From the upcoming tourist season, the “Dine Out” initiative is expected to be launched on a pilot basis in Rhodes, introducing a new collaboration scheme between hotels and local restaurants aimed at enhancing visitors’ gastronomic experience and spreading tourism benefits across the local economy.
The initiative was at the center of a new working meeting held on Saturday, January 24, 2026, at the offices of the Rhodes Hoteliers Association, with the participation of the Association’s President Giannis Papavasileiou, the President of the Rhodes Restaurateurs Association Stavros Zouroudis, and the President of the Dodecanese Association of Travel Agencies Christos Michalakis. The meeting was also attended by PASOK MP for the Dodecanese and former Deputy Minister of Tourism Giorgos Nikitiadis, who has assumed a coordinating role in the initiative.
The meeting forms part of the ongoing process to mature the project and follows earlier consultations and the establishment of a working committee, with the aim of shaping a new, cooperative model of tourism experience for Rhodes.
During the discussion, the three organizations confirmed their shared intention to proceed immediately to the next stage, which involves registering the hotels and restaurants that will participate in the program, so that the initiative can be implemented on a pilot basis in the coming tourist season.
Under the “Dine Out” scheme, visitors to Rhodes will have the opportunity, at least once a week, to dine outside their hotel accommodation at selected local restaurants. The initiative aims to promote familiarity with Rhodian gastronomy, support local businesses, and enhance the overall destination experience.
In a statement following the meeting, the President of the Rhodes Hoteliers Association, Giannis Papavasileiou, noted that preparatory work has been ongoing for a considerable period, following the initiative of Giorgos Nikitiadis, whom he thanked for his contribution. As he stated, the objective is to find practical and functional ways for tourists, at least one day per week, to leave their hotels and visit local restaurants.
He added that in the coming period the registration of participating businesses will be completed and the program will begin on a pilot basis, expressing confidence that the initiative will receive a positive response and add substantial value to the destination.
All participants emphasized the importance of cooperation among tourism stakeholders and reaffirmed their commitment to continue working together, with the aim of establishing “Dine Out” as a permanent feature of the Rhodian tourism experience and a model that could be applied to other islands.
