One of the most well established exhibitions of the agricultural sector, the ‘Agrotica’ International Fair for Agricultural Machinery, Equipment & Supplies, will once again set the bar for developments in agriculture, from 27 to 30 January 2022, at the Thessaloniki Exhibition Centre. 

Agrotica 2022 has already covered the entirety of the Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre’s facilities with exhibitor participations. The most important enterprises and bodies of the sector will be participating, with a representative presence of global technology from the entire spectrum of agricultural entrepreneurship. 

The Fair will be completely safe and held in harmonisation with the epidemiological and health data in effect when it is being held. 

The dynamism of the primary sector which met the challenges of the pandemic, the Improvement Plans that will change the face of agriculture, and the latest innovations in the sector of agriculture will be the focus of the Agrotica. 

The reference point for domestic and international agriculture, Agrotica, is inviting all farmers and those involved in primary sector production, to the Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre from January 27 to 30.

01/12/2021 – 13:54

Twenty nine galleries form 7 countries, 20 side-projects, 3 Museum Exhibitions, and almost 800 pieces by artists are the total figures from the 5th Art Thessaloniki International Contemporary Fair, which is being held from 25-28 November at the Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre, while observing all health measures.

Art Thessaloniki is organised by TIF-Helexpo and the fair’s artistic director, Mr Pantelis Tsatsis. In fact, its operation coincides with the Thessaloniki International Book Fair, placing the Exhibition Centre and Thessaloniki in the culture and art spotlight.

It is an established international art institution, organised for physical participants, and standing proudly beside the most important corresponding European exhibitions. The Honoured Artist of the 5th Art Thessaloniki is Professor Emeritus of AUTh, Mr Giannis Fokas. The main characteristics of this year’s Art Thessaloniki, which is being held in pavilions 9 and 10 of the exhibition centre, are the following:

• At the opening of the fair, award-winning composer and best composer of the year internationally, Ms Lina Tonia, will present her new composition for the first time.
• An honorary distinction will be bestowed on painter Dimitris Alithinos and painter Giorgos Lazogkas for their corpus of work and their contribution to contemporary Greek art.
• A Museum Exhibition will be presented with works by internationally distinguished artist Victor Vasarely, in partnership with the Museum of Drawing Skopje.
• The Yiorgos Melikis Ethnographic Centre will present the original installation ‘K.P. Cavafy “BODY, REMEMBER… the beds in which you lay”’.
• The Museum Exhibition on the Greek Revolution 1821-2021 will present works by A. FRIEDEL, P.V. HESS, as well as newspapers and letters from the 1821-1828 period.
• A dance-theatre performance will be held, during which 11 dance performers and 3 musicians will create a landscape of emotions, directed by Ms Marianthi Psomataki.
• For the 2nd time, the Cultural Association of Entrepreneurs of Northern Greece, in partnership with Art Thessaloniki, will present the ‘MATAROA’ awards to 10 artists, who will exhibit their work in individual pavilions.
• The Municipality of Thessaloniki will be participating in the fair with its own pavilion, in which representative artworks from the Municipal Gallery will be exhibited.
• During the fair, WAVA (World Association of Visual Arts) in partnership with Art Thessaloniki will present 2 awards – Best Gallery and Best Artist.

Art Thessaloniki is a major exhibition event in art and culture

Art and Culture are best expressed in major exhibition events, such as the 5th Art Thessaloniki Fair, pointed out the CEO of TIF-Helexpo Mr Kyriakos Pozrikidis during the Press conference held at the Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre today. “The fair is visited by collectors, art buyers, and gallery owners from Greece, Europe, Balkan countries, etc.’, stressed Mr Pozrikidis, noting the there will be galleries participating from mainland and island Greece, Italy, Iraq, Turkey, Japan, and America.

In turn, the artistic director of the Fair, Mr Pantelis Tsatsis, stressed that the Fair will also be enriched by a programme of side events and speeches by art historians, underlining that ‘Art’ is a large exhibition if one takes into account the difficulties because of the pandemic.

The Honoured Artist at this year’s fair, Professor Emeritus at AUTh, Mr Giannis Fokas, mentioned that this event is a celebration of art, and he took a moment to explain that Art

Thessaloniki succeeded in being organised with physically present attendees, just like other major European fairs on art and culture.

The deputy mayor of Culture and Tourism of the municipality of Thessaloniki, Ms Maria Karagianni, pointed out that Art Thessaloniki is a very important artistic institution and that the municipality chose to participate once again this year with a pavilion.

