ZAKYNTHOS VILLAS ASSOCIATION

The Board

The Board of Directors

The Board of Directors of the Zakynthos Villa Owners Association is composed of individuals with experience and expertise in tourism development and property management. Our aim is to promote the interests of our members, ensure the quality of the services provided, and protect the natural and cultural heritage of Zakynthos. Through partnerships with local and national entities, the Board works toward the sustainable development of the area, taking into account the needs of both property owners and the local community.

Mavrikou Eleni

President

Owner of three villas and manager of eight villas. Tourism studies: IST College – Public Relations, London School of Economics & Political Science – Leadership & Management.

I started working in the hotel industry at the age of 17 and later as an area manager for the British company Cosmos.

My goal in creating this Association was, is, and will be to have a strong voice, with consistency and cooperation, so that we can properly represent this sector in any situation necessary. Villas are a field that, if properly managed, can offer a lot!

Vitsou Anastasia

Vice President

My name is Liliana Vitsou, and I have been involved in tourism my entire life. In addition to the Locanda Hotel in Argassi and the Gerakas Belvedere in Vasilikos, my family has been involved with villas since 1993, when they created the Periyali Villas complex in Vasilikos. I am also the owner of Villa Lilly in Beloussi and Seafront Zante in Kryoneri.

Spatharos Kostas

Secretary

Born in 1975 in Piraeus. Father of Elpida and Elianna. Bank employee from 1999 to 2017. Freelance professional in the construction and real estate sector, and owner of Villa Agricola.

Thomopoulos Alexandros

Treasurer

Graduate of Mechanical Engineering and holder of an MSc in Advanced Materials Science from University College London (UCL). General Manager and shareholder of a hotel complex and villa company. My vision for the future is the qualitative development of the business units, both in terms of equipment and service provision, as well as the discovery of new innovative ideas that will meet market demand and promote our island. We must all invest in quality tourism and in the unique identity of this island.

Zafeiriades Efstratios

Member

44 years old with 11 years of experience in short-term rentals. He manages his family villa in Vasilikos, Zakynthos, and oversees operations for multiple villas and accommodations in Zakynthos, Athens, Kastoria, and Karpenisi.

He is the official Airbnb community leader for the Ionian Islands as well as for Athens and Attica, coordinating all the managers in the region. He is also one of four Airbnb Ambassadors in Greece. As of 2024, he serves as the vice president of the Sharing Economy Association. He has a passion for hospitality and has turned it into an almost full-time profession.

His involvement in hospitality began when he was still a student. After graduating from the Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, specializing in “Sports, Tourism, and Environment,” he pursued his passion as an animator. From 2015, for about five years, he organized the Zante Freewalking Tour to showcase the beauty of Zakynthos to visitors. For him, every guest is unique, and his goal is to create a memorable experience that will make them want to return.

He holds two master’s degrees (in Special Education and in the Management of Natural and Man-made Disasters) and speaks fluent English, German, and Spanish. Finally, he is a speaker at conferences in Greece and abroad on Airbnb topics and a real estate consultant specializing in short-term rentals.

Maria Leontaritou

1st Substitute member

Economist, Owner of an Accounting Office.

For the past 24 years, I have been working as an accountant-tax consultant with a Class A license. I maintain a modern and organized space for providing accounting services in the center of Zakynthos, supported by trained and specialized staff. As a member of the Economic Chamber with a license to practice the profession of economist, I offer financial consulting services.

In recent years, I have been actively involved in our family tourism business managing villas in Keri, Zakynthos, both directly and indirectly, through the tourism businesses of my office’s clients.

Education:

Graduate of the University of Piraeus.
Student in the Master’s Program at the University of Piraeus, specializing in Project Management.
Seminars (Basic Skills for Successful Managers, Athens Chamber of Commerce).
Seminars (Costing and Budgeting for Hotel Businesses).
Seminars (Management of ESF Programs).
Specialization Course (International Financial Reporting Standards).
Specialization Course at EKPA (Tourism Management and Marketing).

Apostolis Mpakirtzis

2nd Substitute member

29 years old. Shareholder of the company Bakirtzis & Sons I.K.E. Owner of a villa and a tourism establishment, with five years of experience in the tourism industry and three years of experience in real estate.

My vision and goal are to contribute to solving significant issues in our sector, resulting in the enhancement of the island’s tourism product.