HORECA 2023 Welcomes Over 60,000 Visitors, Sees Great Commercial Success

Ribbon-cutting ceremony of the HORECA 2023 show: NürnbergMesse Group CEO Peter Ottmann, SYRIZA MP Katerina Notopoulou (head of tourism), Greek Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias, Greek Development & Investments Minister Adonis Georgiadis, Greek Deputy Minister of Development and Investments Nikos Papathanasis, FORUM SA President & CEO Thanasis Panagoulias, Greek Coffee Association President Giannos Benopoulos, GSEVEE (Hellenic Confederation of Professionals, Craftsmen, and Merchants) President Giorgos Kavvathas and Hellenic Hoteliers Federation President Grigoris Tasios. Photo source: FORUM SA

Over 60,000 visitors passed through the gates of the 17th International Hotel, Restaurant and Cafe Show HORECA that took place at the Metropolitan Expo center in Athens during 10-13 February.

HORECA is the leading exhibition for hospitality and F&B companies in Greece.

According to the expo’s organizer FORUM SA, a member of NürnbergMesse Group, the high number of visitors confirms that HORECA is the largest exhibition in Greece, a leading commercial forum for hotels and foodservice businesses and a center of investment for the sector.

Speaking during the exhibition’s grand opening on February 10, NürnbergMesse Group CEO Peter Ottmann said that the essence of HORECA is its people themselves, their ideas, dreams, contribution, dedication and above all their confidence in sharing those values.

“In this way, a strong industry is formed of exhibiting companies in Greece that shape the future of HORECA,” Ottmann said.

HORECA supports earthquake victims of Turkey

Thanasis Panagoulias, President & CEO of FORUM SA; Onur Katmerci, DCM at the Turkish Embassy in Athens; and Peter Ottmann, CEO of NürnbergMesse Group. Photo source: FORUM SA

During his speech, Ottmann expressed his condolences to the victims of the earthquake in Turkey, stating that FORUM SA, in response to the great humanitarian crisis caused by the earthquake in the neighboring country was donating one euro for every square meter sold at the HORECA exhibition, with the donation reaching the amount of 26,000 euros.

“The thoughts and wishes of all the employees of the organizing company of HORECA exhibition are next to those who have been affected by this disaster and to the rescue crews who are fighting the great battle to save lives,” FORUM SA President & CEO Thanasis Panagoulias said during the opening ceremony.

HORECA 2023

HORECA 2023 event area. Photo source: FORUM SA

With 500 exhibitors, HORECA 2023 saw an incredibly high attendance, attracting a total of 60,735 professionals from hotels and mass catering businesses from every corner of Greece over four days, showing that it is a point of reference and inspiration for both the tourism and catering industries.

“The enormous dynamics and impact that the exhibition has on these two key sectors of the Greek economy, as well as its contribution to their development, is confirmed more and more each year,” FORUM said.

HORECA 2023 exhibition area. Photo source: FORUM SA

The exhibition was a lively four-day trade forum, where exhibitors made countless contacts with owners and executives of large and well-known hotel units, restaurant and cafe chains, as well as successful restaurants and catering and bar catering companies.

Also, a very dynamic audience from the wholesale trade as well as the bakery and confectionery industry attended and closed many deals.

According to FORUM, a very positive development at HORECA 2023 was the fact that exhibitors were visited by many young entrepreneurs that have plans to open a business in the HoReCa sector and came to the exhibition to find everything they need to make this start.

Special events attract visitors

Hellenic Chamber of Hotels President Alexandros Vassilikos speaking during the 6th International Hospitality Forum held during HORECA 2023. Photo source: Hellenic Chamber of Hotels

HORECA’s special events were an integral part of the show, equally important with the main exhibition.

Through the workshops, case studies, and panel discussions, visitors and participants had the opportunity to open their business horizons and learn about the newest product developments as well as the trends in digital marketing and management in the HORECA Lab.

The Panhellenic coffee championships that took place on the Coffee Events stage, and the Panhellenic cocktail championships for the top baristas and bartenders respectively, gathered a large crowd who watched with great interest.

The Gastronomy Lab venue at HORECA 2023. Photo source: FORUM SA

At the same time, issues such as sustainable gastronomy, sustainability of dishes and new trends and innovations in catering, were analyzed at the Gastronomy Lab.

The exhibition also hosted the 6th International Hospitality Forum of the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels, the Fortune Greece Conference, the “Greek hospitality ecosystem” forum of the Hellenic Business Association and the Gastronomy Conference of the Chef’s Club Greece.