The General Director of TIF-Helexpo, Mr Alexis Tsaxirlis, stressed that November is a month of culture for Thessaloniki, given the Art Thessaloniki and TIBF “duo”, which provide cultural bodies of Thessaloniki the opportunity to participate in these exhibition events.

Lastly, the project manager of Art Thessaloniki, Ms Anna Tombazi, noted that this event will be completely different to all other exhibitions.

It should be noted that only people who have been vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19 will be allowed entry to Art Thessaloniki, while all necessary protection measures for Covid-19 will be taken.

The working hours of the event are the following: Thursday 25 November 16:00-22:00, Friday 26 November 14:00-21:00, and the weekend of 27-28 November 11:00-21:00.

25/11/2021 – 14:44

Tourism professionals return-Increased number of commercial visitors

The Philoxenia-Hotelia tourism trade fair duo succeeded in attracting all tourism professionals to Thessaloniki from 12 to 14 November, achieving, under unfavourable conditions, its goal of once again becoming the sector’s meeting point and a medium for the promotion of destinations from all over Greece. In fact, the number of commercial visitors was significantly increased. Specifically, at Philoxenia 45% of visitors were commercial visitors, conributing to the organising of targeted meetings. The exhibitors were completely satisfied with the qualitative characteristics of the meetings with the hosted buyers from 27 countries and with the commercial visitors from Greece and 19 other countries.

The fair, which displayed its continuity and reliability to the exhibitors, represented all the destinations in Greece, while all major tourism institutional bodies were present. In fact, the podium of the fair was used for the presentation of major projects, such as Modiano Market and Olympos Naoussa Hotel in Thessaloniki, and Alexandrou Chora in Ofrynio, Kavala. The presence of the Municipality of Epidaurus as the Honoured Municipality of Philoxenia during events and activities made an impression.

A lot of interest was garnered by Philoxenia’s congress on ‘Experience Tourism: Seeking Authenticity’, which highlighted new tourism trends around the world in this field, with presentations on how Greece could utilise the increasing trend of experience tourism. Furthermore, there was major participation in the side events organised on the open stage of pavilion 13.

At the same time, the Hotelia International Hotel Equipment Exhibition was especially dynamic, focusing, this year, on five sectors: hotel equipment in pavilion 8 (indoor and outdoor furniture, mattresses and linen, fabrics, curtains, carpets, and lighting), kitchen equipment and cleaning machinery in pavilion 9, construction and renovation (building materials, floors, doors, door & window frames, sanitary ware, pools, cooling, and heating), and digital technology and security systems in pavilion 10, and, lastly, the coffee & drinks section in pavilion 12.

An important element at this year’s Hotelia was that the commercial visitor meetings were targeted and effective, achieving partnerships and agreements.

At the same time, Hotelia’s thematic units All About Gastronomy and All About Café filled the exhibition centre with flavours and aromas, with significant participation in the events and seminars. Greek breakfast laid the table at All About Gastronomy in pavilion 9, with the presentation of all the trends and new applications in the sector of gastronomy that were reinforced and established during the pandemic, while the Latte Art ThrowDown Competition was held at All About Café, where distinguished baristas and roasters impressed the audience with their technique and skill in coffee production, while sharing their secrets with them.

There were a total of 235 exhibitors at Philoxenia and Hotelia representing 12 countries, more specifically, Greece, Poland, Cyprus, Armenia, Portugal, Vietnam, India, Azerbaijan, Luxembourg, Jordan, Iraq, and the United Kingdom. The exhibitors included the Ministry of Tourism, EOT (which had both exhibitions under its auspices), tourism startups via the ‘Capsule T’

Accelerator of the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels, hotels, construction, technology, furniture, equipment, and renovation enterprises addressed to the tourism sector, the most important institutional bodies of the sector — XEE, SETE, HATTA, POX (which had placed the fair under their auspices) — and Greek tourism destinations (Municipalities and Regions).

More than 2500 programmed meetings of hosted buyers from 27 countries were held with exhibitors, while the two fairs also welcomed visits from commercial visitor group delegations.

The Hospitality Sponsor of the Congress, which was held under the auspices of the Region of Central Macedonia, was Fraport (also the hospitality sponsor of Philoxenia), Coffee Break was sponsored by Thessaloniki Tourism Organisation, Taxi Way was the Transport sponsor, while POX, Souroti, and Greek Instagramers Events were supporters, while the Grand Communication Sponsor was ANA/MPA.

The meals of the hosted buyers programme were sponsored by Mediterranean Palace, while the walking tours will were organised with the contribution of the Tourism Organisation of Thessaloniki,

The Mechanical Equipment Sponsor of All About Café in pavilion 12 was Eurogat.

