On 2-3 July 2025, AKMI International brought together policymakers, educators and industry leaders under the historic skies of Athens, hosting a pivotal national event as part of the PACTS4ALL initiative during the Union for the Mediterranean Conference on Tourism and Employment. With the EU Pact for Skills as our guiding framework, participants explored how strengthening partnerships between businesses and training providers, creating tailored upskilling and reskilling pathways, and aligning education with real labour‑market needs can bridge the sector’s widening talent gap. TourX itself is a committed signatory to the Pact for Skills and actively advances its objectives—leveraging our Knowledge Triangle model to mobilize stakeholders, co‑design curricula with employers, and ensure that every learner acquires the competencies that today’s tourism industry demands.
Guests were welcomed into AKMI’s School of Hospitality, Chef and Pastry, where modern vocational training unfolds in state-of-the-art facilities. In the Gastronomy programme, students venture into local markets to learn ingredient provenance and sustainability—drawing inspiration even from innovative waste-reduction models in Egypt. Meanwhile, the Barista & Bartending labs transform the preparation of espresso and cocktails into a study of science, art and guest experience, and the Hotel Administration track demonstrates the importance of precision and energy-efficiency in every aspect of service. This immersive tour revealed not only technical skill development but also a nurturing of resilience and creativity, hallmarks of AKMI’s future-focused approach.
Our commitment to career readiness shone through in discussions of AKMI’s robust internship programme and longstanding industry partnerships. With a 95 percent job-offer rate and collaborations with distinguished names such as Sani Ikos Resort, Grecotel and Hotel Grande Bretagne, AKMI doesn’t just graduate students—it launches professionals ready to thrive in a dynamic tourism landscape. A masterclass by Alexandros Sainidis further amplified this vision, urging us to embrace AI without sacrificing human touch, cultivate intrapreneurial mindsets across organizations and balance empathy with efficiency as we navigate geopolitical shifts and digital transformation.
As we reflect on these two days of rich dialogue and hands-on discovery, AKMI reaffirms its dedication to promoting excellence, sustainability and innovation in Mediterranean tourism. By uniting educational ingenuity with industry insight, we are shaping a skills ecosystem that not only meets today’s demands but also anticipates tomorrow’s opportunities. Learn more about this collaborative mission at https://pacts4all.eu/ and join us in building the future of tourism—together.
