General Events & Happenings

As of last week some 200 Santa Clauses took up poll position to unveil an exclusively branded ‘Change for Good’ carrier as UK-based easyJet and children’s organization UNICEF celebrated raising over £1 million through passenger donations.

Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos” yesterday, 13 December, hosted a special welcome party for its 169th millionth passenger since the opening of the airport 11 years ago in 2001.

The Cyprus Tourism Organization held a dinner for the Greek media and tourism professionals on Monday, 10 December, at the Ledra Marriott Hotel and presented the organization’s tourism strategy that dates up to 2015.

On the occasion of its 23rd anniversary of operations, travel agency Manessis Travel invited friends and clients on Saturday, 8 December, to the B & M Theocharakis Foundation to enjoy the “White Music Tales” Christmas concert.

Hotel Grande Bretagne began its Christmas festivities on Tuesday, 4 December, with its Christmas tree lighting event in the hotel lobby. The event also kicked off a special charity campaign, a fund raising project to support the non-profit association “Friends of Welfare.”

The general manager of Mediterranean Palace, Yiannis Aslanis, and the president and CEO of Helexpo, Paris Mavridis, hosted a party on Friday, 23 November, within the sideline’s of Philoxenia 2012, in honor of the hosted buyers of this year’s exhibition.

Anatolia Hotel in Thessaloniki held its traditional cocktail party at the hotels’ Aqua Bar Restaurant on the sidelines of the 28th International Tourism Exhibition Philoxenia (22-25 November).

The Greek regions of East Macedonia and Thrace, North Aegean, Western Macedonia, Thessaly, Ionian Islands, Central Macedonia, South Aegean and the Peloponnese were honored during the opening ceremony of the 28th Philoxenia.

The Hellenic Association of Travel and Tourist Agencies (HATTA) honored the best travel agency brochures and websites during the 28th International Tourism Exhibition Philoxenia held 22-25 November.

One of the Greek highlights at this year’s World Travel Market in London, UK, was the flash mob event organized by the Greek Tourism Ministry and the Greek National Tourism Organization on the banks of the River Thames in London under the message “Greece Welcomes You.”