24/11/2021 – 11:22

Minister of Tourism Vassilis Kikilias pointed out that the authenticity of Greece’s tourism product and experience tourism are connected to all productive sectors of the Greek economy, in his address to the Philoxenia Congress on ‘Experience Tourism: Seeking authenticity’.

In the framework of the thematic unit titled ‘Trip VS Destination. Investing in the emotions of travellers’, the Minister also noted that the goal is to increase the number of visitors to Greece and to highlight all the regions that have authentic experiences to offer. “We want tourist quantity and quality. The requirement is to expand the tourist period”, underlined Mr Kikilias.

The central speaker of the congress, professor of Marketing at University of Piraeus, Dr Maria Sigala, referred to the lost dimension of experience tourism, stressing that “you do not buy the experience, you buy what you believe will give you the experience and make you a better person overall”. She also noted out that authenticity requires three elements: the material object of the experience, the provider, and the tourist. She underlined that art makes us see a place differently.

Alternate professor of the Department of Theology of AUTh, Mr Christos Tsironis, highlighted the increase of more “savvy” tourists, stressing that experience tourism opens the path for a different vision of tourism. “Not just providing services in tourism, but shaping tailored experiences”, said Mr Tsironis, who noted that academic tourism could be enhanced in Thessaloniki.

“Visitors want a narrative” pointed out professor of tourism marketing at International Hellenic University, Mr Evangelos Christou, in the framework of the thematic unit titled ‘Modern marketing tools, life experiences, and digital tourism’, while he underlined that all tourism products are life experiences and what is particularly important is managing the customer’s emotions.

The Chief Innovation Officer of TheFutureCats, Mr Dimitris Dimitriadis, referred to the developments in technology and their impact on experience tourism, while he underlined that the pandemic was a catalyst for the digital transformation of the whole of humanity.

The lead researcher of the Information Technology Institute of CERTH, Dr Dionysis Kechagias, talked about big data analytics in tourism.

On his side, visual content creator and storyteller photographer, Mr Andreas Sfyridis, highlighted the importance of creating experience and authenticity narratives in visual promotion.

During his address, the secretary general of EOT, Mr Dimitris Fragakis, stressed that EOT is starting a new campaign on winter tourism on the mainland, while it will be followed by a city break campaign. The deputy governor of tourism for the Region of Central Macedonia, Mr Alexandros Thanos, noted that in 2019 a total of 2.3 billion Euros of the Region’s GDP came from tourism, and that there is a hope that this number will be achieved again or even surpassed in 2022. In reference to the benefits of tourism to the economy, the mayor of Epidaurus, Mr Anastasios Chronis, underlined that according to a German study, the Epidaurus Triathlon event contributes 250,000 Euros to the local community directly, and 380,000 Euros indirectly. A message sent by the Deputy Governor of Thessaloniki Voula Patoulidou was also read out.

Mr Dimitris Kalaitzakis, CEO of We do Local, an innovative hospitality brand, underlined the importance of life experiences and their added value for tourism in the framework of the thematic unit ‘Organising local events and actions enhances a destination’s brand, as well as it’s uniqueness’. Mr Kalaitzakis presented a series of experiential activities in tourism units of Crete that could provide a new dimension to a tourism enterprise and the experience it offers visitors. These activities included everything from cheese, oil, and wine tasting, and kneading and baking bread, to cooking lessons for the young and old.

The group project director of Fais Group, Mr Tilemachos Stilianos, referred to the ground breaking work of Fais Group, the latest example being the restoration of Modiano Market in Thessaloniki, the first monument to have been restored and returned, operational, to the city as it was before. In fact, he announced that the long-awaited project will be ready in 2022 and will have 80 stores, combining processed and unprocessed foods, providing visitors with the option of purchasing food and tasting food. He also stressed that the goal of the project, which is very challenging, as he said, and unique, is to satisfy and arouse all the senses. “Experience consists of the moments created by our senses and how we arouse them”, he noted.

Journalist and member of the ‘Agistro’ Social Cooperative Enterprise, Mr Panagiotis Savvidis, underlined the need for the Greek State to raise awareness and learn from the example of France in the development of historical tourism. Mr Savvidis referred to how a small French town, Verdun, utilised its heritage from World Wars I and II to become a pole of historical tourism attraction. This was the example from which the ‘Agistro’ Social Cooperative Enterprise drew inspiration in its efforts to utilise the heritage of World War II in the northern part of Serres, through activities to highlight, among other things, the history of Fort Roupel.

