The developmental strategy of HELEXPO aims at promoting Thessaloniki and Greece as an International Regional Exhibition Centre, the hub of a Broader Region that includes countries which are not just geographical neighbors, but also share strong cultural, economic, religious and cultural ties with Thessaloniki and Greece, countries that are mostly emerging economies, emerging markets suitable for scouting and using opportunities for international high yielding commercial transactions. These 30 countries have the honour and privilege of being called HELEXPO countries, with the goal of shaping a sales strategy that makes HELEXPO exhibitions attractive to exhibitors and visitors.

Today, HELEXPO operates a growing network of representatives in HELEXPO COUNTRIES and key-countries of global trade, utilising the network of Greek Offices of Trade and Economic Attachés around the world, participating in the World Trade Centre of Thessaloniki, expanding the international character of its exhibitions, while also rendering its exhibitions even more commercial and effective through Expo-partenariat services of pre-arranged business meetings.

HELEXPO’s new marketing strategy includes full utilization of IT and telecommunications technologies with a human face. As the main exhibition agency of the country, HELEXPO aspires to shaping the exhibition philosophy and training of modern Greek entrepreneurs. HELEXPO CLUB has operated since 2006, with the participation of the most important enterprises of each sector; this is considered a reward for the trust shown by exhibitors, a substantial incentive for their privileged participation in more exhibitions and a tool to enhance their corporate image through additional privileges, opportunities and capabilities provided by HELEXPO.

The immediate and steady goal of HELEXPO’s exhibition policy is to enrich its exhibition calendar with new exhibition events. In regard to Athens, HELEXPO’s schedule concerns the new exhibition centre that will operate in 2008 in the region of OAKA (Olympic Athletic Centre of Athens), covering an area of 15,000 m2.

Furthermore, HELEXPO is making an effort to acquire a larger share of the convention market by attracting major international conventions and conferences. The main pole of HELEXPO’s convention policy is the city of Thessaloniki, with the attraction and organisation of top conventions at its Convention Centres, which, apart from “I. Vellidis” and “N. Germanos”, also include a luxurious new hall named HELEXPO CORONA, suitable for all types of major corporate or social events. In Athens, within the framework of an international tender announced by Olympic Properties, HELEXPO is making a bid for the exploitation and operation of the new Athens International Convention Centre (former Sports Pavilion) at Faliron for the next 25 years.

The subsidiary company, HELEXPRO, providing integrated exhibition productions, has showed great development in its activities during its first year of operation, exceeding the expectations of its shareholders and comprising a powerful marketing tool for HELEXPO and its customers, as well as a unit providing integrated services in exhibition marketing.

It should be noted that the activities and development of HELEXPO and its exhibitions not only contribute towards invigorating economic activities in various sectors of the national economy, but also comprise the most profitable alternative form of tourism internationally, which can provide the tourism product of our country with year-round duration and high yield. Specifically for Thessaloniki, where most HELEXPO activities take place, it has been calculated that the local economy enjoys extra turnover ranging from 150 to 250 million Euros annually thanks to our events.

Themis Kartsiotis
Managing Director