European Congress
Speakers

Ms. Annita Demetriadou

Director of Tourism at the Deputy Ministry of Tourism

Ms. Annita Demetriadou is Director of Tourism at the Deputy Ministry of Tourism in the Directorate of Quality Assurance and Licensing of Tourist Enterprises, the main mission of which is to improve the overall visitor experience through the development and promotion of tourism product quality and, more specifically, that of infrastructure, accommodation and catering sectors, human resources and the environment. Before this new assignment, she had served as the Director of the Directorate of Strategy, which is mainly responsible for the research, planning and strategic development of the Cyprus tourism sector.

Ms Demetriadou also had the operation of the International Conference Centre Filoxenia in Nicosia and the Larnaca Marina under her authority.

From 2000 to 2008, Ms Demetriadou held the position of the Director of Tourism in charge of the Administration, Accounts and Registry Department.

Since 2010, Ms Demetriadou has also been chairing the Board of Directors of the Cyprus Agrotourism Company, a non-profit Organisation responsible for the development and promotion of Agrotourism. Since 2019 Ms Demetriadou holds the position of one of the 5 vice – chairmen of “Rural Tour” (Ex -Eurogites).

From 2015 until 2017, she served as Acting Director General of the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO).

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Mr Klaus Ehrlich

MBA, General Secretary at Ruraltour

Klaus Ehrlich studied Economics – Business Administration at the University of Siegen (Germany) from 1976-1983, with one year at the University of Sevilla (81/82). Co-founder and manager of several entrepreneur associations related with rural tourism in Spain (RAAR, AHRA) from 1991 until 2006. Since 2002 he has been responsible for the management of EuroGites – European Federation of Rural Tourism as general secretary. Involved in working groups and consultative bodies at the European Commission related with tourism and rural development.

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Mr Hans Embacher

Austrian Farm Holidays – Managing Director

Hans Embacher is Managing Director of the Austrian Farm Holidays Association since 1991. This organization represents in 2024 we have some 2.300 members with app. 27.000 guest-beds. The main tasks of the organization are the development and “shaping” of the farm holiday product, marketing of the product, and representation of the interest of the providers. The farmers are members of 8 provincial associations, these form the National association, the total organisational network has been started in 1971 and was completed in 1992. In marketing, the association works together with the Austrian tourism organisations on all levels; in the development, consultancy and educational task there are close links with the ministry of agriculture and the provincial chambers of agriculture. On the European level the Association is member of Ruraltour, the European Federation of Rural Tourism

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Mr Vakis Loizides

M.S.C Tourism Marketing – Vice-President of the board in the Cyprus Agrotourism Company

Vakis Loizides (1965) is a graduate of Athens School of Economics. He holds an M.S.c degree in Tourism Marketing from the University of Surrey. He has 30 years of experience in tourism as an officer of the Cyprus Tourism Organisation and the Deputy Ministry of Tourism. He has been involved in many tourism projects and studies such as Nature trails tourism, cultural tourism, Blue flag project, wine tourism etc. He is the Deputy Ministry of Tourism representative in many committees as the Forestry Consultative Committee, the Cyprus beach management committee and Cypria Filoxenia Committee. Vakis Loizides was a trainee in the Tourism Unit of the European Commission for 6 months. In 2019 he has been designated as a chairman of the Governing Board of the Cyprus School of Tourist Guides. Since February 2022 he is the Vice-President of the board in the Cyprus Agrotourism Company.

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Mr Nikolaos Boukas

Management Studies

Nikolaos Boukas holds a PhD in Management Studies from the University of Exeter, UK. He is a Professor of Tourism and Hospitality Management and the Director of the Center for Sustainable Management of Tourism, Sport and Events (CESMATSE) of the European University Cyprus. His research interests are focused on tourism marketing, tourism planning and sustainable development, tourism policy, niche tourism, island tourism, cultural heritage tourism, and rural tourism.