The coordinator of experiential activities of Karaiskos Farm, Mr Meletios Andrinos, underlined the value of investing in carefully planned experience tourism, explaining that we must understand the necessity of changing the tourism model. Sustainability and experience were the keywords on which the Farm’s venture was based. The Farm is located in Portaria Pelion and provides tourists and locals with an opportunity to reconnect with nature. The central idea around which the Karaiskos family built the farm’s experience was the phrase, “it all starts in our vegetable garden”.

The President of the Hellenic Association Of Tourism Enterprises In Outdoor Activities and CEO of Trekking Hellas, Mr Stefanos Sidiropoulos, spoke of the Association’s vision to create an outdoor culture and education on the outdoors in Greece, as well as of his personal vision to turn Greece into the greatest outdoor destination in Europe. The Association has more than 200 member-enterprises.

The next thematic unit highlighted sustainable growth as a requirement for the future of any tourism destination, focusing on infrastructure, mass transportation, and human resources.

In an era during which we face so many challenges, it is time to adopt new principles, new policies, and to act on sustainable growth, noted SYRIZA Tourism Sector Chief, Ms Katerina Notopoulou, who stressed that the design of the new tourism policy should take into account all the new needs that arise. According to her, however, we cannot truly speak of sustainable growth, unless economic growth is effective, socially just, and environmentally sustainable.

The prospects of developing accessibility in tourism regions were highlighted by the deputy Mayor of Tourism of the Municipality of Katerini, Ms Maria Terzidou, while sustainable tourism and the actions of the Municipality of Thessaloniki in that sector were the focus of the deputy mayor for Tourism and Culture, Ms Maria Karagianni.

Alternate professor in Transportation Infrastructure and Economics at Democritus University of Thrace, Mr Dimitris Dimitriou, talked about strategies for the improvement of connectivity and efficiency in tourism infrastructure, while the unit was concluded with an address on the subject of ‘Metron Filoxenias’ (Measure of Hospitality) by the IT Project Manager of MENTOR, Mr Christodoulos Mertzimekis.

There was a strong female presence in the closing of Philoxenia, specifically with the round table on ‘Synergies: The only way to create successful sales kits’, where four successful women each shared their experience in her own sector. The participants in the round table were the President of the National Wine Tourism Council, hotelier and winemaker, Ms Mary Triantaphyllopoulou, Vice President of Operations of TOR Hotel Group, Ms Ismene Tornivouka, Managing Director of Thessaloniki Convention Bureau, Ms Eleni Sotiriou, and owner of Handpicked Cultural & Creative Projects-Alliance for the Culture of Thessaloniki, Ms Argyro Barata.

The coordinators of the congress’ units were the President of the Hellenic Federation of Hoteliers, Mr Grigoris Tasios, branding and communication consultant, general manager of DASC Branding, Mr Dimisthenis Brousalis, CEO of TIF-Helexpo, Mr Kyriakos Pozrikidis, and the Director of University of Macedonia Press, Ms Ioanna Dandelia.

The Hospitality Sponsor of the Congress, which will be held under the auspices of the Region of Central Macedonia, is Fraport, Coffee Break is sponsored by Thessaloniki Tourism Organisation, Taxi Way is the Transport sponsor, while POX, Souroti, and Greek Instagramers Events are supporters, while the Grand Communication Sponsor is ANA/MPA.

Entry to the Philoxenia and Hotelia fairs is free for professional visitors and open to the public on Sunday 14 November, while a vaccination or recovery certificate is required.

16/11/2021 – 11:53

235 exhibitors from 12 countries, Epidaurus as the Honoured Municipality, 70 hosted buyers from 27 countries, and 2500 scheduled meetings

A message of optimism for Greek tourism amidst the pandemic is being sent by the Philoxenia-Hotelia exhibition duo, which is being organised from 12 to 14 November at the Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre, after a year of absence, with complete respect of health protocols.

There will be a total of 235 exhibitors at Philoxenia and Hotelia representing 12 countries, more specifically, Greece, Poland, Cyprus, Armenia, Portuga, Vietnam, India, Azerbaijan, Luxembourg, Jordan, Iraq, and the United Kingdom. The domestic tourism industry will also be present, while Epidaurus will be the Honoured Municipality of Philoxenia.

The exhibitors include the Ministry of Tourism, EOT (which has both exhibitions under its auspices), tourism startups via the ‘Capsule T’ Accelerator of the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels, hotels, construction, technology, furniture, equipment, and renovation enterprises addressed to the tourism sector, the most important institutional bodies of the sector — XEE, SETE, HATTA, POX (which have placed the fair under their auspices) — and Greek tourism destinations (Municipalities and Regions).

