelible mark on British hospitality. We owe him a great deal."

 

Stakis left his native Cyprus at the age of 14, arriving at London Victoria train station in 1928 with just £50 in his pocket. He earned money by selling lace door-to-door.

 

He soon got tired of London and headed north to Glasgow where he built his massive empire of restaurants, hotels and casinos.

 

By his early thirties Stakis had a stake in his first restaurant, the 40-seat Victory in Glasgow. He then opened another restaurant opposite Victory, and a string of others including the Ivy, L'Aperitif, and Princes restaurants.

 

By the 1960s Stakis had a chain of 30 restaurants, hotels and bars throughout Scotland. He later added casinos to the chain, which soon became an integral part of the Stakis group.

 

In 1999, Stakis sold his empire to Hilton for £1.2bn.

 

Stakis is survived by his wife, six children and nine grandchildren.

 

People can pay their respects by visiting St Luke's Cathedral in Glasgow between 10am and 4pm on Monday.

 

Sir Stakis will be buried next Tuesday at 2.15pm at Dunblane Cemetery after a funeral at St Luke's Cathedral.