Dr. Sotirios Varelas is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Tourism Studies of the University of Piraeus with the subject “Hospitality Business Strategy and Tourism Organizations”. He holds a PhD from the Department of Business Administration of the School of Economics, Business and International Studies of the University of Piraeus. He is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Greek Chapter of the International Federation for IT and Travel & Tourism (IFITT). He has 15 years of professional experience as a scientific consultant to tourism organizations and is the creator and manager of a start-up company on virtual tourism www.netourwork.com. In the past he was a scientific consultant at the Ministry of Tourism, the Greek Tourism Organisation and the Peloponnese Region. Within his responsibilities he has designed and implemented destination management and marketing activities at national- regional level (airline recruitment, digital marketing, participation in b2b events, fam press trip, consultations, experiential products, identity creation, etc). He has authored and participated in more than 40 study projects on topics such as Tourism Observatories, Sustainability, Destination Management, Destination Strategy, DMMO, Destination Marketing and Branding. He has collaborated with several research centres such as the Institute of Regional Development, the University of Peloponnese, the Laboratory of Policy Evaluation and Programme Development and the Research Centre of the University of Piraeus. He teaches in the Postgraduate Programmes in Tourism Business Administration and Business Administration at the University of Piraeus and in the Undergraduate Programme in Tourism Management at the Hellenic Open University. Since 2010 he has taught at several academic and professional institutions such as the University of Piraeus, the University of West Attica, the University of Peloponnese, the University of Piraeus, the Institute of the Hellenic Tourism Business Association (INSEETE), the Hellenic Society of Business Administration (HSE) and the Air Force War College. He has been appointed by the Assembly of the Department as the student internship coordinator and coordinator of the academic advisors of the Department of Tourism Studies. Dr. Varela was the creator and coordinator of the Graduate Program in Tourism Business Administration and the Center for International Tourism Research at Neapolis University. His scientific papers have been published in several international journals and he is a member of the editorial board of several journals and conferences. He frequently writes articles and participates as a speaker on issues related to tourism and tourism business.

1. TSK101. Introduction to Tourism -Tourism Geography (1st semester)
2. TSK302. International Economic and International Tourism Market (3rd semester)
3. TSK501. Tourism Development Strategies and Policies (5th semester)
4. TSK801. Strategic Management for Tourism (8th semester)
5. TSK615. Contemporary Tourism Issues (Elective)
6. TSK616. European Tourism Policy (Elective)
7. TSK626. Strategies for the Development of Luxury Tourism (Elective)
8. TSΚPRAK01. Student Internship Ι (Elective)
9. TSΚPRAK02. Student Internship ΙΙ (Elective)
10. TSΚER01-02. Research Project (Elective)

Research Papers Published in International Scientific Journals; peer-reviewed conference proceedings:

1. Varelas S, Tsoupros G.(2024). Key Performance Indicators and Data Envelopment Analysis in Greek Tourism: A Strategic Planning Tool for Destinations and DMMOs. Sustainability. 16(8):3453. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16083453
2. Varelas, S. Virtual Immersive Platforms as a Strategic Innovative Destination Marketing Tool in the COVID-19 Era.(2022). Sustainability, 14, 12867. https://doi.org/10.3390/su141912867
3. Zouni, G., Hatzimarinakis, S. & Varelas, S. (2022) “Tourism Observatories for measuring the COVID-19 impact on tourism,” Journal of Sustainability and Resilience: Vol. 2 : Iss. 1 , Article 2. DOI : https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/jsr/vol2/iss1/2
4. Stroumpoulis, A., Kopanaki, E. and Varelas, S. (2022), “Role of artificial intelligence and big data analytics in smart tourism: a resource-based view approach”, Sustainable Tourism X, WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment, Vol. 256, pp. 99-108. https://www.witpress.com/Secure/elibrary/papers/ST22/ST22009FU1.pdf
5. Varelas, S., Karvela, P. & Georgopoulos, N. (2021). The Impact of Information Technology and Sustainable Strategies in Hotel Branding, Evidence from the Greek Environment. Sustainability 2021, 13(15), 8543; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13158543
6. Apostolopoulos, N., Makris, I., Liargovas, P., Apostolopoulos, S., & Varelas, S. (2021). Building National Branding Strategy in Medical Tourism and Production of Generic Medicines: National Branding and Health. In V. Pistikou, A. Masouras, & M. Komodromos (Ed.), Handbook of Research on Future Policies and Strategies for Nation Branding (pp. 309-323). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-7998-7533-8.ch020
7. Varelas, S. & Apostolopoulos, N. (2020). The implementation of strategic management in Greek hospitality businesses and organizations during the economic crisis. Strategic Planning and Management of Tourist Destinations, MDPI Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050).
8. Varelas, S. & Anucin- Vrionis, I. (2020). Disruptive Technologies and Hospitality Entrepreneurs perception’s – Strategic approach of a Greek Destination. SPOUDAI – Journal of Economics and Business , SPOUDAI Journal of Economics and Business, 70 (1-2), pp. 106-116.
9. Varelas, S., Kopanaki, E. & Georgopoulos, N. (2020). A Strategic Tourism Knowledge Base for Socio-Economic and Environmental Data analytics – The role of Big Data Analysis. The Małopolska School of Economics in Tarnów Research Papers Collection, ISSN 1506-2635, e-ISSN 2658- 1817c2020, 45(1), pp. 69–76, DOI: 10.25944/znmwse.2020.01.6976
10. Papageorgiou, A., Kikilia E. & Varelas, S. (2020). Employee training in Athnes luxury hotels and its relation to job efficiency and company loyalty. Journal of Regional Socio-Economics Issue (JRSEI), 10(3).
11. Varelas S., Georgitseas P. (2019), Strategic Innovations in Tourism Enterprises through Blockchain Technology, Strategic Innovative Marketing, Springer.
12. Varelas, S. & Belias, D. (2019), Carrying Capacity Assessment for Tourism Development- A Strategic  Approach, Strategic Innovative Marketing, Springer.
13. Belias D., Varelas, S. & Kavoura A. (2019), To Be or not to Be? Which is the Case with Robots in the Hotel Industry? Strategic Innovative Marketing, Springer.
14. Giovanis A., Kavoura A., Rizomyliotis, I. & Varelas S.(2019), The impact of perceived value of online booking platforms’ usage on  consumer-brand relationships development and brand loyalty. Strategic Innovative Marketing, Springer.
15. Varelas, S.(2019). Netourwork Framework  –  A New Era in Strategic Innovative Networking  System for Tourism Enterprises. Strategic Innovative Marketing, Springer.
16. Flavio T., Borges-Tiago T., Varelas, S. & Kavoura A. (2019), The Effect of Asymmetrical Image Projections on Online Destination Branding, Strategic Innovative Marketing, Springer.
17. Sahinidis A., Stavroulakis D., Kossieri E., Sdrolias, L. & Varelas S. (2019), Entrepreneurial Intention Determinants Among Female Students. The Influence of Role Models, Parent Occupation and Perceived Behavioral  Control on Forming the Desire to Become a Business Owner, Strategic Innovative Marketing, Springer.
18. Nechita F., Demeter R., Briciu V.A., Kavoura, A. & Varelas S. (2019), Analysing Projected Destination Images Versus Visitor-Generated Visual  Content in Brasov, Transylvania, Strategic Innovative Marketing, Springer.
19. Varelas, S. & Georgopoulos, N. (2017), Competition as a Critical Factor of the Strategic Planning of Hotel Businesses, Journal of Hotel & Business Management, Volume 6: Issue 167.
20. Varelas, S. & Georgopoulos, N. (2017), Strategy Research and Education in the Critical Sector of Tourism – Comparative Assessment at International and Greek Level, Journal of Hotel & Business Management, Volume 06:  Issue 01.
21. Varelas, S. & Georgopoulos, N. (2017), Porter’s Competitive Forces in the Modern Globalized Hospitality Sector ‐ The case of a Greek Tourism Destination, Journal of Tourism Research, Review of Tourism Science, Volume 18, pp. 121-131.
22. Varelas, S. (2016), Strategy And Innovation For A New Tourism Environment Outside Competition, International Journal of Development Research ,Vol. 06, Issue, 12, pp.10851-10855.

Research Papers Published in Peer-reviewed Collected Volumes, Book Chapters:

1. Varelas, S. and Georgopoulos, N. (2016), International Research Approach to Strategic Management in Tourism and Hospitality, Honorary Volume for Professor Emeritus G. Economou, University of Piraeus Research Centre (In Greek).
2. Varelas, S. and Georgopoulos, N. (2012), The Role of Large Scale Composite Units in the Sustainability and Regional Development of the Greek Environment, Honorary Volume for Professor Emeritus S. Karvounis, University of Piraeus Research Centre (In Greek).