More than 2500 scheduled meetings will take place between hosted buyers and exhibitors in the framework of Philoxenia. More than 70 hosted buyers will be physically present from 27 countries, while the two exhibitions will also welcome hosted buyer group delegation visits

The stand-out event, among the many side events of Philoxenia, is the Congress on the subject of ‘Experience Tourism: Searching for Authenticity’, which will explore the trend of seeking more experiential tourist activities that include an element of discovery, make experiencing something different more intense, and focus on interacting with the local community and its unique culture. The Congress will be held on 13 November at Pavilion 14 and the works will commence with an address by the Minister of Tourism Vasilis Kikilias, while the central speaker will be Dr Marianna Sigala, professor at University of Piraeus and multi-award winning tourism researcher. Participants in the congress will include distinguished speakers from the academic community, important representatives of tourism bodies, as well as successful professionals of the Greek tourism market.

All About Gastronomy and All About Café stand out in the framework of Hotelia. These units will present special tastes and ideas, unique product combinations, and award-winning producers, who will enrich the knowledge of any interested professional. The Greek breakfast, synonymous to hospitality in Greece and having a Greek “good morning”, will be on the table at the unique space of All About Gastronomy in Pavilion 9. At the same time, all the trends and new applications in the sector of gastronomy that were reinforced and established during the pandemic will be presented. All About Café is a unit dedicated to the art of creating coffee, with workshops and the unique Latte Art ThrowDown competition. Distinguished baristas and roasters will impress with their techniques and skills, and will reveal, through a series of seminars and presentations, their aromatic coffee “recipes” to sector professionals and coffee lovers at Pavilion 12, with Equipment Sponsored by Eurogat.

Today’s Press conference

The President of TIF-Helexpo, Mr Tasos Tzikas, sent his own message from Cyprus on the connection of vaccinations to our return to our financial and social life. Mr Tzikas connected live over the internet from Cyprus as he was kept away from Thessaloniki due to quarantine. “I am in Cyprus, in quarantine, with no symptoms. Only vaccines in combination with scientific knowledge and strictly observing the health protocols will allow us to continue with our financial and social life”, he noted, announcing that meetings have been scheduled between TIF-Helexpo and the Cypriot authorities on restarting exhibition activities in Cyprus.

The CEO of TIF-Helexpo, Mr Kyriakos Pozrikidis, underlined the exceptional qualitative characteristics of Philoxenia and Hotelia, despite the reduced number of exhibitors in relation to pre-pandemic levels, while he noted that the entire tourism industry and Greek tourism, as well as the most important institutional bodies in tourism, will be in Thessaloniki for this 3-day event.

The continuous effort of the government and tourism enterprises to defeat the pandemic and enhance Greece’s tourism product was highlighted by Philoxenia and Hotelia, according to Deputy Minister of the Interior (Macedonia-Thrace), Mr Stavros Kalafatis, who noted that the Ministry’s support for the two emblematic fairs is unwavering.

The mayor of Epidaurus, Mr Anastasios Chronis, expressed his satisfaction with the selection of Epidaurus as the Honoured Municipality of the event. He spoke of the municipality’s history, its cultural heritage, and the region’s natural beauty. In fact, he noted that the Temple of Asklepios at Epidaurus is the most visited monument in mainland Greece after the Acropolis. More than 800,000 people visit the municipality of Epidaurus and its monuments every years. “Our goal is for Epidaurus to be more than a place to see, as it is now; for it to become a place to experience, both for us and for the friends of Epidaurus, so that they can enjoy visits that last several days to the cradle of civilisation and Medicine”, he stressed.

Along with the recommencement of Philoxenia and Hotelia, as well as other trade fairs, the Region of Central Macedonia is also restarting its tourism brand, which will travel all over the world, starting from Philoxenia, according to the Tourism Sector Chief of the Region of Central Macedonia, Mr Alexandros Thanos. He also stressed that the goal for 2022 is to achieve the numbers of 2019, while he expressed his optimism for the new tourist season and the progress of the region.

Philoxenia and Hotelia are being held at a crucial and decisive moment, as they will contribute to the promotion of destinations 
and offer a unique opportunity to exhibitors, according to the deputy Mayor of Culture and Tourism of the Municipality of Thessaloniki, Ms Maria Karagianni, who characterised them as major sales tools.

The president of the Tourism Organisation of Thessaloniki, Ms Voula Patoulidou underlined the fact that Greece is internationally treated as a major and powerful player in the tourism sector, noting that we have all worked towards this.

The President of the Thessaloniki Hotels Association, Mr Andreas Mandrinos, expressed his view that we have a difficult winter ahead of us, however he was also optimistic about the period from March onwards, while he noted that hotels have worked hard to prepare for the day after.

