focus

Convention 2020: Initial Survey Findings

New Business Models, Radical Price Incentives, Deep Personalisation and Onsite Transactions will shape the industry landscape in 2020. Convention 2020 initial survey findings show hypercompetition, technology and changing delegate behaviours are driving industry transformation.

An interview with Spyros Capralos

Since 10 February 2009, Spyros Capralos has been President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee. The veteran Balkan swimming champion and international water polo player for Olympiacos and the Greek national team has also been the Chairman of the Athens Exchange S.A. since 2004. He was one of the leading figures behind the success of the Athens Olympic Games, serving as a member of the Bidding Committee

An interview with Ioannis Retsos

Ioannis Retsos, elected the new president of the Athens-Attica Hotels Association a few months ago, belongs to a new generation of hoteliers in Greece. Co-owner of a chain of hotels in Athens and other parts of Greece, he is very knowledgeable about the hotel market.

Mr Retsos answers our questions regarding the impact of the credit crunch on the tourism industry and gives his opinion on the conference infrastructure in Athens and the future of the sector

An interview with Georgios Tsakiris

Mr Tsakiris is the President of Athens - Attica Hotels Association and he talks about the changes in Athens, the services offered by Athens Hotels and the future of Athenian tourism.

What changes were evident in Athens following the staging of the 2004 Olympic Games?

The new infrastructure and the new hotel product and their subsequent extensive promotion through the Games gave the tourism product of Attica a significant boost.

An interview with Andy Cooper

Andy Cooper is the ABTA Head of Development and Director General of the Federation of Tour Operators

How is European tourism coping with the economic crisis and how does it function within it?
It is too early to tell whether the economic crisis will have a significant impact on European tourism.The crisis effectively started at the tail end of the summer 2008 season, and we will not really be able to form an opinion until we hit a peak booking or travel period.

The Mayor of Athens talks about convention tourism and welcomes you to a new-look Athens

On an international level, convention tourism is currently a market with very high returns and brisk turnover. What is Greece's current position in this market?

The importance of convention tourism, as much for the benefit of the national as the local economy, has been recognised on an international level.