The demand for organizing conferences, events, and incentive trips in Greece is experiencing international growth and qualitative enhancement, as revealed at the International Exhibition for Event and Meeting Organization, IMEX 2025, held in Frankfurt from May 20 to May 22. The Greek National Tourist Organization (GNTO) was actively involved in the event.
IMEX 2025 stands as one of the world’s largest tourism exhibitions, focusing on business meetings, conferences, events, and incentive travel.
The organizers reported over 13,000 international visitors, including more than 4,000 buyers, and conducted over 67,000 scheduled meetings, reflecting a roughly 10% increase compared to 2024.
The GNTO showcased a booth spanning 205 square meters, capturing the attention of industry professionals and positioning Greece as a premier destination for conferences, events, and corporate incentives.
The Greek delegation included 28 representatives from MICE tourism, which featured the Convention & Visitors Bureaus of Athens and Thessaloniki, the regions of the Ionian Islands, Thessaly, and Central Macedonia, SKY Express airline, conference centers, and various professionals and hotels specializing in conference infrastructure.
Greece’s Position in Conference Tourism
According to the ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association) annual report for 2024, Greece ranks 18th globally and 11th in Europe for organizing and hosting international conferences.
Athens maintains its status as a leader in conference tourism, securing 7th place in Europe and 10th worldwide. Meanwhile, Thessaloniki is significantly enhancing its position as an international conference destination, achieving 28th in Europe and 46th worldwide.
These achievements underscore the expanding potential of Greece’s conference tourism sector—a strategic area with high added value that aligns with the national tourism policy’s development goals.
