I recently had the chance to catch up with a fascinating man... Dr.Buhalis of the University of Surrey, at the Travel Distribution Summit in London. Dimitrios has had a long and distinguished career in eTourism and chaired the online marketing track at the conference. Here is a jist of my interview on behalf of the Talent Jungle Network with him...JJ
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Name: Prof Dimitrios Buhalis

Current Company and Title: Currently Leader eTourism Research at University of Surrey, From September 2007 Established Chair in Tourism, Bournemouth University

[JJ] Please tell us a little about academic background and how you got into teaching and then research?

[Dimitrios>] I was born and raised in Athens. For a summer job, I worked as a waiter from the age of 12 to the age of 18 – against the wish of my parents! I fell in love with the Tourism and Hospitality industry and when I got into the University of the Aegean in Greece to study Business Administration I focused myself into taking on a degree in Tourism by doing all my assignments in Tourism and Hospitality.

In the summer times I worked in hotels in Kos and on the Club Med and realized the importance of distribution for our industry. At that time GDSs (Global Distribution Systems) were the only way to distribute products and I came up with the idea of Advanced Destination Management Systems through a European Project called STAR that promoted telecommunications (basically fax and telex at the time!!!) to small hotels.

In 1990 I came to the University of Surrey to do my MSc in Tourism Management and when I finished, John Fletcher and Chris Cooper asked me to help them as an Associate Lecturer. They then offered me a scholarship to do my Doctorate on the 'Impacts of Technology on small and medium Tourism enterprises and peripheral destinations'. The rest is history! I was part of a great teaching and research team.

Then in 1995 I joined Westminster University as Senior Lecturer before coming back to the University of Surrey in 2000 as Senior Lecturer, Reader and Leader of eTourism Research. My book on eTourism is a best seller in the area and it has also been translated into Chinese. As from September 2007 I will be joining Bournemouth University as a Professor, to take the eTourism research agenda forward.

But I am still very involved in the industry as the “marketing director and web master” of my family hotel in Loutraki Greece www.hotelsegas.com as well as non executive Director in an online travel agency www.yourholidays.com


[JJ] What prompted your move to eTourism Research with the University of Surrey in 2000?

[Dimitrios>] I have always looked into ways to promote and manage tourism using technology. In 2000 the Internet was maturing and this was just the beginning of a new era. The University of Surrey at the time saw this as a niche area... and this enabled me to work with several colleagues and develop their area and the first MSc in eTourism in the world, as well as attract significant funding from the European Commission for research in the area.


[JJ] How has the field of eTourism changed over the past 5-7 years?

[Dimitrios>] eTourism has become much more mature and mainstream.

It is really interesting, using www.archive.org, to take a look back at web sites such as Expedia, etc and see how they looked like when they began life.

Now people realize that the Internet is not something separate from their main business and it is quite often the only way to reach their markets and compete.

Consumers have also moved from 'look to book to review', engaging much more with the industry and gaining significantly more power in the marketplace.



[JJ] What would you feel have been the defining moments for you in terms of personal and career accomplishments?

[Dimitrios>] I think that most of my personal and career achievements can be attributed to the fact that my job is my passion and it can also be attributed to inspirational teachers at all stages of my University academics. Nikos Litinas, Roy Panagiotopoulou and Odysseas Sakelaridis at the University of the Aegean and Chris Cooper, John Westlake and John Fletcher are some of the most influential people in my life and I am grateful for their support. I am trying to give something back to them and also to my students now by trying to motivate, challenge and support them during and after their study.


[JJ] You recently chaired the Online Marketing Track at eyeforTravel Travel Distribution Summit - what was your opinion of the scope, relevance and usefulness of the topics discussed?

[Dimitrios>] I always enjoy the EyeForTravel events as they are very well researched and organized. Tim Simon and their team do an excellent job. In the recent event there was excellent debate on a number of issues including branding, pricing, distribution, glocalisation and translations as well as Web 2.0 and customer interaction. I picked up a number of issues and I reported them on my blog – see http://buhalis.blogspot.com/2007/05/chaired-online-marketing-track-at.html


[JJ] What tips or words of wisdom would you have for someone engaged in the dynamic field of eTourism or online marketing & distribution in Hospitality?

[Dimitrios>]
- To keep their eyes wide open for all emerging trends
- To engage into a dynamic and mutually beneficial dialogue with their clients
- To ask their kids what technology they like to play with and why
- To think at the level of technology adoption of their key markets – rather than their domestic environment


[JJ] You will be moving to the School of Services Management at the Bournemouth University soon - please tell us more about what you will be doing there?

[Dimitrios>] I have accepted an Established Chair in Tourism and my brief is to develop eTourism research further and also to ensure that technology is included in all aspects of the curriculum and on the research agenda for the entire School. Bournemouth University was recently ranked #1 in Tourism by the Guardian Newspaper and I am looking forward to working closely with many of my friends to develop this even further.


[JJ] You have a personal blog! Where can we find it and what can eager visitors look forward to on your blog?

[Dimitrios>] I started the blog in 2005 but my interest tapered off. I went to the TTI conference recently that was all about Web 2.0 and felt guilty that I have not updated this for a while. My excuse was lack of time...but then again, Bill Marriott probably does not have more time than me (and he has a great blog!), so I started it up again. Basically 'Dimitrios Journeys' (the blog) buhalis.blogspot.com is about what I do, what impresses me and what I feel that is significant. It also brings together resources from other bloggers and communities. It gives an opportunity to my students and friends to see what occupies my mind and share some thoughts, whilst offering an opportunity to interact, share and manage knowledge around the world.

Reach Prof Dimitrios Buhalis online at at www.buhalis.com and buhalis.blogspot.com


Interview (c) 2007 The Tourism & Hospitality Diaries, part of The Talent Jungle Network

tags: dimitrios-buhalis, interview, featured-hotelier, talent-jungle, tourism, e-tourism, university, surrey, bournemouth, research, TDS, 2007, london