Greece is aiming, in 2022, for a recovery of the negative conditions concerning corporate events, business travel, and conferences.
The interest for Greece as a business destination, according to sector professionals, is particularly high for next year, but, as always, subject to the prevailing pandemic-related public health conditions in the country. This year, activity for the aforementioned sectors has registered an improvement compared to the sector’s virtual wipeout in 2020. Even so, the recovery rate has been far slower than the progress achieved by other sub-sectors of Greece’s tourism industry.
According to HAPCO, the Hellenic Association of Professional Congress Organizers & Destination Events Specialists, 80 percent of the country’s Greek and international in-person events were cancelled in 2020. Furthermore, 15 percent of conferences and events were converted to online events, without any significant benefit for the state. It should be pointed out that conference activity contributes to boosting employment as at least 50 professions are involved in the organisation of conferences. Also, every conference participant spends between 50 and 70 percent more than the average tourist holidaying in Greece, official data has shown.
Conferences with in-person participants holding full vaccination or recovery certificates at 80% capacity
Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias, in comments offered to local radio station SKAI, announced the return of conferences to be staged with participants holding full vaccination or recovery certificates, based on current Covid-19 protocol, a capacity limit of 80 percent, and seating arrangements ensuring maximum social distancing between participants.
The minister also informed that he submitted requests, on behalf of specific tourism sub-sectors ahead of official planning for next year, at a recent meeting of the epidemiologists committee on infectious diseases. Decisions reached, he added, are expected to be published in the government gazette within the next few days.
Besides the return of conferences, the committee also welcomed the possibility of Greece hosting cruise ships, for docking or transit, from the Turkish ports of Kusadasi and Galata, under the condition that these ports observe European protocols and prerequisites. The committee also backed the reopening of indoor swimming pools at hotels, based on conditions approved for swimming pools overseen by SEGAS, Greece’s governing body for amateur sport.
International exhibition IBTM World, in Barcelona, to be staged as an in-person event
Following a two-year absence, IBTM World, one of the most important international events for the meetings and events industry, will be staged with attendants in Barcelona at the Gran Via venue by Fira Barcelona, the city’s official organiser of fairs, between November 30 and December 2. Over the three-day period, the world’s biggest enterprises, sector associations and organisations active in the exhibition tourism and business travel industries will participate. Greece is taking part in IBTM 2021 with a 199.5 square-metre national booth through an effort coordinated by EOT, the Greek National Tourism Organisation, with a double-digit representation of Greek exhibitors.
New entrepreneurship, new technologies, new world
According to an update by the Office of Economic and Commercial Affairs in Madrid, the motto of this year’s IBTM World event, carrying a triple message, is New Business, New Tech, New World. It concerns the restart effort for the tourism industry, severely impacted by the pandemic’s effects. As a result of the new reality, challenges and changes that have emerged, the tourism industry has delivered numerous innovations and revisions. The event’s exhibitors and attendees will have the opportunity to network, establish new deals, become acquainted with new trends in the exhibition tourism and business travel industries, and also exchange views on the sector’s future. A range of other activities and seminars covering all aspects of the new reality will be offered within the event’s framework, including IBTM Accelerate, as well as the Elite Corporate Programme, Association Programme and Knowledge Programme. The latter of these four will explore four topical themes: Trends and technology; gamification and engagement; the future of event planning, with emphasis on sustainability, safety, security and government support; and career and personal development. The Association Programme, organised in association with Mr. Stylianos Filopoulos, board member of the European Society of Association Executives, will include speeches on the challenges of organising events in the post-pandemic era.
RT (Reed Exhibitions), the event’s organising body, has taken all necessary public health safety measures concerning the pandemic. Participants will need to wear masks, maintain social distancing rules and avoid handshakes. As things stand, the measures do not require presentation of negative Covid-19 tests.