Research Papers presented at International Peer-reviewed Conferences:

1. Agoraki, K., Varelas, S., Anastasopoulos. I. & Anastasopoulou. E. (2024), Technology Acceptance Model for Metaverse Applications in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry, 16th International Conference on Economies of the Balkan and Eastern European Countries (ΕΒΕΕC 2024) – EBEEC Annual International Conference.
2. Anastasopoulos, I., & Varelas, S. (2023). A Literature Review and Emerging Trends on key Topics of Risks and Challenges Facing Tourism real Estate Investments. In European Conference on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Vol. 18, No. 1, pp. 39-47).
3. Anastasopoulos, I. and Varelas, S. (2022), “A sustainable model of strategic management in modern tourism investments – the case of tourism real estate in Greece”, 9th MT International Academic Business Conference. Global Academic View, December 2022, Paris.
4. Konstantopoulou, C. & Sotirios Varelas. S. (2023). Mapping prosperity in relation to tourism and sustainability in a post-pandemic world: A systematic literature analysis. 19th Hellenic Society for Systemic Studies (HSSS) National & International Conference.
5. Anucin Vrionis, I. & Sotirios Varelas. S. (2023). Smart technologies and sustainability, the way to develop a Smart destination. 19th Hellenic Society for Systemic Studies (HSSS) National & International Conference.
6. Varelas, S. & Georgopoulos, N. (2016),  Measurement of Strategic Management Effectiveness in Tourism Enterprises, International Conference on “  Business Economic, Social Science & Humanities” (BESSH), Tokyo, Japan.
7. Varelas, S. & Georgopoulos, N. (2012), Strategic Destination Management and Branding-The Case of Greece, Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Destination Management and Branding in the Mediterranean Region «Sustainable Tourism in Times of Crisis» Antalya, Turkey.
8. Varelas, S. & Georgopoulos, N. (2013),  Integrated Destination Resorts as Pillars of  Sustainability – The Case of Greece, Proceedings of The 1st Annual PSU  Phuket International Conference 2012, Multidisciplinary Studies of Sustainable  Development, Prince of Songkla University.
9. Varelas, S. (2017), Destination Management in Practice, Chair Workshop, 13th. HSSS National & International Conference Systemic Organizational Excellence, Sparta.
10. Varelas, S. & Georgopoulos, N. (2015),  Strategic Approach to Tourism Research and Education: The case of Greece, 4th Global Business and Finance Research Conference,Melbourne, Australia.
11. Varelas, S. & Georgopoulos, N. (2014) Strategic Management for Tourism Enterprises Development‘’, Proceedings of ICHLST  International Conference on Hospitality, Leisure, Sport, and Tourism.National Law University, Delhi, India. 6-8  February, 2014.
12. Varelas, S.,  Georgopoulos, N., Katsanakis, I., & Chimos, Κ .(2012),  Social Networks & Leadership: Towards Leadership 2.0, Presented at the 8th National & International HSSS Conference «Systems Approach to Strategic Management», Thessaloniki.
13. Varelas, S. & Georgopoulos, N.  (2011), Strategic Planning for Superior Hotel Performance, Presented at the 7th National & International HSSS Conference «Professional Systemics in Action.
14. Varelas, S.,  Georgopoulos, N. & Katsanakis, I. (2011), Greek Tourism Under Crisis-Strategies, and the Way Out’, Proceedings of the International Conference “Rethinking Business and Business Education in the Age of Crisis, Chios.
15. Varelas, S. & Georgopoulos, N. (2010), The Strategic Use of Travel 2.0 and its Importance for the Tourism Sector, Presented at the 6th National & International HSSS Conference «Systemic Approaches in Social Structures», Mytilene.

1. Varelas, S. and Georgopoulos, N. (2021), Theme Parks, Chap. Special Interest Tourism Sheela Agerwal, Graham Busby, Rong Huang. Broken Hill Publishers (In Greek).

The office hours for the spring semester 2023-2024 are:

• Tuesday: 12:00-15:00
• Wednesday: 12:00-15:00

Note: Please contact by e-mail for arranging an appointment.

For the Full CV press here.