SITE President Calls for Greek Chapter

Tassos Pappas, president of the Society of Incentive Travel Executives, with Takis Antoniou, immediate past president of the Hellenic Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies.

The president of the Society of Incentive Travel Executives (SITE), Greek-born and raised Tassos Pappas now of Brussels, called on the incentive specialists in the Greek market to form a Site chapter.

“As a Greek, I am sorry to see that your surrounding and competitive countries have a Site chapter that promotes them as an incentive destination,”, said Mr. Pappas during a presentation of the society’s aims and benefits. “Greece is not only without its own chapter, but also it has only 12 Site members”

He added that Greece could become a prime incentive destination if more travel agents here would become incentive professionals and increase the perceived value of Greece as a destination.

“You can have one of the best destinations in the world for incentives,” he said, “but if potential customers perceive your destination as unsafe or with low quality services they will go elsewhere.”

Site’s 18-member board of directors, members of which come from 10 countries, was in Athens for five days last month to hold its board meeting after an invitation by the Hellenic Association of Tourist and Travel Agencies.

The society is a worldwide organization of business professionals dedicated to the increased recognition and use of incentives as a way to motivate and reward employees with programs designed to achieve defined objectives. It recognizes the global differences and practices required to develop strategies and serves as a networking and education opportunity for its members.