Rafael Villota-Jetzer

Rafael Villota-Jetzer, having completed his doctoral studies at Université Lumière Lyon 2 (France) with a focus on protected geographical indications for Ecuador, currently serves as the Academic Director of the Master's programs in Hospitality and Culinary Arts at the School of Hospitality, Culinary Arts, and Tourism at Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ), Ecuador. Supported by USFQ and the Institut Paul Bocuse (France), his research centers on rural development, tourism, and sustainable practices in the hospitality industry, specifically emphasizing geographical indications. With prior industry experience as the Assistant Food and Beverage Manager at the 5-star Sofitel hotel in Malabo (Equatorial Guinea), Rafael is actively involved in the Geographical Indications Development Program in Ecuador, organized by the European Union. In summary, Rafael Villota-Jetzer brings a wealth of academic and hospitality expertise, particularly in sustainability, rural tourism, and the promotion of geographical indications.