The 85th Thessaloniki International Fair to be held from 5 to 13 September, will be adapted to the new conditions that have taken shape due to the coronavirus pandemic. The event will proceed with the safety and health of exhibitors and visitors in mind. Following the recent crucial months, this year’s event wants to send a message of optimism regarding the restarting of the economy, to be heard beyond the borders of Greece.

The content and programme of the Fair will be adapted depending on the protocols to be followed at this year’s event. With regards to these changes, TIF-Helexpo is in close cooperation with the competent ministries, the National Public Health Organisation, and the exhibition organisation of Cologne, which is responsible for the participation of Germany as the Honoured Country at the 85th TIF.

Throughout its long history TIF-Helexpo has succeeded in operating under very difficult conditions, always aware of its responsibility towards its visitors, customers, and partners. The effective and successful management of the health crisis in Greece is the best guarantee for the responsible organisation of an international fair, such as the 85th TIF.

03/06/2020 – 11:41

Due to the latest developments on the CoronaVirus front and with a high sense of responsibility towards our exhibitors, visitors and staff, TIF-HELEXPO has decided to cancel FRESKON, the International Event for Fresh Fruit and Vegetables. FRESKON was planned to take place during the period 2-4/4/2020 at the International Exhibition and Congress Centre in Thessaloniki, Greece.

Following our communication with exhibitors and guest visitors, the National exhibition Organizer, making the safety of all participants and stakeholders a priority, is renewing its exhibition “appointment” with the fresh fruit and vegetables sector for 15-17/4/2021.

TIF-HELEXPO is closely following the development of the virus outbreaks and shall be adjusting its exhibition schedule accordingly in the coming weeks.

All necessary precaution measures have been taken inside the International Exhibition and Congress Centre of Thessaloniki and all hygiene and safety rules are followed by our staff, collaborators and visitors while the Management of TIF-HELEXPO is in constant communication with the competent services of the Ministry of Health, the Region of Central Macedonia and the Municipality of Thessaloniki.

The National Exhibition Organizer would hereby like to thank all partners and collaborators from Greece and abroad for their support and collaboration as well as for their coherence on the issue of COVID-19.

10/03/2020 – 12:15

This year’s Athens International Jewellery Show, held from 21 to 24 February at Metropolitan Expo in Athens, was concluded with higher numbers and an international feeling. More specifically, this year’s event attracted an increased number of trade visitors, while it had an intense international character, as, besides Greece, there were trade visitors from 19 countries, namely, Spain, Switzerland, the UK, France, Poland, Romania, Turkey, USA, Italy, Israel, India, Denmark, Gibraltar, China, Brazil, Cyprus, Belgium, Albania, and Afghanistan.

The largest annual business meeting of the jewellery and watch sector covered an area of 12,000 sq. m., with the participation of more than 270 businesses from Greece, Germany, Bulgaria, Turkey, Italy, Belgium, Cyprus, and the UK. Jewellery and watch manufacturers, workshops, designers, importers, and representatives were all present.

All the new trends and collections in gold and silver jewellery, precious and semi-precious stones, and watches were presented in the framework of the exhibition, along with new designs in packaging and window dressing, as well as the most recent tech developments in the silver- and gold-smithing sector.

The next “date” TIF-Helexpo and the Pan-Hellenic Federation of Silver- and Goldsmiths, Jewellers and Watchmakers (POVAKO) have with the jewellery sector, has been scheduled for 17 to 19 October 2020 at KOSMIMA, at the Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre.

06/03/2020 – 13:51

The Detrop Boutique and Artozyma trade fairs recorded an 11% increase in trade visitors from 22-24 February at the Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre, at the centre of developments and innovation in high quality domestic food production.

It is noteworthy that there was a 46% increase in international hosted buyers, a fact that indicates the broadening international character of the two exhibitions, which highlight small Greek businesses that export delicatessen foods to international markets.

Detrop Boutique and Artozyma attracted 355 direct and indirect exhibitors this year, from 16 countries, in 7 exhibition pavilions, while a total of 230 Hosted Buyers and trade visitors from 32 countries were welcomed from Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and America.

Detrop Boutique attracted the gastronomy of Greece with 8 Regions (Central Macedonia, Eastern Macedonia-Thrace, the Ionian Islands, the Northern Aegean, Central Greece, Crete, Western Macedonia, Thessaly) and the Municipality of Kalamata, which will present olive oil from Messinia.

