The 5th Pan-Hellenic HAPCO (Hellenic Association of Professional Congress Organizers) Conference will take place on the 6th & 7th March 2009 in Thessaloniki, at the Grand Hotel Palace. The main theme of this year’s Conference is “Strategies of Regional Development of Conference Tourism in Times of Depression”. Following the past four successfully organised events in Athens, HAPCO has decided to hold its 5th Conference in Thessaloniki in order to promote Northern Greece as an ideal destination for congresses.

The 5th Pan-Hellenic Conference will focus on important and practical issues, which can contribute in the development of congress tourism in Greece. The programme will also include 2 Workshops with interesting subjects for both PCOs, Convention Centres and Hotels with Congress Facilities.

The conference sessions & Workshops are the following:
1st Session
The international economic crisis of today and its impact on tourism, with emphasis on Congress Tourism.
2nd Session
Possibilities for Developing Congress Tourism in the Region of Northern Greece.
3rd Session
Prospects of Developing Inter-Balkan Cooperative Networks.
4th Session
Thessaloniki as an Inter-Balkan Hub of Congress and Business Tourism
5th Session
Synopsis-Conclusions

1st Workshop
Presentation of the results of the following empirical studies: Northern Greece as a Regional Congress Destination: Problems and Opportunities, undertaken by the University of the Aegean and the Minoan International College.

Infrastructure, facilities and human resources of Congress Tourism in the Region of Northern Greece, undertaken by the Alexandrian Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki.

2nd Workshop
Planning and Technical Support of Congress Facilities and Events.
Well known personalities from Greece and the international meeting industry will be invited to present their opinions and proposals with regard to the future of congress tourism, as well as the actions needed for its further development.

Finally, the social programme of 5th Conference of HAPCO will include a Gala Dinner as well as a farewell party, the ‘Balkan Meeting’, where HAPCO’s guests together with Conference delegates will have the opportunity to taste the  ‘Greek night life’.