Event News

The Society of Incentive and Travel Executives recently organized a seminar-gathering for its members, where the guest speaker was Alexandros Kouris, PRC group director designate and head of communications business unit. The PRC group is the consultancy that was commissioned with the branding of Greek tourism. It specializes in research-based consulting, business development and predictive analysis.

The Philoxenia tourism awards, that Helexpo began last year, are due to take place once again at the Philoxenia tourism exhibition in November. The most popular Greek destinations will be awarded as will the best Greek hotels, a new category that will be determined and voted for by ‘mystery guests’ that will visit the hotels under the guise of tourists and make notes on the overall services the hotels offer to Greeks and foreigners.

Some eighty representatives of the local tourism and travel industry attended the recent seminar organized by AirSea Lines under the auspice of the Hellenic Association of Tourism and Travel Agencies. During this event they were informed of the developments, services and network of the hydroplane carrier as well as its potential in the development of tourism in Greece.

Tourism Development Minster Fanni-Palli Petralia recently opened the exhibition of Greek tourism posters at a ceremony held to commemorate artists that designed posters throughout the century and award artists that participated in this year’s competition.

The first Summer Holidays Expo that recently took place at the Thessaloniki International exhibition center proved a great success, according to the organizers, and paved the way for more events of this type.

Tourism competitiveness does not depend only, or basically, on price, reputed the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises after a recent report released by the World Economic Forum. The report on travel and tourism competitiveness, which placed Greece number 24 in a list of 124 countries, should help understand why some countries capitalize on tourism, while others are left behind.

At the recent Greek forum on tourism held by government leaders, it was found that Greece’s tourism sector contributes two of every 10 euros within the country’s economy, or 18% of its gross national product. And for every single euro that a visitor spends, the rest of the country’s economic sector creates an additional two euros.

Expedia, the world’s leading online travel provider, is holding ten workshops in major cities throughout Greece. This initiative to help promote tourism in Greece and improve hotel competitiveness is a result of an agreement made between Expedia and the Hellenic Hotel Federation.

The use of solar energy, water resources with the implementation of new technology, as well as the design of buildings that host tourism facilities that take advantage of renewable sources of energy lead to a reduction in operating costs, improvement of the commercial image of the tourism business, contribute to the protection of the environment and are an example for the local communities.

The European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT) held its first International Workshop in Athens. The program included presentations on good practices and discussion sessions on accessible tourism in Europe, with a focus on ENAT members’ activities and work to promote and market accessible tourism. Excursions to accessible tourist venues in Athens were taken.