The 9th Artozyma exhibition attracted, for the first time, the most important companies for raw ingredients in baking and confectionery, as well as in packaging & equipment.

The two exhibitions were framed by a number of side events, which recorded new trends and modern techniques in the production, processing and pairing of foods and beverages.

The ‘Delicious Moments’ events series in cooperation with the Chef Stories company included the ‘Delicious Grocery’ modern grocery store, and the ‘Cheese ‘n’ Wine’ and ‘Beer & Cold Cuts’ thematic salons. Meanwhile, the 2nd Congress on aromatic & medicinal plants held in Pavilion 8, titled ‘Aromatic-Medicinal Plants & Greek superfoods: a powerful driver of financial growth’, was held by the Association of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of Greece, in cooperation with TIF-Helexpo.

Artozyma’s side events were very successful with an impact felt throughout the country.

Contestants in the 4th Pan-Hellenic Bread Championship included teams from Crete, Macedonia, Thrace, Peloponnese, Small Islands, and a Mixed team, while first place was taken by Peloponnese. This Championship, which honoured ‘Pinakoti’ bread this year, produced the National Baking Team, consisting of the top 8 bakers of the above 6 teams, who will represent Greece in contests abroad. The judges panel included the founder and president of Coupe du Monde de la Boulangerie (the international baking championship) Mr Christian Vabret.

The 1st Pan-Hellenic Confectionery Competition was held with internationally distinguished pastry chefs on the judges’ panel. The competition was organised by the Hellas Pastry Chef Club. The competition highlighted once again the art of confectionery, as well as young and talented pastry chefs in the student and professional categories.

Lastly, the Free From… Colloquium highlighted the secrets and truths about “free from” products to gastronomy professionals, and it analysed safe ways to produce and supply them to the final consumer.

03/03/2020 – 11:21

Here come Detrop Boutique, Artozyma, and the Athens International Jewellery Show with a total of 625 exhibitors, 4000 business meetings, and international delegations

A trio of exhibitions in Thessaloniki and Athens will be held over the next four days by TIF-Helexpo, with Detrop Boutique, Artozyma, and the Athens International Jewellery Show, during which more than 4000 business meetings will be held.

Detrop Boutique and Artozyma have attracted 355 direct and indirect exhibitors this year, from 16 countries, in 7 exhibition pavilions, while a total of 230 Hosted Buyers and trade visitors from 32 countries will be welcomed. Trade visitors include importers with experience in promoting and selling Greek products abroad, distributors that supply major retail chains, supermarket chains that carry out direct imports, delicatessen chains, organic product importers, and others.

Greek gastronomy will be represented at the exhibition by 8 Regions (Central Macedonia, Eastern Macedonia-Thrace, the Ionian Islands, the Northern Aegean, Central Greece, Crete, Western Macedonia, Thessaly) and the Municipality of Kalamata, which will present olive oil from Messinia.

Innovation in food production, small Greek businesses exporting to international markets, delicatessen foods, modern sales and distribution channels, and all developments in the sector have found their place at the 29th Detrop Boutique. At the same time, the 9th Artozyma, which is the largest exhibition of its kind in the past decade, has attracted the most important companies in baking and confectionery raw materials, as well as packaging and equipment.

The two exhibitions are framed by innovative side events. The ‘Delicious Moments’ series of events at Detrop Boutique, in cooperation with the Chef Stories company, includes:

• A modern “grocery store” in Pavilion 9, the Delicious Grocery, on the shelves of which visitors will find participating exhibitor products.
• In a wine tasting space in Pavilion 8, the ‘Cheese ‘n’ Wine’ theme salon will hold 10 hour-long events presented, by specialised staff, on wine and spirit labels, highlighting the value of pairing dairy products, as well as spreads, etc.
• Also in Pavilion 8 will be the ‘Beer & Cold Cuts’ theme salon, presenting a variety of beer labels with the appropriate cold cut pairing, as well as with other accompanying products.

The next three days will also see the 2nd Congress on aromatic & medicinal plants held in Pavilion 8, titled ‘Aromatic-Medicinal Plants & Greek superfoods: a powerful driver of financial growth’, organised by the Association of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of Greece, in cooperation with TIF-Helexpo.

