The event was held from October 30 to November 2 at Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre, under the organizational supervision of HELEXPO, and notched a 40% increase in the number of trade visitors. There was also a 17% increase in the number of regular visitors to the Exhibition.

Foreign trade visitors to the 24th PHILOXENIA came from 30 countries, namely: Albania, Australia, Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, France, FYR of Macedonia, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Jordan, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Tunisia, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates and the United States of America.

It is reminded that within the framework of HELEXPO’s “Hosted Buyers” and “Hosted Media” Programmes, the 24th PHILOXENIA hosted, in total, 50 select tourism professionals-buyers from 15 countries and 40 specialised tourism editors from 20 countries. All appointments between exhibitors, hosted buyers and trade visitors were made through the new Internet module of the renowned Expopartertenariat Programme where, for the first time, exhibitors were also able to request business meetings with trade visitors.

There were 820 exhibitors in the 24th PHILOXENIA, as compared to 803 last year, of who 120 came from abroad, as compared to 113 during last year’s event. Foreign exhibitors came from the following countries: Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, Germany, Great Britain, India, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Thailand, Tunisia and Turkey. Official organized state participations included Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Egypt, India, Italy, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, Syria, Thailand, Tunisia and Turkey.

The sponsors of the 24th PHILOXENIA were the Ministry of Tourism and the Greek National Tourism Organisation, while the 1st European Tourism Conference was sponsored by the Region of Eastern Macedonia-Thrace and the “Morpheus” Award ceremony was sponsored by “GROUPAMA PHOENIX” company. The communication sponsors of the Exhibition were Alpha TV, “Macedonia” Newspaper and its “Taxidia” supplement, “Eleftheros Tipos” newspaper and “Cosmoradio” and “Plus Radio 102” radio stations.

Furthermore, following a lottery among visitors to the 24th PHILOXENIA on the weekend of November 1 and 2, two cosmetic multi-appliances were offered, courtesy of OVALSPA Company, along with an 8-day trip to Tunisia, courtesy of DAYRISE Travel Agency, and a three-day cruise of the Greek islands for two, courtesy of LOUIS HELLENIC CRUISES Company. 

Awards for Best Participation

The Best Creation Prizes of the 24th PHILOXENIA were presented at “Grand Hotel Palace” Hotel. The winners were Salvini Hotel Supplies Company, Chandris Hotels and the Prefectural Governments of Xanthi and Arcadia.

Awards were presented to Platamon Beach Hotel, Astra Airlines Company, Cocomat Company, the Prefectural Government of Larissa and the Prefectural Government and Local Union of Communities & Municipalities of Pella.

The Organiser’s Prizes of the 24th PHILOXENIA were presented, respectively, to the Region of Eastern Macedonia-Thrace, the Region of Epirus, the Prefectural Government of Imathia, the Prefectural Government of Thessaloniki, Minoan Lines, ANEK SA, Duty-Free Product Stores SA, Agoudimos Lines and the Association of Tourism Bureaus of Macedonia-Thrace.

The prizes and awards of the 24th PHILOXENIA International Tourism Exhibition were presented by the President and the Managing Director of HELEXPO SA, Mr. Aristotelis Thomopoulos and Mr. Themis Kartsiotis, respectively.

“MORPHEUS” Prizes

Within the framework of the 24th PHILΟΧΕΝΙΑ, at a glamorous event presented by Ms. Emmy Livaniou, “MORPHEUS” Prizes were presented to the “best of the best” of the Greek hotel sector; winners were selected following an evaluation by “secret inspectors”. This year, for the first time and in order to achieve even greater credibility for inspectors’ assessments, HELEXPO cooperated with the accredited agency TUV HELLAS and only used certified inspectors. The detailed inspection reports will be given to each hotel so that they may utilize any findings and further improve their operation.

The first (Golden) “MORPHEUS” Prizes, in each of the six categories of the Prizes, were presented by the Minister of Tourism, Mr. Aris Spiliotopoulos, the President of the Greek National Tourism Organisation (EOT), Mr. Athanassios Economou, the Secretary General of EOT, Mr. Heracles Valvis, the President of HELEXPO SA, Mr. Aristotelis Thomopoulos, the President of the Association of Greek Tourist Enterprises (SETE), Mr. Nikos Angelopoulos, and the Director of Human Workforce of Groupama Phoenix Company, this year’s Sponsor of “MORPHEUS” Prizes, Ms. Mary Nikolaidou.

The winners of “MORPHEUS 2008” Prizes are:

 “MORPHEUS 2008” HOTEL PRIZES

Philoxenia Tourism Awards

Within the framework of the inauguration ceremony of the 24th PHILOXENIA and the 1st European Tourism Conference on Thursday, October 30, the Philoxenia Tourism Awards were also presented, with the participation of the Minister of Tourism, Mr. Aris Spiliotopoulos, to the destinations voted as the best by the public via electronic voting.

The winners of Philioxenia Tourtism Awards are:

PUBLIC PRIZES

(following a public open vote at HELEXPO webpage)