Young Face of the Week: Dimitris Amountzias, Hotel Operations Manager, Mitsis Hotels

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.

Dimitris Amountzias

“Creating a shared vision that focuses on authentic employees’ output is where I find professional and personal fulfillment”

Hotel: Mitsis Ramira Beach
Location: Kos

Dimitris is a hotel management executive with 14+ years in the hospitality industry, with master studies in organization & management and bachelor in theology. He boasts a spherical perspective of hotel experience in all hotel departments of medium sized and small and luxury hotel entities in Greece.
His specialty is online hotel sales, with significant contribution in the design and implementation of hotel marketing activities.
Dimitris always seeks ways to surprise and delight guests with first-class service.

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

I enjoy being the liaison among different groups of people, internal and external guests. A strong service-based philosophy characterizes my management style: being in tune with guests’ needs and then providing service far beyond these expectations. It is meaningless if this service belief is not manifested daily in the actions of the hotel’s staff toward guests. According to my viewpoint, all stakeholders are expected to participate in the production of the tourism product with the same amount of responsibility.

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

My job requires me to create change, call for actions and decisions in the face of the development of the tourism industry globally. I am responsible for new directions continuously; I must address inherited problems and face problems with employees who are dealing with change. Creating change has been my biggest challenge since I got in the industry, and creating a shared vision that focuses on authentic employees’ output is the part where I find professional and personal fulfillment.

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

The lack of infrastructure is an area that Greece needs to improve. Due to the many islands, large and small ones — all in need of their own infrastructure and means of transportation — it is of course more difficult, compared let’s say to another country where one airport serves 80-90% of its visitors. Resources are scarce, but we need to acknowledge that, in the meantime, new tourist destinations have emerged offering modern infrastructure and facilities that are most likely closer to the demands of customers. Although I have been working for employers with a great vision for their business and high standards of facilities, the surrounding environment also needs to cover the lost ground.

• 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?)

Kos is the island that gave the world Hippocrates, the father of medicine, and unlike other islands of the Dodecanesse, enjoys excellent tourism infrastructure. It is hard for it not to cover the visitor’s needs entirely: sandy beaches, turquoise waters, mountainous villages, ancient monuments, a superb city plan and an extensive bicycle routes network; and on top of that unique gastronomical enjoyments according to the Greek Mediterranean cuisine.

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

The Greek tourism product consists of multiple propositions: natural legacies, spectacular landscapes with untouched beaches and exemplary mountains, a unique past, a wealth of archaeological treasures, world class monuments and museums, and alternative tourism activities. Not to mention the mild Mediterranean climate which is ideal for year-round tourism (average of 300 sunshine days per year), more than 6,000 islands and islets, healthy cuisine with fresh local products and friendly people ready to assist the visitors. The aforesaid make visitors want to come back and this is an advantage for Greece as a competitive tourism destination.

• What are your plans for the future?

The growing global tourism industry needs professionals that are able to connect their daily practice with academic and research insights. My plans in the future include lifelong learning activities that will allow me to become a valuable partner for businesses in the hospitality industry and contribute to their sustainability and future growth with innovative ideas.

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

Not very far! The arts and culture industry has always been appealing to me. The museum exhibition design would be an area where I would have liked to contribute if I didn’t work in the hospitality industry. As with tourism destinations, also with museums, you need to “tell a story” to the visitors and engage them in meaningful interactions, and this is something that makes me creative, committed and enthusiastic at work.

 Connect with Dimitris Amountzias on LinkedIn