Dinos Astras

President,
Hellenic Association of Professional Congress Organizers

Philoxenia 2009 greeting.

The Hellenic Association of Professional Congress Organizers (HAPCO) will once again support practically and virtually Greek travel and tourism exhibitions that are aimed towards meetings among professionals and the exchange of views. For this reason, HAPCO will have, for the sixth consecutive year, a dynamic presence at this year’s 25th Philoxenia.

In times of an economic crisis, such as the one we are “admittedly” experiencing at the moment in Greece, many companies have chosen—and wrongfully so—to cut down on promotion and advertising costs such as their participation in exhibitions. However, in a few years, such decisions may prove fatal for a company’s viability.

Marketers and tourism professionals will slowly forget such a company and will ultimately question its reliability.

Therefore, HAPCO gives the utmost importance, through its own as well as its members’ participation to exhibitions such as Philoxenia, which resembles a “magnet” that attracts tourism professionals of various enterprises, products and services.

I wish every success to the organization of Philoxenia, but also to all its exhibitors, who, defying the difficult economic circumstances, have decided to attend and support their “identity” along with their ambition for new contacts and future partnerships.