Greece Steps Up Presence at Turkey’s EMITT 2016 Expo – GTP Photo Report

Greek destinations and enterprises once again drew in the crowds at the East Mediterranean Tourism and Travel Exhibition – EMITT, which ran January 28-31 at the Tuyap Fair and Congress Center in Istanbul, Turkey.

Celebrating its 20th year and recognized as one of the top five tourism exhibitions in the world, EMITT 2016 welcomed some 4,500 companies, organizations and resorts from a total of 80 countries.

Greece was one of these countries and gave an upgraded showing this year as once again all Greek participants were located under “one roof” in Hall 2, organized and supervised by event organizers Aegean Communication. Over the last five years Aegean Communication operates almost exclusively for the promotion of Greek enterprises in  the Turkish market.

“This year we managed to strengthen the Greek participation with new enterprises that experienced the Turkish market for the first time and successfully organize an additional B2B meeting program through an electronic platform exclusively for Greek participants”, the head of Aegean Communication, Panagiotis Miritzis, said.

Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mevlut Cavusoglu, and ITE Turkey Tourism & Travel & Fashion Group Director, Hacer Aydin, walking through the Greek section at EMITT 2016.

Greece’s upgraded showing at EMITT was confirmed by the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mevlut Cavusoglu, during his visit to the exhibition. Mr Cavusoglu visited the Greek section and congratulated Mr Miritzis for his company’s important contribution to EMITT.

“Once again, despite the difficult economic and political circumstances in Greece and Turkey, Greek tourism entrepreneurship had a dynamic presence in one of the largest exhibitions in the world”, Mr. Miritzis said.

Greece @ EMITT 2016 – (right) Organizers of the Greek participation, Aegean Communication’s Panagiotis Miritzis (Chairman) and Nikos Grivas (Communications & Marketing Director) with Turyol’s Kadir Inandi (second from left). Turyol offers the ferry service between Lesvos and Ayvali, Turkey.

Greek participation receives award

Aegean Communication’s chairman, Panagiotis Miritzis, receiving the award for the Greek participation from Hacer Aydin, ITE Turkey Tourism & Travel & Fashion Group Director.

The exhibition’s organizer ITE Turkey for the fifth consecutive year honored the Greek participation for its dynamic and competitive presence in EMITT 2016.

ITE Turkey, which also organizes other top exhibitions in leading sectors of Turkey, has extended its partnership with Aegean Communication until 2020.

“This shows the confidence they have in us and the Greek market”, Mr. Miritzis said.

The partnership sees Aegean Communication taking part in exhibitions organized by ITE Turkey in Istanbul, Moscow, Azerbaijan, India and Uzbekistan.

Greek-Turkish B2B meetings

Respond On Demand – B2B meetings between Greek exhibitors and Turkish travel agencies at EMITT were organized by hospitality consultants and event organizers Chryssa Krassa and Maria Athanasopoulou. They are seen here with the president of the Izmir chapter of the Association of Turkish Travel Agents (TURSAB), Ali Hepsen. “It’s a delight to work with the Greek market”, Mr Hepsen told GTP.

As part of their participation agreement with Aegean Communication, the Greek participants had the opportunity to attend pre-arranged B2B meetings with Turkish travel agencies and tour operators in a designated space in the Greek section.

The B2B meetings were organized exclusively by hospitality consultants and event organizers Respond On Demand following an agreement signed with Aegean Communication last year.

In its first year, the B2B meetings program operated on an experimental basis but Respond on Demands’ Maria Athanasopoulou told GTP that she sees the concept gaining ground between both Greek exhibitors and Turkish travel agents. She believes that the B2B meetings will become an incentive for Greek enterprises to participate in the EMITT expo.

“Already 25 meetings took place during the first two days of the exhibition… When referring to one of the largest exhibitions in the world, this is a success”, she said.

According to Mrs Athanasopoulou, the B2B meetings concept is innovative for the Turkish market because Turkish professionals do not usually do business through pre-arranged meetings at exhibitions as they are more accustomed to “walk in” meetings.

Highlight: North Aegean islands turn heads

North Aegean Region stand – Christiana Kalogirou, Governor of the North Aegean Region (right), with Turkey’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mahir Unai and Hacer Aydin, ITE Turkey Tourism & Travel & Fashion Group Director.