The All About Gastronomy and All About Café thematic units were mentioned by Sylvia Koumentaki from Chef Stories and Valantis Labrianidis from Valenia, each respectively in charge of their events.

The Hospitality Sponsor of the Congress, which will be held under the auspices of the Region of Central Macedonia, is Fraport (also the hospitality sponsor of Philoxenia), Coffee Break is sponsored by Thessaloniki Tourism Organisation, Taxi Way is the Transport sponsor, while POX, Souroti, and Greek Instagramers Events are supporters, while the Grand Communication Sponsor is ANA/MPA.

The meals of the hosted buyers programme are sponsored by Mediterranean Palace, while the walking tours will be organised with the contribution of the Tourism Organisation of Thessaloniki,

Entry to both fairs is free for professional visitors and open to the public on the weekend, while a vaccination or recovery certificate is required.

16/11/2021 – 11:14

The tourism trade fair duo will be organised in a completely safe and healthy environment

After a year of forced absence due to the pandemic, the Philoxenia-Hotelia tourism trade fair duo is making a dynamic return from 12 to 14 November, in a completely healthy and safe environment at the Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre. In fact, the interest of Greek and foreign exhibitors is great as regards the two fairs that have been identified with Greece’s tourism sector, and messages of optimism are expected for the new day of tourism.

Tourism entrepreneurs (travel agencies and major hotel units), tourist destination exhibitors (Regions, Municipalities), hosted buyers from 28 countries, and regular visitors looking for information on their next travel getaway, will all meet again at the Philoxenia International Tourism Exhibition, joining in an event that has been synonymous to tourism entrepreneurship for 36 years. Philoxenia has attracted participations from 11 countries besides Greece; specifically, Iraq, Jordan, Poland, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Portugal, Vietnam, Luxembourg, Peru, and India.

The honoured municipality of the event will be the Municipality of Epidaurus, a region blessed with top historical sites and sustainable tourism development, with an emphasis on alternative forms of tourism. Meanwhile, many municipalities from all over Greece and almost all the Regions will be present in Thessaloniki, to highlight the tourism “virtues” of their destinations.

The dynamism of this year’s Philoxenia is also highlighted in the rich side event programme that includes thematic presentations, colloquiums, workshops, and the Hosted Buyers Programme. The congress that has become an institution holds a special place at this year’s event. It will focus on ‘Tourism Experience: Searching for Authenticity’ this year and explore the need to understand and evaluate the tourism experience, and delve deeper into how a region needs to be shaped in order to be attractive to visitors.

Also back at Philoxenia’s side is the Hotelia International Hotel Equipment Exhibition. The reopening of hotel enterprises, their sustainable and safe operation, and new partnerships that upgrade and enhance tourism products will be the framework of this year’s event. Hotelia exhibitors come from he sectors of construction, pools, furniture, and equipment for hotels, catering, and gastronomy. Besides Greece, the event has attracted participations from Turkey, France, and Bulgaria.

In the framework of Hotelia, two thematic units will be explored: All About Café, an original and innovative unit dedicated to the art of preparing coffee, and All About Gastronomy, focused on gastronomy.

08/11/2021 – 12:29

The first event was a resounding success

The first Beyond 4.0 laid the groundwork for highlighting itself as the leading innovation and technology fair in Greece. It was organised from 14 to 16 October at the Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre and it made an excellent impression on sector professionals. Everyone agreed that this type of exhibition event was missing from the market and that its arrival covered a gap that was there, as well as the needs for the promotion of trade agreements in the sector. By transitioning from Infosystem to Beyond 4.0, the first step was taken to bring Thessaloniki back to the forefront of new technologies. The new event clears the path for promoting Thessaloniki into an innovation and technology hub for Southeastern Europe.

The Beyond 4.0 fair, on ‘The Future of Artificial Intelligence’ was warmly welcomed by major businesses in new tech and IT, as well as by startups that are taking their first steps in the business world. During these three days, innovative products and actions were presented by entrepreneurs, the academic and business community, as well as local government.

There was high attendance at all the congresses and events-presentations of Beyond 4.0, such as the AI BEYOND Forum, which focused on artificial intelligence. Side events that stood out at the fair included the Technology Forum, the Industry 4.0 Forum, the 2nd Congress for Innovation & the Digital Transformation of Local Government of the Regions of Greece, the 2nd Thessaloniki

Design Week, the WMF Worldwide Event Greece 2021, and the ‘MCE From Here to Where?’ conference. Leading Greek and international speakers brought with them the sector’s buzz and presented all the latest developments, as well as everything new that’s coming in the near future, capturing the attention of audiences.