At Artozyma, side events include:

• The 4th Pan-Hellenic Bread Championship, with the participation of six four-member teams, which have been selected from the whole country. ‘Pinakoti’ bread is being honoured this year.
• he 1st Pan-Hellenic Confectionery Competition that will be held by the Hellas Pastry Chef Club this year, will be star-studded. Top and internationally recognised pastry chefs will arrive in Thessaloniki, to participate in the judges panel that will choose the sweetest creations. Following the competition, a team of Greek pastry chefs will be formed, which will represent Greece at international competitions.
• The Free From… Forum, a congress on all the new trends and secrets of healthy eating, which will teach participants about innovative “free from” products, which are sugar, gluten, and lactose free, or free from other ingredients, and about the secrets of the vegan diet, etc.

At the same time, more than 270 businesses will participate in the largest annual business meeting in the jewellery and watch sector, Athens International Jewellery Show 2020, which is being held from 21 to 24 February at Metropolitan Expo in Attica. Participants in the Athens International Jewellery Show include jewellery and watch manufacturers, workshops, designers, importers, and representatives, while it is addressed to professionals who want to renew their business connections and develop new partnerships with company in Greece and abroad. Participants at the largest exhibition event on jewellery and watches in Greece include exhibitors from Germany, Bulgaria, Turkey, Italy, Belgium, Cyprus, and the United Kingdom, while the exhibition will cover 12,000 square metres.

Today’s Press conference

The potential of TIF-Helexpo to organise major exhibition events at the same time, in view of the three events, was underlined at today’s Press conference by the President of the exhibition body, Tasos Tzikas, while on his side CEO Kyriakos Pozrikidis stressed that the Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre will, over the next few days, become a meeting point for bakers and pastry chefs from all over Greece, as well as for small producers of delicatessen products.

Kalamata will meet the North through Detrop Boutique, which will become the springboard for the promotion and highlighting of the region’s production in extra virgin olive oil and olives, mentioned the Mayor of Kalamata, Thanasis Vasilopoulos. In fact, he made known that a third of Greek olive oil production takes place in Messinia.

He also expressed the intention of the local authority to work with TIF-Helexpo in organising a trade show in Kalamata focused on olive oil.

Thessaloniki has a lot in the oven all year round, and not just during Artozyma, noted the President of the Hellenic Federation of Bakers Michalis Mousios. He stated that in Greece there are 14,000 bakers who directly or indirectly employ 140,000 people, while he noted that over the next few days the Federation will forward to the government their request to return the term “bakery” to the real bakers.

In the meanwhile, in research carried out on behalf of the Federation, from 21-24 October 2019 in a sample of 603 consumers, it transpired that eight out of ten buy their bread from neighbourhood bakeries more often, and the same percentage considered the quality of the bread from their bakery to be better. Also, 4 out of 10 believe that bakeries have cheaper bread prices than other sale points.

The support of Thessaloniki pastry chefs to Artozyma was expressed by the President of the Guild of Confectioner Shopkeepers of Thessaloniki, Marios Papadopoulos, who mentioned the Free From… Forum, which they are organising in cooperation with the ‘Profitis Ilias’ Bakers’ Union of Thessaloniki on Saturday.

Artozyma was characterised as an exhibition with a lot in the oven by the President of the ‘Profitis Ilias’ Bakers’ Union of Thessaloniki, Elsa Koukoumeria, in reference to, among other things, the 4th Bread Championship being organised in the framework of the exhibition.

If desserts are the jewels of taste, then jewellery is the dessert of aesthetics, stated the President of the Pan-Hellenic Federation of Silver- and Goldsmiths, Jewellers and Watchmakers, Petros Kalpakidis, connecting the three exhibitions. He also announced that POVAKO will subsidise the participation of member businesses in the next KOSMIMA exhibition in Thessaloniki, in order to support the event, while he called consumers to choose Greek jewellery.

The President of the Pastry Chef Club of Greece mentioned the 1st Pan-Hellenic Confectionery Competition, which will be held in Thessaloniki, while expressing the desire for this event to become an institution, while the founder of the the Pan-Hellenic Bread Championship, Parthena Pastrafidou, noted that the goal is to support small bakers who are under a lot of pressure.

Lastly, the deputy general director of TIF-Helexpo Alexis Taxirlis noted that the National Baking Team may use the exhibition centre’s facilities for its needs

21/02/2020 – 15:33

More than 270 businesses will participate in the largest annual business meeting in the jewellery and watch sector, Athens International Jewellery Show 2020, which is being held from 21 to 24 February at Metropolitan Expo in Attica.

