The General Director of the Research Institute for Tourism (RIT), Professor George Petrakos, addressed the Subcommittee on Mountainous Areas of the Special Permanent Committee on Regional Affairs of the Hellenic Parliament, presenting views on the progress of reconstruction efforts in Northern Evia.
The vital contribution of the hospitality sector to achieving the critical goal of sustainability was the central theme of the highly successful conference held on Tuesday, May 27th, in Rhodes. The event was co-organized by the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels and the Region of South Aegean.
The conference, entitled “Paving the Way Towards a Sustainable Future”, was the second in a series of events held under the initiative “Hospitality with Value for All”, celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels.
At the opening session, Dr. Georgios Petrakos, Professor of Quantitative Methods & IT at Panteion University and General Director of the Institute for Tourism Research and Forecasts (ITEP), presented a study conducted by ITEP entitled “ESG – Sustainability in the Hotel Sector”.
The study highlights the sector’s performance in terms of sustainability, with a specific focus on environmental protection, social responsibility, and modern corporate governance.
On Thursday, May 8, 2025, the General Director of ITEP, Professor Giorgos Petrakos, participated virtually in the joint session of the Hellenic Parliament’s Special Permanent Committee on Research and Technology and the Standing Committee on Production and Trade. The session, titled “Chambers of Commerce Promote Innovation,” provided a platform for Professor Petrakos to highlight the importance of reliable and up-to-date Registers of Professional Chambers as a key tool for fostering innovation and supporting economic development.
The research team of RIT participated in the 4th International TMM-CH Conference (Transdisciplinary Multispectral Modelling and Cooperation for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage) , held from April 7 to 9, 2025, at the Eugenides Foundation.
The General Director of RIT, Professor George Petrakos, participated at the panel “Green and Blue Deal for Tourism through the Sustainable Revival of Cultural Heritage and Environmental Resources,” where he presented his talk entitled “Green & Blue Filoxenia: Sustainable Hospitality in Greece.”
Additionally, together with RIT associate Dr. Dimitrios Gousopoulos, he presented a paper on the Application of Artificial Intelligence in Education for Cultural Heritage in the session titled: “Innovative Transdisciplinary Development and Transfer of Know-How and Multilateral Cooperation Addressing World Challenges for the Rehabilitation of Emblematic Monuments“.
Finally, in collaboration with partners from the National Technical University of Athens, joint research projects AEI and ESTIAIA were presented, focusing on the mild and sustainable development of less touristic areas.
On Saturday, February 8, as part of the HORECA international exhibition, a new study was presented highlighting the Contribution of the Hotel Sector to the Greek Economy. The presentation took place at the HCH Conference by Mr. George Soklis, Assistant Professor at Panteion University. This study provides valuable insights into the trajectory of Greek tourism, showcasing the impact of the hotel sector on economic growth, job creation, and the support of related industries.