Meanwhile, from 14 to 16 October at the ‘I. Vellidis’ Congress Centre, the annual regular congress of the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece (KEDE) was held. The Union supported from the very first moment Beyond 4.0 ‘The World is changing. Local government is stepping forward’, which focuses on the necessary digital transformation of municipalities, as well as the prospects of Smart Cities, highlighting the need for new technologies in local government.

The first multifaceted digital technology and innovation event in Greece attracted180 exhibitors of which 60 were startups. International participations (direct and indirect) came from Cyprus, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Albania, and N. Macedonia. Participants also included the ministries of Digital Governance, Development and Investments, the Interior, Finance, and Citizen Protection, while the Regions of Central Macedonia, Attica, and Crete were also dynamically present.

Beyond 4.0 was organised by TIF-Helexpo, Be-Best, and Industry Disruptors Game Changers (IDGC). The event was supported by the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece, which will be at the side of Beyond 4.0 in 2022 as well. Some of the most important IT and high tech companies internationally and in Greece supported Beyond 4.0 through their sponsorship. Specifically, Cisco, Info Quest Technologies, Intracom Telecom, Oktabit, and IBM (Gold Sponsors), as well as Singular Logic, Lancom, Performance, and InTrust (Sponsors).

Exhibitors and visitors have been invited to the next event, to be held from 29 September to 1 October 2022.

28/10/2021 – 16:38

The Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre will host the first multifaceted digital technology and innovation event in Greece from 14 to 16 October, organised by TIF-Helexpo, Be-Best, and Industry Disruptors Game Changers (IDGC). The national exhibition body, with the legacy of Infosystem, is returning to the forefront of new technologies, and aims to promote Thessaloniki into an innovation and technology hub in Southeastern Europe with this new exhibition.

The Beyond 4.0 innovation and technology fair will provide a platform to companies from all over the world to present innovative products and their services, as well as the opportunity to make important deals with visitors from Greece and abroad.

The event is being held in pavilions 7,12,13,14, and 15 and will feature 120 exhibitors, of whom 30 are presenting Smart City applications and 60 are startups. There will be international participations from Cyprus, Belgium, and Italy, while there will be indirect exhibitors from 10 countries. Also participating will be the ministries of Digital Governance, Development and Investments, the Interior, Finance, and Citizen Protection, while the Regions of Central Macedonia, Attica, and Crete will also have a dynamic presence.

The main theme of the event is ‘The Future of Artificial Intelligence’ and it will be developed via the exhibition with the participation of high tech companies, through the BEYOND AI Forum, on 15 and 16 October in pavilion 12, with important speakers, and through workshops organised by startups and major enterprises, product and service presentations on the two main stages, side events, and networking on the future of Artificial Intelligence.

The planning and development of Beyond 4.0 covers 4 basic sectors: the Congress Sector, the Startup Sector, the Research Centre & University Sector, and the Commercial Company & Technological Digital Application Sector.

In the Congress sector will host, besides the BEYOND AI Forum, all the IT and Industry 4.0 contributors through two important forums, which will be organised on 14 and 15 October: the Technology Forum and the Industry 4.0 Forum respectively.

At the same time, from 14 to 16 October at the ‘I. Vellidis’ Congress Centre, the annual regular congress of the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece (KEDE) will be held, on the theme of:

‘The world is changing. Local government is stepping forward’, which will focus on the necessary digital transformation of municipalities, as well as the prospects of Smart Cities.

Some of the most important IT and high tech companies in Greece and on an international level are providing support through their sponsorship of Beyond 4.0. Specifically, Cisco, Info Quest Technologies, Intracom Telecom, Oktabit, and IBM (Gold Sponsors), as well as Singular Logic, Lancom, Performance, and InTrust (Sponsors).

The Press conference

The aim of Beyond 4.0 to act as an international regional tech fair for Southeastern Europe, in the tradition of MWC Barcelona, which will help highlight Greece as an international technology hub in coming years, was mentioned at today’s Press conference by the President of TIF-Helexpo, Mr Tasos Tzikas.

On his side, the deputy Minister of the Interior (Macedonia-Thrace), Mr Stavros Kalafatis, stressed that the TIF was always on the forefront of tech developments and innovation, and it was only natural for it to remain in step with the future, which can be seen in Beyond 4.0, an innovative institution for the city.

The self-evident presence of local government in this new fair was stressed by the President of KEDE, Mr Dimitris Papastergiou, who underlined the need to transform the ecosystem of the municipalities, while also highlighting the positive coincidence of available funding for Smart Cities from the Recovery Fund, the Antonis Tritsis Programme, and the new NSFR.