New trends and collections in gold and silver jewellery, precious and semiprecious stones and watches, new designs in packaging and window dressing, and the latest technological developments in the sector of silver- and gold-smithing, are on the agenda of the exhibition.

Participants in the Athens International Jewellery Show include jewellery and watch manufacturers, workshops, designers, importers, and representatives, while it is addressed to professionals who want to renew their business connections and develop new partnerships with companies in Greece and abroad.

Participants at the largest exhibition event on jewellery and watches in Greece include exhibitors from Germany, Bulgaria, Turkey, Italy, Belgium, Cyprus, and the United Kingdom.

The Athens International Jewellery Show 2020 covers an area of 12,000 square metres.

All exhibition visitors will be provided with free transportation from ‘El. Venizelos’ airport and ‘Doukissis Plakentias’ metro station.

19/02/2020 – 11:55

The 28th Agrotica trade fair achieved a triple record, achieving records in exhibition participations, exhibition area coverage, and visitors, exceeding all expectations. Specifically, there were 161,775 visitors, an increase of 12.53% in comparison to the 143,754 visitors who attended the 2018 event.

The Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre was flooded with people, with a constant flow throughout the four days of the event. Especially over the weekend, there was hardly room to breath in Agrotica spaces, as professionals from the agricultural sector rushed to receive updates and information on the latest developments in agricultural technology and a series of issues concerning agriculture. In fact, more than 60,000 people crossed the gates of the Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre.

The first record of the 28th Agrotica was the number of exhibitors, which came to 2077 (direct and indirect), from Greece and 45 other countries, while the second record concerned exhibition spaces covered, which came to 41,000 square metres. Besides the 550 international hosted buyers from 21 countries, the fair was visited by organised delegations from all over Greece, while there was an increase in the number of groups from abroad.

There was a great response to the side events of this year’s fair, with the 8th Pan-Hellenic Conference of the 28th Agrotica on ‘Climate Change and Agriculture’ and the congress on ‘New Agriculture-New Cooperatives-Towards a modern cooperative model for the new generation’ attracting hundreds of attendees.

The 28th Agrotica was held under the auspices of the Ministry of Rural Development & Food and the Interior (Macedonia-Thrace).

The next “date” between TIF-Helexpo and the world of agriculture is at Zootechnia from 4 to 7 February 2021 in Thessaloniki, and at Agrothessaly from 4 to 7 March of the same year, in Larissa.

05/02/2020 – 12:31

Exhibition participations from 46 countries, exhibition coverage of 41,000 sq.m. and all global agricultural technology at this year’s event  From 30 January to 2 February at the Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre

A historical record of exhibition participations was recorded by the 28th Agrotica Agricultural Machinery, Equipment & Supplies International Trade Fair, which has passed the 2000 exhibitor mark for the first time. In fact, this year’s event, which will be held from 30 January to 2 February, has been sold out for approximately two months, while it has covered every last square metre of the Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre.

More specifically, there will be 2077 direct and indirect exhibitors from Greece and another 45 countries, in contrast to 1903 exhibitors in 2018, 1503 in 2016, and 1349 in 2014. Agrotica will cover an exhibition area of 41,000 square metres, in contrast to 39,000 square metres covered by the previous event. It is estimated that the economic footprint of the 28th Agrotica on Thessaloniki and the broader region will be in the area of 30 million Euros.

The exhibition shall also be visited by approximately 550 international hosted buyers from 21 Balkan, European, Asian, and Middle Eastern countries. They shall include international visitor groups, who shall arrive en masse and by the dozens at Agrotica. Major organised delegations with many thousands of visitors are expected from all over Greece, as there has been intense interest

in the exhibition from farmers’ cooperatives, groups of producers, etc.

The exhibition, held under the auspices of the Ministries of Rural Development & Food and the Interior (Macedonia-Thrace), records the overall presence of of businesses from the entire spectrum of agricultural production and technology from all over Greece, while participations include the largest companies in the trade and sale of supplies and agricultural machinery.

A large number of associations, organisations, and bodies are also participating, including the Ministry of Rural Development and Food, the Association of Manufacturers of Agricultural Machinery of Greece, the Machinery Importers’ – Representatives’ Association, and the Hellenic Fertiliser Association.

There will also be a wide variety of side events, including the 8th Agrotica Pan-Hellenic Conference, on ‘Climate Change and Agriculture’, co-organised by TIF-Helexpo and the AUTH Faculty of Agriculture, which shall be held on 1 and 2 February at the ‘N. Germanos’ Congress Centre’.

