The demand for holding conferences, events, and incentive trips in Greece is international and qualitatively upgraded. This positive conclusion emerged from the International Exhibition for the Organization of Events and Meetings, IMEX 2025 in Frankfurt, which took place from 20 to 22 May 2025, with the participation of the GNTO Foreign Service Germany.
IMEX 2025 is one of the largest tourism exhibitions in the world, focusing on business meetings, conferences, events, and incentive trips.
According to data released by the organizers, more than 13,000 international visitors participated, with more than 4,000 buyers. Over 67,000 scheduled meetings were held, an increase of approximately 10% compared to 2024.
The Hellenic National Tourism Organization participated with a 205 sq m stand, attracting the interest of industry professionals in our country as an ideal destination for conferences, events, and corporate incentives.
The Greek delegation included a total of 28 representatives of MICE tourism and, more specifically, the Athens and Thessaloniki Convention & Visitors Bureaus, the Ionian Islands, Thessaly, and Central Macedonia Regions, the airline SKY Express, conference centers, conference and incentive tourism professionals, as well as hotels with conference infrastructure.
Greece’s position in conference tourism
The annual report of the ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association) for 2024 ranks Greece in 18th place worldwide and 11th place in Europe in terms of organizing and hosting international conferences.
Athens confirms its leading role in conference tourism, achieving 7th place in Europe and 10th worldwide, while Thessaloniki significantly strengthens its position on the map of international conference destinations, occupying 28th place in Europe and 46th worldwide.
These performances highlight the growing potential of Greek conference tourism – a strategic sector with high added value, which is a key development axis of the national tourism policy.
The cocktail networking event “Business and Flavour” organized by the Hellenic National Tourism Organization (GNTO) Abroad Germany at the GNT booth on the second day of the exhibition, in collaboration with the “Greek Meetings Alliance”, which is composed of the Association of Greek Event Professionals and Conference Organizers – HAPCO & DES, the This is Athens Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Thessaloniki Convention Bureau, was particularly well attended this year. The invited buyers and institutional representatives of the meetings industry, as well as representatives of the German market, had the opportunity to enjoy cocktails with characteristic Greek drinks such as mastic and tsipouro.
The event was honored with his presence by the Consul General of Frankfurt, Mr. Dimitrios Dochtsis.
Professional visitors from the USA, Australia, Canada, the Middle East, and all over the world were informed about the advantages of organizing conferences and incentive trips in Greece by representatives of the Greek National Tourism Organization and its co-exhibitors, both in the 7 group presentations that took place, and in individual meetings.
On 21-5-2025, the established Gala Dinner & Awards evening took place at the emblematic Alte Oper in Frankfurt. At this event, selected representatives of the conference market as well as destinations were awarded, in the light of the values of innovation, the implementation of public benefit actions and sustainable development.
Greece’s development path in conference tourism is the result of the coordinated efforts of the competent bodies, local government and professionals in the sector, as well as the targeted strategy of the Greek National Tourism Organization to strengthen the country’s international competitiveness in the conference sector.
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The next IMEX Frankfurt exhibition will be held from 19 to 21 May 2026.
For more on Thessaloniki’s dynamic path on the international conference map, see the following article by the Thessaloniki Convention Bureau: Thessaloniki is solidifying its position on the global conference map.
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