The regional advisor on innovation for the Region of Central Macedonia, Mr Nikos Tziollas, characterised Beyond4.0 as a networking field for research agencies, businesses, and local government, while he also referred to the comparative advantages of the region, the most important being its human capital.

The CEO of TIF-Helexpo CEO, Mr Kyriakos Pozrikidis, extended an invitation to sector professionals and young children, stressing that Beyond 4.0 is a completely different fair that aims to realistically become a centre for innovation and technology in Southeastern Europe. He also announced the even greater internationalisation of the event in coming years, while he presented its numerous main and side events.

The ambition of Beyond 4.0 to put Greece and Thessaloniki on the global tech map was outlined by the managing director of Be-Best, Mr Vangelis Charalambous, who also made mention of a gap in the sector of tech fairs, which the new event will cover.

The importance of the event itself during the unique conditions that have come about due to the pandemic was underlined by the founder of Industry Disruptors Game Changers (IDGC), Mr Michalis Stangos, who emphasised the goal of Beyond 4.0 was to

get things done, and he underlined the great number and high quality of the fair’s events.

The very important participations and speakers at the Technology and Industry 4.0 Forums, which have an excellent opportunity to further evolve thanks to Beyond 4.0, were underlined by their moderator, Mr Kosmas Vamvalis.

On his side, General Director of TIF-Helexpo, Mr Alexis Tsaxirlis, stated that there has been a return to exhibition normality, in reference to Beyond 4.0 marking the commencement of trade fairs.

The organising of the WMF (Web Marketing Festival) within Beyond 4.0 was mentioned by the President of the Hellenic-Italian Chamber of Thessaloniki, Mr Christos Sarantopoulos, in the framework of which 15 startup companies will compete for three places in the WMF Global Congress in Rimini Italy in June 2022.

Beyond 4.0 presents an opportunity for fewer trips to exhibitions abroad, as noted by the marketing and communications director of Intracom Telecom Group, Mr Alexandros Tarnaris, who stressed that the Group could not be absent from this fair.

Lastly, the Sales Manager of Northern Greece for Info Quest Technologies, Mr Giannis Sinakos, characterised Beyond 4.0 as the ideal platform for business leaders and anyone involved in consumer tech.

To register as a visitor to the Beyond 4.0 fair, visit the following link: https://www.be4ond-expo.gr/attend/registration/

21/10/2021 – 12:39

The restarting of exhibition activity in new health framework was a success

The 85th TIF sent a clear message that of exhibition activity has restarted. Despite the unprecedented health framework and the difficulties of the period, the fair attracted 87,631 visitors and once again made Thessaloniki part of it.

The city centre moved to the beat of the first Covid-free Fair for nine days, and, although traffic was reduced in comparison to the 2019 event, as was expected, it once again fuelled the local economy and was cause for celebration in Thessaloniki. The symbolisms that accompanied the opening of the Fair were especially important, as they show the way for the evolution of exhibition activity until normality has been fully restored.

TIF-Helexpo feels more than ever the need to thank the exhibitors, who trusted it at this difficult juncture, the sponsors, who stood by it, and the visitors, who, despite limitations, toured its pavilions, as well as the media, that promoted it, and its employees, who went above and beyond in the effort to produce a sound exhibition result under unprecedented circumstances.

The 2nd Thessaloniki Helexpo Forum, ‘Planning the day after’, was a great success, with more than 110 speakers and 19 thematic units, providing answers to a series of critical issues that are of concern to society.

We hope that the 86th TIF in 2022 will surpass all expectations and will be organised without the shadow of the pandemic bearing over it. We are renewing our “date” for the Beyond 4.0 technology exhibition to be held from 14 to 16 October at the International Exhibition Centre of Thessaloniki.

The Official Telecommunications Provider of the 85 TIF was Wind, the Official Airline was Aegean, the Official Transport Sponsor was Kosmocar, the Official Energy Provider was the PPC, the Official Bank was the National Bank of Greece, the Beer of the 85th TIF was ‘NYMFI THESSALONIKIS’, and it was all supported with masks provided by the LIAFARM pharmaceutical wholesaler. The concert accommodation sponsor was KAPSIS hotel. As regards the Thessaloniki Helexpo Forum, it was supported by FODSA (Solid Waste Management Agency) of Central Macedonia, while Farcom provided antiseptics.

In the framework of the 85th, TIF-Helexpo partnered with ELINYAE, which trained personnel and exhibitors in how to protect themselves from the coronavirus.

21/09/2021 – 13:16