Furthermore, the ‘New Agriculture-New Cooperatives-Towards a modern cooperative model for the new generation’ shall be held in ‘A. Riadis’ hall on 31 January (co-organised by TIF-Helexpo and the New Agriculture for a New Generation programme, under the auspices of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food). In addition, the Four Eyes for Farm robotic system shall also be presented at Agrotica (at an event co-organised by TIF-Helexpo and the Institute of Bio-Economy and Agro-Technology of CERTH), along with many other models of professional farming vehicles.

The Press conference

The importance of the agricultural sector to the Greek economy was underlined at today’s press conference in view of the 28th Agrotica by the President of TIF-Helexpo, Mr Tasos Tzikas. “The agricultural sector helped us get ahead during the crisis”, he mentioned, while he pointed out the historical record of this year’s event.

On his side, the deputy general director of TIF-Helexpo Mr Alexis Tsaxirlis stressed that Agrotica is the third largest agriculture trade fair in Europe, and the most international event of the national exhibition agency. He also made it known that he is in contact with two of the largest European agriculture trade fairs, those of Italy and Germany (EIMA and Koelnmesse), in order to develop synergies in the Balkans and Southeastern Europe in the near future.

The readiness of Greek agricultural machinery manufacturers to support the needs of the market was underlined by the President of the Association of Manufacturers of Agricultural Machinery (EKAGEM) of Greece Ms Dimitria Emmanouilidou, who also mentioned that EKAGEM is participating in Agrotica with 110 enterprises-members, covering an area of 8500 square metres, both indoors and outdoors. “Agrotica is a multi-tool and it is up to us to utilise it”, she stressed.

The vast requirements that have been created for agricultural machinery due to the recession were mentioned by the President of the Machinery Importers’ – Representatives’ Association (SEAM) Mr Savvas Balouktsis, who stated he was especially optimistic as regards the future of Agrotica. He also made it known that SEAM is participating in the event with 44 enterprises-members, covering an area of 15,000 square metres.

The dynamic presence of all of the market leaders at Agrotica was underlined by the head of the trade fair Mr Vassilis Spyrou, who, in fact, apologised that TIF-Helexpo could not grant all requests due to the incredibly high demand.

Lastly, professor and president of the Faculty of Agriculture of AUTH Mr Christos Dordas referred to the 8th Agrotica Conference, characterising it as an important tool for extroversion.

The exhibition’s opening will be held on Thursday, 30 January, at 19:00, at the ‘N. Germanos’ congress centre by Minister of Rural Development and Food Makis Voridis. The opening hours of the exhibition on Thursday, Friday, and Sunday are from 10:00 to 19:00, and on Saturday from 10:00 to 20:00.

29/01/2020 – 12:50

The interest of farmers from Greece, the Balkans, and Southeastern Europe will turn to the largest trade fair of the sector, Agrotica, which will be organised for the 28th time from 30 January to 2 February 2020 at the Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre.

At the most important Agrotica to be held to date, participants include all the major industries and businesses of the sector, representing innovation, new technologies, and all the latest developments in machinery, supplies, and equipment.

Agroitica also attracts businesses that are attending the trade fair for the first time (with nutrients and plant protection products), as well as exhibitors with minor participation from 2014 onwards, while it coincides with the first approvals of the Improvement Plans of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food, which will lead to the modernisation of domestic farming.

The trade fair will attract large numbers of trade visitors from the Balkans, Southeastern Europe, and the Eastern Mediterranean, while it is accompanied by a timely and rich programme of side events and congresses, with the most interesting subjects in agricultural production.

This year’s Agrotica also boasts a thematic exhibition on farming-professional vehicles, offering test drives of the latest models from the automotive industry.

Side events that stand out include the 8th Agrotica Pan-Hellenic Conference (on 1 and 2 February at the ‘N. Germanos’ Conference Centre), focusing this year on ‘Climate Change and Agriculture’, the ‘New Farming-New Cooperatives’ event (co-organised by TIF-Helexpo, the Ministry of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food, and the New Agriculture for the New Generation programme), and the presentation of the Four Eyes for

Farm robotic system (co-organised by TIF-Helexpo and the Institute of Bio-Economy and Agro-Technology of CERTH).

