Abstract

The increasing globalization of tourism, the growing demand for high-quality services, and the multilingual nature of clientele render language competence, intercultural awareness, and professional training fundamental pillars of contemporary hotel operations. This study explores the impact of foreign language skills and professional education on service quality, career advancement, and hiring preferences in the hotel sector of the Chalkidiki, an area that is a popular tourist destination for international tourism in Greece.

Quantitative research was adopted, using a structured questionnaire distributed digitally to 174 employees (representing about 2.5% of the hotel employees) selected through stratified sampling, according to the hotel classification and the bed capacity. The findings indicate that most employees possess a high educational level and strong command of English, with a considerable percentage also proficient in a second foreign language. Language proficiency is positively and significantly correlated with perceived service quality and customer satisfaction. Knowledge of foreign languages also has a positive effect on employment prospects, while research has shown that hotels ranked in the highest classes have higher educated staff and have more knowledge of foreign languages. In conclusion, education and linguistic competence are not merely a desirable asset but a vital lever for enhancing service quality, employability, and strategic development of human capital in the hotel industry.

JEL classification codes: L83, J24, D83