Dr. Dimitris Koutoulas has been pursuing an international career as a tourism and hospitality consultant and project manager implementing projects in 38 countries. His work has covered nearly every aspect of tourism planning, destination marketing, hotel development and operations ranging from market research and concept development to digital marketing and staff training. He has worked, among others, on behalf of ministries of tourism, national and local-level DMOs, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), major donor organizations such as the European Union, EBRD and the Asian Development Bank, the Athens Olympic Games Organising Committee, Chambers of Commerce, Industry Associations as well as private businesses.
Dimitris is Assistant Professor of Tourism Management at the University of Patras in Greece. He has been teaching Tourism, Hotel, DMO and Event Management as well as several marketing-related topics (Service Marketing, Tourism Marketing, Destination Marketing, Hospitality Marketing) at Greek, Austrian, German and South African universities.

Giovanni Ruggieri is Associate Professor of Applied Economics at the University of Palermo (Italy), where he teaches Tourism Economics and Economics of Tourism Industries. He is dean of the international master's degree in Tourism Systems and Hospitality Management at Palermo University in cooperation with Malaga University and Florida International University. He holds a Ph.D. in Tourism Sciences, and his research focuses on tourism economics, particularly in island and Mediterranean destinations.
His work explores tourism development, seasonality, destination systems, and innovation networks in tourism industries, with a focus on fragile and island contexts. He is President of the Observatory on Tourism for Island Economics (OTIE) and a founding co-editor of the International Journal of Island Research and the Italian journal Tourism - turistica.
Professor Ruggieri has authored numerous publications and collaborates with international research networks and institutions. He is an active member of leading tourism and economics associations and regularly contributes to academic and policy debates on sustainable tourism development.

Maria Lougari is the owner and General Manager of Castelli Hotel in Zakynthos, Greece. Since 2004, she has transformed the family-run estate into a multi-award-winning, adults-only boutique hotel renowned for its "green" philosophy. A graduate of the Athens University of Economics and Business in Marketing, Maria blends her corporate background from Cadbury Hellas with a deep passion for authentic, sustainable hospitality. Under her leadership, Castelli Hotel has earned global recognition, including TUI Sustainability Awards and GSTC certification. Maria is a leading voice in eco-tourism, famously preserving the island's oldest eucalyptus tree within the hotel's design. Her commitment to local sourcing and environmental stewardship has established her as a pioneer in the Mediterranean’s sustainable luxury sector.