THE 26th Philoxenia International Exhibition of Tourism and the first Hotelia-Expro & Clean took place in Thessaloniki, Greece recently.
Philoxenia witnessed a 27 per cent increase in trade visitors at 6,110 compared to 4,782 at the 2009 event. There were 320 direct exhibitors from Albania, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Egypt, Ghana, Greece, India, Russia, Serbia, Syria, Turkey, Tunisia, and the US, while the first Hotelia-Expro & Clean attracted 40 exhibitors.
Philoxenia saw 737 pre-arranged meetings between 68 exhibitors and 47 hosted buyers and trade visitors, who had registered in advance through organiser Helexpo’s Expopartenariat service.
Hosted buyers came from 27 countries including Albania, Armenia, Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Italy, Lebanon the UAE and the UK.
A highlight of the four-day event was the Best Participant Awards which were presented by the president and CEO of Helexpo, Paris Mavridis.
Top creativity prizes went to Νιkopolis Hotel Thessaloniki, Olympic Air, Prefectural Authority Of Pella – Pella Local Association Of Municipalities & Communities, Minoan Lines and the Municipality of Thessaloniki.
Special organiser’s prizes were handed to the Ministry of Culture & Tourism – Hellenic Tourism Organisation, the Prefectural Authority of Imathia, Beleon Tours, Kavaliero Viajes, Travelport / Worldspan, Region of Ionian Islands, Endeavor Lines, Evobus Hellas and Sivota Diamond Spa Resort.
And an honourary diploma was also awarded to the 17 exhibitor-members of Hestia Pan-Hellenic Association of Manufacturers of Catering Appliances for their contribution to the event.
Within the inauguration ceremony the Philoxenia Tourism Awards were also presented to the destinations voted as the best by the public via electronic voting.
Winners included Samos as favourite seaside destination and Nafplion as favourite urban destination.
This year’s conference was themed ‘A New Model for Tourism’ and was split into three sessions: Environment/culture/tourism; 12-month tourism and digital agenda for tourism & marketing strategies.
There was also a meeting on ‘how to make your hotel stand out in original and economical ways’ which was attended by around 70 hoteliers from Greece. Speakers made reference to smart hotel innovations, decoration and renewal methods. The meeting was organised in the context of the Hotelia – Expro & Clean by Helexpo Respond on Demand electronic platform, which represents 600 Greek hotels.
Also taking place at the same time was the ‘ARGO – First Black Sea Partnership Forum for Tour and Travel Operators’. The event was co-organised by UNDP – Black Sea Trade & Investment Promotion Programme, ΗΑΤΤΑ and Helexpo with the aim of discussing and analysing various aspects of tourism, seeking solutions and strengthening professional bonds between Greek tourism agencies and their colleagues from neighbouring countries of the Black Sea.