Participants will have the opportunity to discover more about Athens and Greece as world-class destinations, and experience the vibrant culture and genuine hospitality of this most modern of ancient cities. Confirmed buyers participate free of charge, including all travel, accommodation and social events.
Now in its third year, Travel Trade Athens is the signature travel trade event for the City of Athens. On April 26 – 27, 2015, top travel buyers from around the world will connect with over 100 leading hoteliers, tourist attractions, travel agents and tour operators in Greece. Select media with a special interest in Athens and Greece will also attend by invitation.
Participants will have the opportunity to discover more about Athens and Greece as world-class destinations, and experience the vibrant culture and genuine hospitality of this most modern of ancient cities. Confirmed buyers participate free of charge, including all travel, accommodation and social events. Every buyer will have an individually tailored agenda of one-to-one appointments with local suppliers relevant to their target markets. For suppliers, this is a unique opportunity to expand their sales networks and build new partnerships across the global travel industry.
“We are very excited about the results so far: we have already received a record number of applications from more countries than ever before,” says Orhideea Rosu, Travel Trade Sales & Marketing Manager. “Over 60 buyers from a wide range of countries such as USA, Australia, Brazil, India, Hong Kong, Israel, and Lebanon have registered, along with over 100 suppliers from all sectors of the Greek tourism industry. Based on these figures, I am sure this year’s event will be a very successful business experience for everyone.”
As well as a full day of pre-scheduled B2B meetings, the programme includes open networking sessions and a keynote address by the Mayor of Athens, Yiorgos Kaminis. On 26 April, buyers will have a full day to explore Athens on a choice of FAM trips. These themed excursions will cover the city’s timeless attractions and latest trends, from street art walks and island cruises to wine tastings and off-the-beaten-track tours led by local insiders.
“With its extraordinary cultural heritage, stunning coastline, and excellent climate, Athens has been a magnet for visitors for thousands of years. Now, Athens is emerging as one of the hottest city destinations in Europe thanks to upgraded infrastructure, competitive pricing, and new cultural landmarks,” says Alexis Galinos, CEO of the Athens Development and Destination Management Agency. “Last year, we had more than 15 million arrivals at Athens International Airport and welcomed 3.6 million visitors to Athens. The city is also becoming a major conference destination, attracting over 50,000 business delegates each year. In 2015, I hope we can exceed that number with the help of events like Travel Trade Athens.”
Organised by the City of Athens Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB), in partnership with the European Tour Operators Association (ETOA), Travel Trade Athens 2015 is supported by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA), World Youth Student and Educational (WYSE) Travel Confederation, and Meeting Professionals International (MPI).
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
