The Discussion on Establishing a National Organization for Conference Tourism Development Begins
The need for the creation of a national organization dedicated to the development and promotion of the conference sector in Greece was emphasized by tourism representatives during a roundtable discussion held on Friday, November 15, 2024. The event took place as part of the 39th Philoxenia exhibition, initiated by the Greek Meetings Alliance (GMA).
The Greek Meetings Alliance is an innovative collaboration between the Athens Convention and Visitors Bureau (This is Athens), operating under the umbrella of Athens Development and Destination Management Agency (ADDMA); the Thessaloniki Convention Bureau (TCB); and the Hellenic Association of Professional Congress Organizers and Destination Event Specialists (HAPCO & DES). GMA was established to highlight the importance of Greece’s conference and meetings industry to the economy and to develop a national strategy and specialized national entity for the sector.
The discussion, titled “Greece as a Destination for International Conferences and Events: Establishing a National Entity,” featured notable participants: Grigoris Tasios, President of the Halkidiki Tourism Organization; Anastasios Konstantaros, CEO of the Rhodes Tourism Promotion Organization; Stelios Ouzas, Board Member of the Pierian Organization for Tourism Development and Promotion; Maria Papadopoulou, Development Manager of This is Athens Convention & Visitors Bureau; Dimitris Ganitis, General Manager of Thessaloniki Convention Bureau; and Antonia Alexandrou, Secretary General of HAPCO & DES. The discussion was moderated by Eleni Sotiriou, Consultant at Thessaloniki Convention Bureau.
The core focus of the discussion was the establishment of a national entity as a prerequisite for further strengthening Greece’s conference and professional meetings industry.
The representatives of Greece’s only two Convention and Visitors Bureaux, operating in Athens and Thessaloniki, showcased how their targeted strategies and emphasis on international networking have attracted major events from abroad. They also noted that Greece has the fewest convention bureaux compared to other European competitors and is among the few countries lacking a national convention bureau. For example, Spain operates 62 CVBs, Germany 28, Italy 18, and Portugal 8, all coordinated under national entities.
Maria Papadopoulou, representing the Athens Convention & Visitors Bureau, presented data highlighting the significant economic impact of conferences on local communities, their contribution to employment growth, seasonal diversification, and the dissemination of scientific knowledge. She noted that Athens ranks 11th in Europe and 15th globally in the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) rankings.
Dimitris Ganitis, General Manager of Thessaloniki Convention Bureau, added that Thessaloniki also performs strongly, ranking 26th in Europe and 42nd globally in 2023. He highlighted that Thessaloniki has surpassed classic conference destinations like Munich and Valencia, as well as capitals such as Belgrade, Tallinn, and Zagreb.
Antonia Alexandrou, Secretary General of HAPCO & DES, emphasized the critical role of convention and visitors bureaux in securing and successfully hosting international conferences. She described them as the vital link between the host city and the professional congress organizer (PCO). Alexandrou stressed the importance of establishing a national entity to strengthen Greece’s position on the global conference map.
Messrs. Tasios, Konstantaros, and Ouzas underscored the importance of conference tourism for the development of their respective regions and expressed their willingness to support GMA’s efforts to create a national convention entity.
The event was attended by the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Elena Rapti, and Central Macedonia’s Deputy Regional Governors, Vicky Chatzivasileiou and Nikolaos Tzollas.