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Ms Christiana Stylianou

Youth-Driven Rural Tourism, Innovation, Knowledge Management, and Sustainability

Christiana Stylianou is pursuing her PhD in Entrepreneurship and Hospitality Management at the Cyprus University of Technology, with a specific research focus on female tourism agro-entrepreneurs in rural areas. Her research interests revolve around female and youth entrepreneurship, regional resilience, rural development, and alternative forms of tourism, with a particular interest in gastronomy tourism and agrifood production. Her passion for the hospitality industry began during her undergraduate studies, where she earned a BSc in Hotel and Tourism Management from the same Institution and gained practical experience working at luxury hotels for many years. She also holds an MBA from the University of Cyprus. Currently, Christiana serves as a Research Associate at the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management of the Cyprus University of Technology, and she is also the Head of Training and Development at GrantXpert Consulting. She actively engages in multiple EU-funded projects and presents to many international conferences.

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Ms Lobke Elbers

Lobke Elbers is active in the field of research, innovation, technology and digitization in travel and tourism and works in an international environment with a specific focus on the European tourism sector. Her activities primarily focus on the professionalization of the sector through her involvement in European research into current skills gaps and future skills needs in the field of digital, green and social skills. Her activities include working with leading global organizations, including projects initiated by the European Commission, UNWTO and other leading international knowledge partners, as well as national, regional, and local stakeholders on the topic of Human Capital. Currently she is leading the communication and dissemination strategy of PANTOUR, a follow-up project of NTG (Next Tourism Generation Skills Alliance). The PANTOUR consortium builds on previous knowledge and tools produced by the Blueprint for Sectoral Skills project/NTG Alliance and will develop new tools and methodology to address strategic and sustainable approaches and cooperation between vocational education, training, higher education, enterprises of the tourism sector, looking to boost innovation in Europe.

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Ms Sotiroula Liasidou

Youth-Driven Rural Tourism, Innovation, Knowledge Management, and Sustainability

Sotiroula Liasidou has a PhD in Management (with emphasis on Tourism) from the University of Exeter, UK, an MSc in Tourism Management from the University of Surrey, UK and a BA (Hons) in Hospitality Management from Middlesex University, UK. Her academic qualifications also include an HND in Hotel and Catering Management from the Higher Hotel Institute of Cyprus. She is also an Associate of the Higher Education Academic (AHEA) of the United Kingdom and an accredited trainer of the Cyprus Human Resources. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Faculty of Tourism Management, Hospitality and Entrepreneurship, at the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT). Additionally, she represented the Management Committee Delegate of Cyprus in COST Action TU1408 for ‘Air Transport and Regional Development (ATARD)’ (2017-2019). She participated in international conferences and published her work in peer-reviewed academic journals.

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Thierry Joubert

Thierry Joubert, a founding member of Balkan.Green, a regional network for sustainable tourism professionals in the Balkans, brings a wealth of practical experience to the field of sustainable tourism development in the Western Balkans. With over 23 years of hands-on involvement, he has pioneered and managed Green Visions, a successful ecotourism and adventure tourism venture in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Thierry’s expertise also extends to the creation and development of the Via Dinarica, the long-distance hiking trail through the Dinaric Alps, stretching from Slovenia to North Macedonia. Additionally, Thierry serves as a coach and auditor for Green Destinations’ Award and Certification program.

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Mr Charis Papacharalambous

Travel & Tourism

Charis Papacharalambous is the Cyprus partner and Managing Director of OTS & MTS GLOBE CYPRUS. Charis joined this esteemed and technologically advanced Tourism Group in January 2020. Charis studied Travel & Tourism in London and also holds an MBA from the CIIM. Charis has spent most of his professional career in Tourism holding senior management and CEO positions in local but also European groups engaged in a wide range of Travel & Tourism sectors including the Hotel industry, Travel Agencies, Tour Operating, International Cruising as well as Destination Management Companies.

He is also a member of the Board of Directors of ACTA where he holds the position of Chairman of ACTA’s Strategic development committee for Tourism while also acts as the Associations’ Spokesman.
Charis also spent a short time of his professional career outside the Travel & Tourism sector when he served as the CEO of Invest Cyprus for a 4-year spell between 2012-2016.

