Thessaloniki Moves Up Global Ranking as Top Conference Destination

Photo source: Thessaloniki Convention Bureau

The northern Greek port city of Thessaloniki has moved up 31 spots to 42^nd place in the International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA) report released this week.

According to the Thessaloniki Convention Bureau (TCB), an ICCA member, Thessaloniki ranks 42nd globally up from 73^rd in 2022 and 26^th in Europe up 25 spots as a leading MICE destination.

Report data presented earlier this month at the IMEX 2024 in Frankfurt, in 2023, Thessaloniki hosted 11,904 delegates at 45 conferences which met ICCA standards up from 26 in 2022, marking a 73 percent rise and generating over 19 million euros. Average per capita spending per event came to 1,557.18 euros, said the TCB.

Overall, according to the TCB, Thessaloniki hosted more than 400 conferences and events last year welcoming some 75,000 people to the city.

Thessaloniki is a preferred choice for conferences and events in health and medicine (25 percent), technology (20 percent), and sciences (16 percent).

“Thessaloniki’s exceptional performance in the global meetings segment is the result of detailed planning and efficient implementation. This success is pivotal and requires redefining our goals and the intensification of our activity in order to further develop the city’s tourism product and respond to Thessaloniki’s conference momentum,” said TCB Managing Director Dimitris Ganitis.

In 2013, Thessaloniki ranked 219^th globally and 111^th  in Europe on the ranking.

Speaking in Thessaloniki earlier this year, HAPCO & DES (Hellenic Association of Professional Congress Organizers & Destinations Events Specialists) President Sissi Lygnou said conference tourism to Greece could generate as much as 1 billion euros in revenues annually and attract high-income visitors while promoting the country worldwide.