Despina Savvidou
 | |
 |
Professional Experience
2004 – Today, Athens Walking Tours (add on service of City Contact Ltd )
Co-founder - Tours Manager
I am the co-founder and also in charge of the tour operations of Athens Walking Tours that offer alternative walking tours to tourists with extinguish demands and special requirements in Athens city. All our tours are conducted by licensed professional tour guides.
1996 – Today, City Contact
Co-founder - Shareholder
I am a founding member and a shareholder of City Contact Ltd. City Contact Ltd since 1996 provides printed information to visitors (Greeks and foreigners) of Greece, via their exclusive network of partnership with leading hotels of Athens, Crete, Rhodes, and Corfu. My extended experience working as a licensed tour guide since 1979 has helped me contribute as a Senior Consultant in matters of tourism and play a significant role in the development of the company.
1979 – 2004, Freelancer – Licensed Tour Guide
Since 1979 I have worked as a freelancer licensed tour guide in English, German in various tourist agencies (United States, Canada, Australia, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Greece) my core partnerships were with Tui Hellas, Navigator, Intermed, Concept, Doganis, Horizon Travel
In addition, in my personal clientele is Mercedes Hellas, Praktiker, Coca Cola, Elais and the Embassy of United States.
1976 – 1977, Rythimna Hotel, Saladi Beach Hotel
French Interpreter
I worked in Rythimna Hotel in Heraklion, Crete and in Saladi Beach Hotel in Hermioni of Peloponnese as a French interpreter.
Education
1978 – 1979, School for Tour Guides, Athens
Licensed Tour Guide
Foreign Languages
English, Proficiency of Cambridge
German
French
Seminars
Since 1979, I regularly attend educational seminars targeted in cultural management and tourist services for foreign visitors of Greece.
Press
Article in Athens News, on 12th September 2001 for the Athens Food tours
Article in Herald tribune (English edition of Kathimerini), on 15th of April 2011 for the Athens Food Tours.
Article in Herald tribune (English edition of Kathimerini), on 7th of February 2011 for the Athens Walking Tours success.
Article in Sunday Star Tribune of Minessota, United States, on 25th of February 2007, for Athens Walking Tours success and their contribution in the tourist promotion of our country.
Publications and articles for Athens Walking Tours in several tourist guides, such as Ricks SteveΒ’s & Lonely Planet.
Commented with excellent critics in international sites with significant visitor traffic such as: www.tripadvisor.com, www.cruisecritic.com, www.fodors.com
Personal Information
Marital Status:
Married with 2 adult children