Athens builds momentum in global tourism market at Travel Trade Athens 2022
Athens re-established its leading presence in the global tourism market during the 8th Travel Trade Athens 2022.
The event is a catalyst for the dynamic and sustainable return of visitors to Athens, with more than 160 representatives of Greek and international companies holding meetings during May 9-10.
More than 60 representatives of foreign companies in the tourism and events industry came to Athens for the two-day event, connecting Athens to key markets in Europe, the UK, the United States, and the Middle East. They had more than 1,500 meetings with representatives from 90 Greek companies with the goal of completing business agreements that will strengthen the economy of Athens.
Ten journalists from major international media were hosted alongside the buyers and suppliers and participated in parallel events that included a series of authentic urban experiences, events and seminars for the participants.
A press briefing opened the event with the participation of Athens Mayor Kostas Bakoyannis, President of Aegean Eftychios Vasilakis, Director of Communication and Marketing at Athens International Airport Ioanna Papadopoulou, and CEO of the Athens Development and Destination Management Agency (ADDMA) Vagelis Vlachos. Each of the speakers affirmed their commitment to strengthening the promotion and profile of Athens.
“Despite all the difficulties given to us, the pandemic also gave us an opportunity to design and put into action a comprehensive development plan for the City of Athens. It was a chance to reposition and develop Athens as an attractive, accessible, and sustainable city. To implement this strategy, we focused on two pillars: to emphasize conferences and meetings in order to strengthen our position as a top choice for business, and to promote and empower local businesses with initiatives that promote entrepreneurship and innovation. The 8th Travel Trade Athens covers both of these axes – that’s the invaluable partnership between the This is Athens-Convention and Visitors Bureau and the European Tourism Association (ETOA). Now, we are ready for Athens to meet the world,” said Vagelis Vlachos, CEO of ADDMA.
During Travel Trade Athens 2022, the hosted buyers and press enjoyed a complete Hosted Buyer Program including air travel to and from Athens, accommodation in a 5-star hotel, transfers, thematic FAM trips, meals and social events, B2B meetings and networking opportunities.
For attending suppliers, Travel Trade Athens offered a half day of educational workshops created in collaboration with major international organizations. The workshops were introduced in 2021 to promote the upskilling of the local tourism and meetings industry.
Since 2013, Travel Trade Athens has hosted more than 600 buyers from 35 countries and facilitated more than 17,000 B2B meetings. The event is organized every year by the Athens Development and Destination Management Agency through the This is Athens-Convention and Visitors Bureau and in cooperation with the European Tourism Association (ETOA).
The 9th edition of the Travel Trade Athens will take place in April 2023.
