Themis Trakas success story


Inside HVS

Personality Profile of the Month – Themis Trakas

Tuesday April 8, 2014

Themis Trakas
The fictional character of Eloise captured the imagination of millions of readers baseduponher elegant address. The idea of a little girlresiding at w hat some people refer to as the ”Greatest Hotel in the World”, the Plaza Hotel located in New York City, w as a divine escape from the mundane.Fashioned after a French Chateau with a marble lobby, mahogany doors and 1,650 crystal chandeliers, the Plaza is quite unique … .. and w hat could be more fun than dining at the Palm Court on rainy days? Today, an oil painting of Eloise hangs outside this restaurant, and is visited by many elegant ladies-w ho-lunch holding the hands of their darling granddaughters. 
Well, HVS’ own Themis Trakas experienced childhood at numerous five-star luxury hotels including Sheratons, Mandarin Orientals, Fairmonts, Carltons, and Hiltons as he traveled the globe with his father, an Olympic Airways Boeing 747 captain.
As a military and civil aviation pilot for 41 years, Themis’ dad infected his young son with a fascination for aircraft and aviation as they regularly visited New York, Toronto, Montreal, Singapore, Johannesburg, and Sydney. Themis dreamt of following in his father’s footsteps as a pilot, having become quite comfortable in the cockpit.

At 15, Themis was at home in the cockpit of a Boeing 747 cruising over the Atlantic Ocean on the way to NYC from Athens, Greece, with his father, the Captain!

However, as he neared the end of his high school years in the late 80’s, his father recommended that he explore the idea of pursuing a career in the hotel industry. Upon serious reflection, he had vivid memories of the hostelries where they had stayed, and this suggestion began to percolate in his thinking.

Paris Air Show

After completing his mandatory military service, Themis enrolled in the Swiss Alpine Center hotel school of higher education based in Greece in 1989 to determine if the hospitality industry would be a good fit. For the next sixyears, he pursued his educationin Greece, Switzerland, and the U.S.A., followed by a2-year program for an MBA in 2001. Everythingclicked, and he garnered 10 years of experiencein hotel operations,ultimately finding himself in an idealposition to acceptthe offer from HVS in Athens in 2006.

Demetris Spanos, Managing Director of HVS Athens, gives Themis the highest accolades, “Themis is a definite asset for our office. He was the first to join the group, when the legal entity of the HVS Athens was originally introduced. He is enthusiastic and knowledgeable regarding the industry. I can always depend on Themis to produce a quality assignment, and he is always willing to share his expertise with his colleagues. His sense of humor puts things in perspective. I really trust this individual and I consider him as a member of my family.”

Themis is serving as Vice President of the Cornell Hotel Society, Pan-Hellenic Chapter in Greece.

Still passionate about discovering new world venues, HVS has provided Themis with amazing opportunities. The most exciting destinations, and the assignments he has particularly enjoyed, include Morocco which he visited on three separate occasions in 2008; Kuwait, Mauritius; Antigua; the City of Pozzuoli in Italy; Tel Aviv; and Croatia.

Greek Mirage 2000 Fighter Jet

Though he did not fulfill his youthful fantasy of becoming a pilot, Themis developed a strong enthusiasmfor aviation photography. He is an avid fan of military air shows and while living in the United States from 1992 to 2003, his weekends were devoted to traversing the East Coast to attend everyair show scheduledto photograph the exciting exhibitions.

Sybil Hofmann, President International Programmes at Swiss Alpine Center, The Swiss Business School for International Hotel & Tourism and Director at City Unity College/International Hospitality & Tourism Management Department, says about Themis:
“Themis Trakas is an exemplary alumnus that is the dream of every college. We were so happy to have Themis as a student in the very first two years of his formation in the field of hotel management after which he transferred to our Swiss school in Switzerland to complete the third year of his studies.  His ultimate dream was to have a Cornell education and that’s where he headed next. Working in the US was another goal he had set and he further combined this with furthering his education to the MBA level in New York. What happened next is he planned to return to Greece, a great move because Greece needs such professionals to drive its hospitality industry to newer heights. Themis lost no time in visiting his alma mater and offering his services. He was appointed as a member of the Advisory Board and not only. He joined the academic team as a guest lecturer, launching second year students into their Integrated Project at the beginning of the year, counselling them during the year, and acting as a panelist at the end of the year when the teams presented their projects.

I have no words to describe Themis’ commitment, devotion and loyalty to his first alma mater, Alpine Center!!  I only wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to a young man who believes in the future of the tourism industry in Greece and in contributing to the professional development of the new generation of hospitality management professionals”.

Swiss Alpine Center

the Swiss Business School for Hotel & Tourism Management is celebrating 4 decades. The Company was established in Switzerland in 1986 and it’s 1st campus outside Switzerland was Established in Athens-Greece in 1987, and is a pioneer of hospitality management education, a la Suisse! Alpine has attracted students from over 75 countries in the last three decades, making it a truly international institute of learning.

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