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The most important tourism exhibition ‘duo’ of the country, Philoxenia - Hotelia, held from 9 to 11 November at Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre, was marked by a 16% increase in visitor numbers and a particularly boosted interest by tourism professionals, as there was a 36% increase in the number of trade visitors over last year. This year, the number of Greek trade visitors was increased by 38% and that of foreign trade visitors by 21%.
The two exhibitions were at the centre of the tourism-hotel industry, hosting 615 exhibitors from 22 countries and visitors from 47 countries and serving as a driving force for new partnerships and commercial agreements through the 4,000 business meetings held between exhibitors and the 200 hosted buyers from various countries.
With an enhanced international character, this year’s Philoxenia once again served as a ‘barometer’ for the upcoming season. Its International Conference highlighted a major issue that can have a catalytic effect on extending the tourism period: tourism for travellers over the age of 55. The conference, which was jointly organised by TIF-Helexpo and the Hellenic Federation of Hoteliers, with the support of the European Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (FEG) and the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ΕΝΑΤ), attracted great interest and was held at ‘Nikolaos Germanos’ Congress Centre, with all its sessions completely sold out.
There was considerable visitor attendance and exhibitor participation in ‘All About Café’ (The Workshops and The Cup Tasting Spot) and ‘All About Gastronomy’, the thematic sections of Hotelia, while the Latte Art Throwdown Competition, where acclaimed baristas demonstrated their skills, left a tremendous impression. Konstantinos Katsanos won first place and Emmanouil Sachtaridis won second place at the competition. The ‘All About Café’ section has become an institution and celebration of coffee, with numerous exhibitors participating every year.
A major attraction at this year’s Hotelia was ‘DPOINT SPACES’, an innovative hotel architecture and decoration event that has become an institution and featured the ‘Easy Hospitality Project’ and the ‘Glamping Concept’, a new tourism trend.
The sponsors of the Hosted Buyers programme were Zorpidis (Transport Sponsor), Prima Holidays, Grand Hotel Palace, Hyatt, Capsis Hotel and Plaisir. The sponsor of ‘All About Café’ was MEVGAL.
The Hospitality Sponsor of the Philoxenia Conference was FRAPORT GREECE, the Air Transport Sponsor was ΕLLINAIR, the Coffee Break Sponsor was Catering Samiotakis, the Transport Sponsor was Taxi Mercedes Club, and the Grand Communication Sponsor was AMNA / PRAKTORIO 104.9 FM.