Piraeus to Host 21st CEUCO Conference and Highlight its Gastronomy Tourism Potential

CEUCO President Carlos Martin Cosme, Piraeus Vice Mayor Andrianna Zarakeli, Piraeus Mayor Yiannis Moralis, Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs representative John Chrysoulakis, CEUCO Vice President Konstantinos Mouzakis. Photo source: Piraeus Municipality

Piraeus, Greece’s largest port city, will host the 21st European Conference of Gastronomy and Enology of CEUCO this November. Greece was chosen as the conference’s host destination among six candidate countries.

Scheduled to take place November 8-10 at Piraeus’s Municipal Theater, the CEUCO (Conseil Européen des Confréries Enogastronomiques) conference will attract 500 participants, including professionals from the fields of gastronomy, enology, and fine dining. Conference attendees will be hosted and given tours around Greece’s emblematic port city.

Commenting on CEUCO selecting Piraeus as the host destination, Piraeus Mayor Yannis Moralis referred to it as a “great success” for the city.

“It is very satisfying for us that we are seeing results from the effort we started three years ago, trying to promote our city as a gastronomy tourism destination, among other things,” Mayor Moralis said during a recent media event held to present the upcoming conference.

Piraeus Vice Mayor Andrianna Zarakeli, CEUCO President Carlos Martin Cosme, Piraeus Mayor Yannis Moralis and Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs Representative John Chrysoulakis. Photo source: Piraeus Municipality

According to the mayor, gastronomy is a significant aspect of Piraeus’ cultural identity, especially when combined with the unique Piraeus landscape, the sea, the history, the culture, the authenticity, and the character of the city.

“I am sure that by hosting this European Conference in November, our city will reap multiple benefits in terms of tourism, further strengthening its dynamism and extroversion,” Mayor Moralis said.

The CEUCO Conference will feature products from 120 exhibitors, mainly from Europe, but also guests from as far as Macao, China, each presenting their local gastronomy. Greek cuisine, including several dishes from Piraeus, will also be showcased during the conference.

Piraeus Mayor Yannis Moralis and CEUCO President Carlos Martin Cosme. Photo source: Piraeus Municipality

On his part, CEUCO President Carlos Martin Cosme said that hosting the upcoming conference and its delegates is “a milestone” for Piraeus and will significantly benefit the city’s tourism promotion.

“The ability of Piraeus to host such a large conference also shows how ‘mature’ the city has become in terms of tourism,” he said.

Also speaking during the press conference, Acropolis Chef’s Club of Attica President and CEUCO Vice President Konstantinos Mouzakis highlighted that the conference will prove Piraeus is an important gastronomy tourism destination.

Acropolis Chef’s Club of Attica President and CEUCO Vice President Konstantinos Mouzakis. Photo source: Piraeus Municipality

“The city of Piraeus will host gastronomy and oenology professionals, who will get to know its culture through its flavors, history, and traditions,” Mouzakis said, adding that delegates will tour Piraeus, visit the city’s museums and unique spots, and experience the local cuisine and Attica vineyards.

“They will become ambassadors of the culinary wealth of Piraeus when they return to their homelands,” he said.

Greece, specifically the Port of Piraeus, was chosen among the candidacies of France, Italy, Hungary, Portugal, and Belgium last year in Spain to host this year’s CEUCO Conference.