Thessaloniki’s Expo Center to Host Covid-19 Vaccine Clinics

Thessaloniki International Exhibition Center. Photo Source: @TIF-Helexpo

Greece’s national exhibition body TIF-Helexpo has offered its Thessaloniki International Exhibition Center to state authorities to accommodate Covid-19 Vaccine Clinics for the upcoming period.

“We are ready to deliver the premises at any time for the operation of the vaccine centers and also offer the support services necessary. The time of the centers’ operation will be defined by the program running on a national level,” TIF-Helexpo CEO Kyriakos Pozrikidis said during an interview on Radio North 98.

The company will offer the center’s pavilions 13 and 15, which cover a total area of 10,000sq.m.

“It has been a wise choice of the Civil Protection Ministry because the exhibition center’s outdoor area is large, which I believe will prevent overcrowding,” Pozrikidis added.

Kyriakos Pozrikidis Photo source: @TIF-Helexpo

Local MICE industry on hold

Pozrikidis also referred to Thessaloniki’s MICE industry that is currently on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic. As he said, no developments in Greece or in Europe are expected to take place in the first six months of 2021 since the MICE industry is connected with a number of different services.

“Our dream and desire is for exhibitions and congresses to restart in September,” he said.

In the meantime, TIF-Helexpo is proceeding with its plan to revamp the Thessaloniki International Exhibition Center.

The overhaul scheme includes the center’s exhibition spaces and commercial areas, and foresees the creation of a metropolitan park and an underground parking for more than 2,000 cars, among others.

According to Pozrikidis, the project is proceeding as planned, while the exhibition and congress center, as well as the park, are expected be ready by 2026.