Thessaloniki Tourism Organization Makes Waves at Seatrade Cruise Global 2023

Team TTO at Seatrade Cruise Global 2023. Photo source: TTO.

The Thessaloniki Tourism Organization (TTO) promoted Thessaloniki as a top cruise destination at the Seatrade Cruise Global 2023, the leading annual cruise industry event.

Held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the exhibition featured over 500 exhibitors, a new co-located event dedicated to cruise F&B, and well over 1,200 confirmed matchmaking meetings.

During the exhibition, the TTO held 15 meetings with cruise companies, travel agents, opinion leaders and media representatives specializing in the cruise industry. The organization already has ongoing collaborations with a number of media outlets such as AFAR and Cruise Industry News.

The TTO’s main aim was to introduce Thessaloniki to cruise companies operating in the wider Mediterranean area and discuss the possibility of including the city’s port in their future itineraries.

Team Greece at Seatrade Cruise Global 2023. Photo source: TTO.

TTO’s most successful meetings included Royal Caribbean and contacts with Holland America and the company’s itinerary planning department.

In addition to meetings with cruise industry leaders, TTO executives met with Fort Lauderdale local authorities as part of a twinning program with the city of Thessaloniki.

The Florida state city boasts a strong Greek community that includes the Greek Orthodox St. Demetrius parish, St. Demetrius Greek School as well as 10 Greek-run restaurants.

B2B meetings at Seatrade Cruise Global 2023. Photo source: TTO.

“Contacts made at this year’s Seatrade Cruise Global makes us optimistic just before the 7th Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum, an international event that will bring together the world of the global cruise industry in Thessaloniki,” Thessaloniki Tourism Organization President Voula Patoulidou said in an announcement.

Patoulidou underlined that Thessaloniki managed a 260 percent increase in cruise port calls in 2022 due to its synergies and successful communication strategy.

TTO’s presence at the Seatrade event was just one more effort of the organization to promote the city as a leading destination for cruise tourism.

The positive outcome of the event provides an excellent opportunity for Thessaloniki to attract more cruise lines and enhance the city’s position as a major cruise port in the Mediterranean.