Interview with Pavlos Papadakis
Executive Committee FBMA Greece
Food and Beverage Director Smile Hotels Greece
“The key of the Greek hospitality is the world famous Greek Gastronomy and to make guests feel like they are unique”
This is what Pavlos Papadakis tells at his team in order to explain with simple words what working in the Hospitality industry means
With more than 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Pavlos says that he is proud to offer his services to the Greek hospitality scene.
In this interview Pavlos Papadakis explains how the Greek gastronomy and the hospitality combined can make the difference in th market.
Pavlos, please share with our readers some career highlights
I began my career in Hospitality Industry after graduating in Austria “International Tourism and Management”. In the last 15 years I have held several prestigious positions, including Assistant Manager at Stefan Village Hotel,Assistand Manager at Mega Place group of companies, Food and Beverage Manager at Louis Hotels chain, and finally Food and Beverage Director at Smile Hotels Greece.
Gastronomy is a big part of the experience of hotel guests. How can Greece can make the difference on that section.
The gastronomy in all the parts of Greece will excite you, traditional breakfast, colourful authentic Mediterranean cuisine, local products, fine wines, flavourful beers and local spirits.
I think that the gastronomic wealth of Greece is a big basket full of natural perfumes and tastes. Greek Gastronomy promises to be an experience that a guest will never forget.We must promote our basket as much as we can, in a hotel there are many ways we can do that.
Is tourism and Greek gastronomy connected?
Always the destination of a traveller is directly connected to gastronomy. People who travel discover a place through its gastronomy. My opinion is that one cannot exist without the other.
Teamwork is the key for success. How that drive a hotel to success?
Teamwork is everything not only at the hotels but in every business. When we recruit staff we look for people that share this same philosophy and have a passion for hospitality, this is the only way to ensure each and every guest receives the experience they deserve
Is the quality of services and quality of food in the hotels affected by the economic crisis?
The hoteliers in Greece keeping their standards of their hotels up.I think that the present and the gonverments in the past didn’t make anything to help the Hospitality industry for example by reducing the VAT or the labor costs .I hope this will change in the future.
Pavlos what is your plans for your future
I am focused to what I am doing right now,to make our guests leaving our country with a big smile and to make Smile Hotels as much profiterable as I can ,of courseI have plans but it is not the time to announce something.
As a hospitality professional, what would be your best advice for travelers?
The advice I give to all those who visit our beautiful Country is to open up to and get to know real Greece, our character and our culture.Go out don’t stay on one place.
SMILE HOTELS chain owned by KARAVARAKIS SA established in Chaniá since 1989.
www.Smilehotels.gr and Resorts represents a collection of four Hotels in Greece,one in Athens which operates all year round and since its very close to the International Airport Eleftherios Venizalos has free shuttle bus service for airport stopover guests,and three Hotel Resorts in Crete with more than 1000 beds.
