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Crisis Communications for a Tourism Destination workshop on Rhodes

The importance of preparedness and training for the effective handling of a communications crisis by a tourism destination, in order to safeguard its reputation, was the key message of the relevant workshop we recently organised on Rhodes.

Using the immersive power of video simulated crisis scenarios, Ms. Katia Makri, renowned journalist, and Zacharias Loudaros, communications expert, moderated a unique, hands-on, educational experience aimed at educating and preparing all responsible parties – namely representatives of the regional government, the Dodecanese islands municipalities and local hotel owner associations on how to manage communications in a possible crisis incident at their destination.

Mr. George Hatzimarkos, Governor of the South Aegean Region, stated: “In our Region we love responsibility, and this is something we prove it in practice in every way and at any case. In recent years, we have had to manage successive crises. In all of them, it was realized that communication management is just as important as the management of each crisis in the field, with the depiction of truth emerging as a parameter of critical importance, both through the traditional media and the social media. We do not play with the image of our islands. Proper preparation, detailed planning and roles of responsibility is what make the difference and builds trust, as illustrated by this workshop. I warmly thank the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels and the Hellenic Hoteliers Federation for providing us with a truly innovative audiovisual material for the needs of the seminar and the specialized company “effectus” that was responsible for the training, with the participation of renowned communication professionals. When forces come together, the result always has a positive sign and value for everyone.”

Mr. Ioannis Kofinis, Managing Partner of effectus, said: “At effectus, we constantly strive to provide pioneering services to our clients. The crisis communications workshop for a Greek tourism destination is indeed a unique experience using the immersive power of visuals and simulated crisis scenarios for preparing the participating communications crisis response teams to be ready to safeguard their destination’s reputation and turn a crisis into an opportunity, when this occurs.”

The seminar was organized by the Region of South Aegean at the premises of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Dodecanese. The material was financed and commissioned respectively, by the President of the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels Alexandros Vassilikos and the Hellenic Hoteliers Federation.