20/12/2019 – 13:25

The Philoxenia and Hotelia exhibitions functioned as a platform of optimism for Greek tourism, gathering tourism sector professionals at the Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre for three days. In fact, the exhibition duo attracted 20,143 visitors, proof of the trust placed in them by sector professionals, who continuously and consistently choose these exhibitions to promote themselves and to open channels of cooperation. The number of trade visitors to the two exhibitions was increased by 19%. Furthermore, 4500 meetings were held between hosted buyers and exhibitors — again, a record number — during a rich programme that satisfied both sides.

The messages on Philoxenia and Hotelia were especially positive, anticipating an even brighter future, as exhibitors and visitors alike recognised the upgraded image of both exhibitions.

There was a broad programme of side events at Philoxenia, while most side events concerned the Honoured Regions (Poland, the Region of Thessaly, and the Municipality of Tripoli). In fact, the events for Poland as Honoured Country attracted many visitors, while the events organised by the Region of Thessaly and the Municipality of Tripoli were especially interesting. Nepal’s first ever participation at Philoxenia was also successful. In fact, Nepalese tourism officials attending the exhibition were very satisfied with the results.

Furthermore, 35 tourism startups were presented at Philoxenia via two entities: Digital Greece, a project of the Ministry of Digital Governance, and CapsuleT Travel & Hospitality Accelerator, the first Greek startup accelerator exclusively for tourism, which is an initiative of the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels. Attendance at this event indicated that tourism innovation attracts a lot of interest.

In addition, this year’s Philoxenia International Congress on ‘Dark Tourism-Shedding light on a dark past’ — held in a packed room at ‘N. Germanos’ Conference Centre — highlighted the tourism prospects of Thessaloniki and Central Macedonia in this field, as well as in all international examples indicating ‘Dark Tourism’ trends. In fact, Greek and international speakers who participated, proceeded with in depth analyses regarding this phenomenon, which has been gaining traction in the tourism industry in recent years.

Large numbers of people attended the dozens of Hotelia events. ‘A unique VR accommodation experience’ was the greatly successful interactive event, that resulted in long lines, providing visitors with the opportunity to have an unprecedented virtual hotel accommodation experience. The other thematic sections of Hotelia were also successful: All About Café attracted large numbers of visitors to its seminars and events, The Cup Tasting Spot and the Latte Art ThrowDown also made an impression, while world champion baristas enlightened those attending. The All About Gastronomy thematic section was equally successful, with the Nutritious reservation, Nutritious Reservations bar, and Nutritious Reservations’ Speeches attracting the interest of visitors.

The Philoxenia-Hotelia exhibition duo hosted 542 exhibitors, participations from 21 countries, the entire domestic tourism industry, Greece’s 13 regions and many of its municipalities. More specifically, there were 382 Philoxenia and 160 Hotelia exhibitors. They came from all over Greece, Poland, Bulgaria, Luxembourg, Azerbaijan, the Philippines, Cyprus, Uzbekistan, G. Britain, Nepal, Peru, Bosnia, Turkey, Slovakia, Serbia, Armenia, Kenya, Russia, Albania, Czech Republic, and France.

There was a total of 142 hosted buyers at both exhibitions. 100 top tour operators from 37 countries attended Philoxenia (1/3 of the Hosted Buyers were MICE and 2/3 were Tour Operators and Travel Agents), while 42 hosted buyers from 19 countries attended Hotelia. There were 160 people in the international groups visiting Philoxenia from Turkey, North Macedonia, and Bulgaria, and 120 visiting Hotelia from Bulgaria and North Macedonia.

Exhibitors included, among others, the Ministry of Tourism, the Greek National Tourism Organisation (EOT) (which had both exhibitions under its auspices), the Ministry of Digital Governance with tourism startups, construction, technology, furniture, equipment, and renovation businesses, addressing the tourism sector from all Regions of Greece, as well as the most important institutional entities, SETE, POX, XEE, HATTA, etc.

The Hosted Buyer programme sponsors were Zorpidis Travel, Grand Hotel Palace, and Prima Holidays, while it was supported by the Tourist Organisation of Thessaloniki and Thessaloniki Convention Bureau.

Frapport was the Hospitality Sponsor of the Dark Tourism Congress, Aegean was the Air Travel Sponsor, Taxi Way was the Transportation Sponsor, the Lunch Break Networking Event was held in the framework of the Thema programme, and the Coffee Break was Sponsored by Kafe Passion.

Lastly, all About Café was sponsored by the Specialistas product line by MEVGAL, and EUROGAT was the Equipment Sponsor.

20/11/2019 – 12:05