Young Face of the Week: Eva Kanellopoulos – Social Media Manager, Crete

GTP has launched a weekly column that introduces the young professionals of the Greek hospitality industry. Every week, a young Greek professional will refer to issues related to their profession, the travel & tourism sector and Greece as a destination.

Eva Kanellopoulos

“If there is, indeed, something worthy to develop further and cherish in this country, then this is precisely the sector of tourism and hospitality”

Company: Cretan Pearl Resort & Spa (Opening Summer 2015)
Location: Chania, Crete

Eva Kanellopoulos was born in Athens and raised in the United Kingdom. She graduated from the University of Portsmouth with a BA in Western European Studies and acquired an MA in Communication’s Management & Public Relations from London Metropolitan University.
For the past 11 years, she has focused on the areas of hospitality and tourism, travel and Greek gastronomy, sales of luxury services and wedding & social events planning.
For all of the above, she has been a Social Media expert, a Copywriter & Translator, a Hospitality & Tourism savvy, a Wedding Planner and a Blogger.
Today, she is the Social Media Manager of the brand new and soon-to-open, 5-star Cretan Pearl Resort & Spa in Chania and of “Live Love” The Event Maker in Athens where she also offers extensive copywriting and blogging services. Additionally, and for more than 1.5 years she collaborates with Panadvert Online Marketing firm as a copywriter and translator for major hotel accounts.

• What are the things you like best about your job and how would you describe your hospitality and tourism management philosophy?

I thoroughly enjoy all of the different roles I “play” as a communications professional in order to provide a holistic package to tourism-related enterprises. I feel highly creative whether I provide social media expertise, copywriting and blogging services, sales of luxury services to portray a holiday, or social event planning. My hospitality and tourism management philosophy involves taking fresh initiative, planning well ahead and providing quality services from A to Z.

• Have you had to face any challenges in your career to get to where you are today?

2004 was a benchmark in my career. I decided to settle down in Greece and focus on tourism. Since I did not hold academic titles of Hotel Studies — as such — it was impossible to penetrate the “system” and be recruited by major Athenian hotels. Thankfully, I worked my way around it using my intuition and lead by my love for the sector. Today, I happily provide holistic communication services as an outsourced expert for the “most wanted” hotels across Greece.

• In regards to hospitality, where do you think Greece needs to improve the most?

Since tourism is Greece’s heavy industry, we must look at the sector through a very professional prism that involves a plethora of destinations and not only for summer, but, winter too. We, unfortunately, concentrate on two very expensive islands and leave so many beautiful other isolated and underdeveloped. In all cases though, the level of the employees is generally low due to the depressed salaries and uninsured employment arrangements. This must change.

• What is your region’s best kept “secret”?  (In other words, what shouldn’t be a secret in your opinion and should be promoted more abroad?)

I am from Athens, so I will refer to the Greek capital.
Athens is repeatedly suppressed by the international media. Something so unfortunate since it actually cherishes numerous virtues. It is a contemporary European metropolis which successfully blends the modern with the classic based on an unmistakable recipe that absolutely enchants. In addition, the Athenian Riviera constitutes the most beautiful, long and luxury coast you could ever imagine seeing as part of a European capital city.

• If you could pass on a message to the global hospitality and tourism industry about Greece, what would it be?

I would stress with all my strength that this country is indeed a “blessed corner” on the planet cherishing what are surely considered the best climate conditions in the world. I would also propagate that Greece incorporates such plethora of land and seascapes one would expect to come across through travelling in hundreds of different destinations.

• What are your plans for the future?

In the near future, I will further focus on becoming a stronger and more efficient partner in the use of social media, which I find both mesmerizing and a powerful tool for the tourism sector. In the distant future, I dream of choosing a lesser-known Greek island and turning it to a key destination for weddings, addressing couples from across the world.

• If you didn’t work in the hospitality industry where would you be?

I honestly chose to work and evolve in this sector with all my heart. I basically cannot imagine myself doing something else, but, if I were to stress my fantasies then I would probably end up being an actress.

Connect with Eva Kanellopoulos on LinkedIn