Helexpo: Philoxenia Receives Extensive Upgrade

The 28th International Tourism Exhibition Philoxenia saw a major increase in trade visitors this year compared with last year’s exhibition, according to a press release of organizer Helexpo.

“Philoxenia remains a reference point on the international tourism map,” Helexpo said.

The 28th Philoxenia took place this year 22-25 November at the Thessaloniki International Exhibition Center and showed a somewhat improved picture in comparison to last year’s exhibition.

The number of Greek trade visitors that attended the exhibition increased to 2,472 against 1,756 against in 2011 (41 percent) while foreign trade visitors increased by 38 percent (256 against 185 last year).

On the weekend (24-25 November) the exhibition was open to the public, an increase of 23 percent in visitors compared to last year was noted.

The countries of origin of the foreign trade visitors that attended Philoxenia were Albania, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Estonia, US, Italy, UK, Romania, Serbia-Montenegro, Turkey, Finland, FYROM, Cyprus, Slovakia, Poland, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Thailand, Ukraine and Georgia.

Philoxenia this year welcomed 100 hosted buyers from India, China, Japan, Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Brazil, Germany, Canada, US, Israel, Jordan, Sweden, France, the Netherlands, Hungary, South Africa, Switzerland, Lithuania, Serbia, Denmark, Czech Republic, Belgium, Portugal, Turkey and Israel.

According to Helexpo, overall some 1,800 scheduled B2B meetings took place as well as a great number of on-the-spot meetings among hosted buyers and exhibitors from Greece and abroad.

Philoxenia exhibitors were reported to have estimated that they expect some 30 percent of their contacts at Philoxenia to help them open up to new markets.

This year’s Philoxenia was organized by Helexpo and conference organizer ARTION and held under the auspices of the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO), the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises (SETE), the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels, the Hellenic Federation of Hoteliers and the Hellenic Association of Travel & Tourist Agencies (HATTA).

Philoxenia Exhibitor Awards

Region of Western Macedonia

• Best Creation Awards

Meli Tours
Sani Resort
Porto Carras Grand Resort Sithonia

• Certificates for Attentive Participation

Secureshop-Flexibook Reservation Systems
Porto Palace Hotel
Region of Western Macedonia

• Organizer’s Special Awards

Municipality of Parga
Region of North Aegean
Region of Thessaly
Jordan Tourism Board
Grand Hotel Palace-Mediterranean Palace
Tunisia