Young Face of the Week: Elizabeth Kouta, Nutrition Care Manager of Capsis Elite Resort – Out of the blue, Crete

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

Elizabeth Kouta

“Greece is a destination that will last you a life time!”

Business: Capsis Elite Resort – Out of the blue
Location: Crete

Elizabeth Kouta is the Nutrition Care Manager of Capsis Elite Resort – Out of the blue of Capsis Hotels & Resorts and — since 2013 — the exclusive representative of Dukan Diet in the Greek hospitality sector.
She holds a bachelor degree (BA) in Home Economics and Ecology and a Master of Science (MSc) in Clinical Nutrition from Harokopeio University of Athens.
Her thesis focused on Cardiovascular Epidemiology and she collaborated with the ATTICA study producing outcomes concerning the Epidimiological Disease in Greece. In 2010, she received scholarship from the State Scholarship Foundation.
These days, Elizabeth is concentrating on her second Masters degree that focused on Business Management, Strategic Management at the Kapodistrian University of Athens.
Further to her scientific career, she is also a committed athlete in track and field and has won first place in various competitions. In 2007 she came in 3rd in the Bruno Zauling European Championship in Serbia.

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

The thing that fascinates me the most about my job is that not only do I develop and benefit professionally, I also receive people’s appreciation and content for my services.
Through my interaction with people all over the world, my philosophy is to help sustain a friendly environment and unforgettable stay for guests at the premises.

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

Although young and inexperienced, I was confronted with the challenge to cope with different philosophies and methods which were obsolete. However, through this experience, I managed to maintain a fresh and dynamic philosophy and perspective in hotel management.

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

I think the most important thing that Greece needs to improve on is the educational level of the tourism industry staff. In this way, the Greek people would be able to both respond to the new tourism demand and express, in all ways, the hospitality and politeness which always have been at stake.

• 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?)

In hospitality and tourism management there is no secret. I personally believe that we must promote the strengths of tourism (sunshine, lifestyle, quality food and high standard facilities) and minimize the weaknesses (taking the tourist for granted, inadequate accommodation, insufficient knowledge of foreign languages).

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

I would say: “Greece is a destination that will last you a life time!”

• What are your plans for the future?

Considering the major issue of seasonality in the Greek tourism industry, I plan on minimizing it to the most. To be precise, measures need to be taken. To begin with, we have to reshape the product by investing in contemporary facilities such as golf courses, casinos, conference facilities and of course Wellness Tourism. In addition, we have to achieve positive publicity and feedback.
Finally, we have to attract tourists from countries mainly outside the EU such as China, Japan, India, Canada and the United States of America.

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

I would like to have my own company in health and nutrition that would offer dietary services to groups of people that need them most. Such as athletes, diabetics, overweight, elderly, etc..

 Connect with Elizabeth Kouta on LinkedIn