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Mr Marcos Zambartas

Oenologist & Director of Zambartas Wineryt

Marcos Zambartas studied Oenology at the University of Adelaide, and Chemistry at Imperial College London. Since 2014, he owns and manages Zambartas Winery in Agios Amvrosios community. Having secured sponsorship from EU structural funds for many years, he has identified market trends that helped to further develop his business and he was responsible for innovative wine styles. Marcos has been involved in many active civil groups from student councils to charity organisations and has considerable experience in leadership positions. He is currently a member of the Board of The Cyprus Wine Consortium and of the Board of Cypriot Wineries.

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Christina Konstantinou

Born and raised in Paphos, Christina holds a degree in Tourism and Business Management. With a strong background in the hotel industry, her work experience includes events management, sales and marketing, reservations, and customer care. Since 2007, Christina has served as the General Director of Vasilias Nikoklis Inn, where she has played a pivotal role in the development and expansion of the family business. Under her leadership, the inn has become a highly sought-after traditional guest house and wedding venue in the Paphos region. Christina’s success can be attributed to her utilization of various tools and her wealth of experience in the industry. She has strived to maintain a close connection to Cypriot tradition while offering modern facilities and services to clients. Additionally, she has supported the local community by providing job opportunities, purchasing produce from local farmers, and demonstrating respect for the area’s heritage.

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Silvia Nanni

Silvia Nanni is passionate policy expert supporting the development of rural areas in Europe. She joined the Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development in 2022 and is in charge of the actions related to the green and energy transition of rural areas. Before that, Silvia was working as expert on sustainable finance at the Directorate General for Environment.

Silvia has 10 years of experience in developing policy studies and research & innovation projects and is experienced in policy analysis. By training, she is a political scientist, with in-depth knowledge of EU and international climate, energy and environmental law and policy.

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Antje Papageorgiou

Antje Papageorgiou studied Economics and Tourismmanagement in Germany and has since been working in various Tourism companies in Cyprus, the last 25 years in a senior management position in the TUI Group. As such she has been involved in the development of the product of a large number of international tourism companies in Cyprus and the diversification of the local product offer. Her passion for sustainable and among them environmental aspects as well as the opportunities of the digital transition developed over the years through various relevant projects within the company but also through her long years of involvement in Civil Society Initiatives. She is currently a board member of the Cyprus Sustainable Tourism Initiative, which is one of the pioneers of Sustainable Tourism Initiatives in Cyprus.

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Sandra Carvão

Sandra Carvão, Chief of Tourism Market Intelligence and Competitiveness, World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)

Sandra Carvão is Chief of Tourism Market Intelligence and Competitiveness at the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) since June 2018. Before that, she was Chief of Communications and Publications for 8 years until May 2018 where she was responsible for UNWTO’s strategic positioning.

Prior to this post, Sandra was Deputy Chief at UNWTO’s Market Trends, Competitiveness and Trade in Tourism Services Department between 2007 and 2010. During this period, Sandra coordinated the Tourism Resilience Committee created by UNWTO to address the impacts of the global economic crisis 2008-2009 on tourism. Prior to joining UNWTO in 2003, Sandra held a position as market manager in the Portuguese National Tourist Office in Lisbon. Sandra has a degree in International Relations, Economics Branch, by the Instituto de Ciências Sociais e Políticas/Universidade Técnica de Lisboa and a postgraduade degree in Marketing by the Universidad Complutense de Madrid.

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Mr Christopher Zenios

Co-Owner and Marketing Director at Web Theoria

Christopher is a dedicated and results-driven digital marketing strategist with over 20 years of experience in the industry. As the Co-Owner and Marketing Director of Web Theoria, a Cyprus-based web design and marketing agency, he excels at delivering high-performance digital marketing solutions tailored to clients’ unique needs. His sharp insight into market trends and the proficiency to conduct consumer profiling adds a strategic edge to his digital marketing prowess.

Passionate about all aspects of digital marketing, Christopher’s expertise lies in SEO, PPC, and online marketing strategy. His experience in formulating and executing digital marketing strategies spans across various sectors, including travel & tourism, real estate, manufacturing, and more. By aligning his marketing approaches with the specific requirements of each industry, he aims to create tailored marketing plans that drive growth.

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