Meet the Team: Voula Savvena – Hotel Manager at Amus Hotel & Spa

Meet our Team

Have you ever wondered who are the people at H Hotels Collection that make your moments matter? Meet Voula Savvena, Hotel Manager at Amus Hotel & Spa. Read her interview as she shares her experience as a woman in leadership, the challenges she has overcome, and what it takes to inspire and lead in today’s hospitality industry.

Can you tell us a little about yourself and your journey to becoming the Hotel Manager of Αmus Hotel & Spa?

I have been working in hospitality for more than 25 years, across different areas including Front Office, Guest Relations, Reservations, Events and hotel operations. Each role gave me a broader understanding of the business and gradually led me into management. Becoming Hotel Manager of Amus Hotel & Spa has been a natural progression of that journey but also something very meaningful to me personally.It is a hotel I have always felt particularly connected to, and given its long history and strong presence in Rhodes hospitality, I consider it a real honor to lead it today.

What inspired you to pursue a career in hospitality, and what led you to take on a management role?

What attracted me to hospitality , was the human element but also the fact that it is a dynamic and exciting industry that brings together so many different and interesting aspects. That variety, the constant interaction with people and the need to understand many different areas of the business are what make hospitality so exciting to me and drew me naturally towards management where all these elements come together.

What does being a woman in a leadership position mean to you personally? 

For me, leadership should ultimately be about competence, character and results rather than gender. At the same time, I believe it is important for women to see other women in senior positions and know that these opportunities are genuinely  open to them. This is something I particularly value within H Hotels Collection, where many talented women hold key and senior roles, reflecting in practice a culture that supports women’s growth and leadership.

What have been some of the most important lessons you have learned throughout your journey as a manager?

One of the most important lessons I have learned is that effective management is about judgement as much as knowledge. Hotels are dynamic environments and situations can change very quickly. Understanding people, reading situations well and knowing when to act, listen and trust your team can make all the difference.

What has been the most challenging moment in your career as a manager, and what did it teach you?

The Covid period was undoubtedly one of the greatest challenges. We had to coordinate every aspect of the hotel with exceptional care, while ensuring that both guests and employees felt safe. At the same time, we were trying to recreate a sense of normality in a situation that was anything but normal. It taught me the importance of teamwork, adaptability and calm leadership in times of uncertainty.

What do you believe companies can do to encourage and support more women in leadership positions?

I believe companies can support women best by creating an environment where women feel they can step forward, take on responsibility and grow without having to fit a certain image of what a leader should be. Having strong women already in key roles also makes a difference because it shows what is possible and gives others confidence to aim higher. In the end, women do not need different standards, they need equal space to develop, contribute and lead.

What advice would you give to young women who aspire to become leaders in the hospitality industry?

I would tell women to recognize their own value and experience. Keep building your knowledge, ask for opportunities and allow your own leadership style to develop naturally. There is no single way a woman has to lead-what matters is being credible, consistent and able to bring people together.

What is one piece of advice you wish you had received at the beginning of your career?

I wish I had known earlier that a career is not built in a straight line. Often, it is the unexpected turns and the moments outside your comfort zone that shape you the most. The journey never really stops-you keep evolving with every challenge, every decision and every person you meet along the way.