Maria was born and raised in Athens, Greece. She graduated from the Athens College; studied Business Management and holds a Master’s Degree in Marketing.

She is currently Director of GTP – DANAE Travel & Media Group, which is active in tourism and publishing since 1970. The group comprises three businesses that specialise in on-line (www.gtp.gr) and printed (Greek Travel Pages) tourism-related publications; the creation of reliable and targeted content (GTP Headlines); the management and utilisation of big data on tourism; the provision of 360 different digital marketing services; the provision of travel services (danae.travel); as well as representing airlines (Danae Airlines, GSA for KOREAN AIR for Greece since 1975).

She is actively involved in the community through her participation in Boards of Directors of various sectoral associations/ unions. She is and has been member of various BODs, such as Member of the BoD of SETE (Greek Tourism Confederation); Member of the BoD of ΙNSETE (Greek Tourism Confederation Institute); Member of the BoD of ECTAA (European Travel Agents & Tour Operators Association); Vice Chair of the BoD of ΗΑΤΤΑ (Hellenic Association of Travel and Tourist Agencies); Member of the Supervisory Board and PR Manager for FEDHATTA (Federation of Hellenic Associations of Travel and Tourist Agencies); Vice Chair of the BoD of SAAE (Hellenic Association of Airline Representatives); Member of the BoD of PETAGA (Greek Union of Air Travel Agencies); Member of the CSC (Athens College Sports Consulting Committee); and Member of the BoD of KIPOKA (Centre of Athens Citizens’ Movement).

Furthermore, she is a member of citizen groups and has participated in think tanks, international conferences and seminars on tourism as speaker or moderator, as well as in review committees.