Professor of Tourism Development and Crisis Management
I am the Director of CERTE (Centre for Research in Tourism Excellence) at the University of Sunderland, and the Co-Director of ATHENA (Association of Tourism, Hospitality and Events Networks in Academia). I hold a doctorate (PhD) in Tourism Planning and Development, and a post-doctorate (PDoc) in Risk and Crisis Management.
I started my career in the tourism and hospitality industry in 1990, and for 10 years (2001-2010) I was also engaged in enterprising consultancy. Since 2001, I've been an academic in higher education, gaining experience from several institutions in Greece (Technological Education Institute of Crete, Hellenic OpenUniversity, EKDDA) and the UK (University of Derby, University of Northampton, Leeds Beckett University, University of West London).
I've participated in nationally and internationally funded research projects since 1998. I have numerous publications in international scientific refereed journals and conferences. Currently, I act as Associate Editor in Event Management journal and in the Frontiers in Sustainable Tourism journal, whilst I am a member of the editorial board in the Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management.
Teaching and supervision
- Tourism Concepts and Issues
- Research Methods - Research Project
- Event Management Studies
- Risk and Crisis Management in Tourism and Aviation
- Cultural Tourism Festivals and Events
Research interests for potential research students
- Risk and Crisis Management
- Tourism Development and Planning
- Tourism and Hospitality Management
- Destination Marketing and Management
- Sustainability Issues
- e-tourism and e-marketing
Research
2021: University of Sunderland, Sir Tom Cowie Campus, Sunderland, UK
Project Name: COVID19 and tourism in Sri Lanka
Funding Organisation: UKRI - Global Challenges Research Fund (Secured Funding: £20,000)
Duties / Responsibilities: Principal Investigator. The project focused on the effect COVID19 has had on the tourism industry in Sri Lanka and the formulation of strategies the industry should employ in order to recover and adapt in a time of crisis. The project includes the collaboration of the educational institutions of the University of Sunderland (UK), and ICBT (Sri Lanka).
Output: Organisation of the International Summit: Shifting gears in tourism and hospitality in a time of crisis, 15th July 2021, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
2009-12: Dept. of Marketing, Technological Education Institute of Crete, Ierapetra, Crete, Greece
Project Name: Students’ Placement
Funding Organisations: European Union & Hellenic Ministry of Education (Secured Funding: € 116,000 / Approx. £ 100,000)
Duties / Responsibilities: Head of the Research Project. The project focused on the evaluation and development of placement posts, placement database management, the communication with students, the cooperation and PR with the industry, the profile management of students’ placement, the management and development of placements’ portal, the educational visits, and the creation of placement brochure.
2008: Hellenic Ministry of Tourism Development, Tsoxa 7, Athens, Greece
Project Name: FORUM
Funding Organisations: European Union & Hellenic Ministry of Tourism Development
Duties / Responsibilities: Rapporteur of European Tourism Education & Training, Scientific Work Group. I evaluated six countries (France, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK) tourism oriented PG programes. I structured indicative curricula evaluating the PG development of tourism education and I formulated proposals for further PG tourism education dealing with research and industrial needs.
Outputs: Submission of research findings to European Commission and the Hellenic Ministry of Tourism Development || Presentation of research findings at 2nd International Conference: Tourism Education and Training FORUM.
2007-08: Technological Research Centre of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
Project Name: LEADER+
Funding Organisations: European Union & Hellenic Ministry of Internal Affairs
Duties / Responsibilities: Member of the “Alternative Tourism Development” Research Group. I formulated marketing and developmental strategies and tactics of alternative tourism – agrotourism promotion on the island of Crete with reference to Lassithi prefecture. I structured promotional material (e-portal, brochures, tourist guides etc) for alternative tourism – agrotourism for Lassithi.
Outputs: Head of Campaign formulation and implementation at EXPO 2008, Zaragoza, Spain || creation of promotional agrotourism portal.
2006-07: Laboratory of Tourist Research & Studies (ETEM), University of Aegean, Chios, Greece
Project Name: EQUAL
Funding Organisations: European Union & Hellenic Ministry of Development
Duties / Responsibilities: Member of the “IT and Tourist Offices Development” Research Group & Head of Analysis & Structure – Action 5. I conducted research with owners / managers of Athenian tourist offices. I focused on the analysis of research findings and structure of a special project report for the European Commission dealing with further tourist offices’ development and IT implementation towards competitiveness, managerial and marketing structure, and functional cost reduction.
Outputs: Submission of Action 5 (special project report) to European Commission || Relevant article accepted at Acta Turistica academic journal.
2005: University of Aegean, D.P.M.S. in Tourism Planning Management & Policy, Chios, Greece
Project Name: E-Database
Funding Organisation: University of Aegean
Duties / Responsibilities: Producer of e-Database in Greek Scientific Tourist Review (1950 – 2005) & Scientific Research Support. I was researching for publications on national and international academic journals and conferences concerning tourism and hospitality in Greece, classifying appropriate documentation and designing the web-based portal.
Output: Formulation, creation and function of e-database.
2004-06: University of Aegean, DPMS in Tourism Planning Management & Policy, Chios, Greece
Project Name: HERMES
Funding Organizations: European Union & Hellenic Ministry of National Education
Duties / Responsibilities: Member of Research Group, Head of “Infopoint” Operation, HERMES Information & Marketing Promotion. I communicated with tourism and hospitality industry concerning inter-enterprising training and education on employees. I trained tourism and hospitality employees and marketed and promoted HERMES programme in local (island of Chios) and peripheral (Aegean Sea islands) level.
1998-01: Technological Education Institute of Crete, Department of Tourism Affairs, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
Project Name: INTEGRA
Funding Organisations: European Union and Hellenic Ministry of Development
Duties / Responsibilities: Member of the “Alternative Tourism Planning and Development” Research Group. I was researching for locals and stakeholders perspectives concerning the development of special and alternative forms of tourism in mountaineering areas on the island of Crete, structuring reports for sustainable tourism and hospitality development and elaborating research findings data.- Tourism Development and Planning
- Crisis Management Communications
- Tourism/Hospitality Marketing and Management
- Destination Marketing
- 2/2022 - to date: Founding Member / Co-Director of ATHENA (Association of Tourism, Hospitality and Events Networks in Academia).
- Since 05/2011 Certified Fellowship (SD2) at the Higher Education Academy UK (No: 44544).
- 2004 – to date: Founding Member of the Union of Hellenic Tourist Scientists (S.E.E.T.).
- 2002 – to date: Member of International Committee of Athletic Tourism Hellenic Research Group.