Turkey’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mahir Unai, sampling products from the North Aegean islands.

Among the highlights of the first day of EMITT 2016 was the visit of Turkey’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mahir Unai, to the pavilion that showcased the 10 islands of the North Aegean. Minister Unai had a very friendly conversation with the Governor of the North Aegean Region, Christiana Kalogirou, who invited him to experience the Greek islands and underlined that “culture is the bridge that connects the joint efforts made to the benefit of both peoples.”

Moreover, during EMITT, the Petrified Forest of Lesvos and other unique natural monuments of the North Aegean islands were introduced to a group of Turkish travel agents from Izmir.

Presentation of the Petrified Forest of Lesvos to top Turkish travel agents by Professor Nikolaos Zouros, director of the Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest.

Turkish-language information pamphlets on the Lesvos Geopark.

“The fact that the islands are so close to Turkey make them ideal destinations for those who want to explore the ‘hidden treasures’ of the North Aegean islands”, said the director of the Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest Professor Nikolaos Zouros.

Addressing some of Izmir’s top travel agents, Professor Zouros gave a presentation on the “Geological Monuments in N.E. Aegean Islands and ‘Green’ Tourism” and informed them on the tourism potential of the earth’s heritage sites.

Highlight: Mt Athos Area promo plan takes center stage

Mt Athos event at Sismanglio Megaron – Participating in the event were among others the Greek Consul, Danae Vassilakis; the head of the GNTO Turkey branch, Maria Rachmanidou; the chief of the Greek Press Office in Istanbul, George Angeletopoulos; and Thessaloniki Hotels Association President Aristotelis Thomopoulos.

The presentation of the official campaign of the Mount Athos Area Organization which focuses on the history of Sidirokafsia, a settlement of eastern Halkidiki, took place at the Sismanglio Megaron in Istanbul, the sidelines of EMITT 2016.

The event took place in collaboration with the Greek National Tourism Organization Turkey branch and the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TURSAB).

The promotional initiative will come into full force with a fam trip scheduled for April under the title “From Thessaloniki to the Ottoman Past of Sidirokafsia” and a far-reaching campaign via social media.

Greek exhibitors @ EMITT 2016

Thessaloniki stand at EMITT 2016 – From left to right: Maria Theofanopoulou, GTP’s president and CEO; Manolis Soultanopoulos, Greek Consulate representative; Maria Rachmanidou, head of the GNTO Turkey branch; Aristotelis Thomopoulos, Thessaloniki Hotels Association’s president; and Evdokia Tsatsouri, Thessaloniki Hotels Association’s marketing director.

Greek companies and destinations that participated in this year’s EMITT expo included Airotel Group, Beleon Tours, Alexander Beach Hotel & Casino Thraki, Filos Holidays & Travel, Grand Resort Lagonissi, Inova Hospitality Management, Kavala Municipality, Kavala Chamber of Commerce, Kosinfo, Kyvernitis Travel, Lafasi Maritime Company, Meli Tours, Nestosdevelopent, North Aegean Island Tourism Office, Pieria – Olympos Hoteliers Association, Porto Carras, Respond On Demand, Santorini island, Smart Expo & Design, Stathokostopoulos Group, Sunrise Tours, Thessaloniki Hotels Association, Thrace Hoteliers Association, Tourism Development Committee of Paggaio, Tourism Organization of Thassos and Visit Halkidiki – Halkidiki Tourism Organization.

Halkidiki Tourism Organization’s president, Grigoris Tasios and general director, George Broutzas. Halkidiki’s luxury hotels were the topic of the many meetings held with Turkish professionals. Read more here.

Aiming for Santorini to attract more travellers from Turkey and the markets of the eastern side of the Mediterranean & the Middle East, the Municipality of Thera presented the Cycladic island as an all year round tourism destination at EMITT 2016. Read more here.

Aiming to attract more Turkish tourists to Thessaloniki this year, the northern city’s hotel association examined ways to expand its cooperation with travel agencies in Turkey. Read more here.

Kyvernitis Travel S.A. – Thanos Marinos, Incoming Tourism Supervisor.

Inova Hospitality Management stand – Andreas Birner, Managing Director.

Meli Tours stand – Babis Bramos, operations manager (right)

Airotel stand.

Rhodes stand.

Moments @ EMITT 2016

Following is a photo collection of what GTP saw while strolling the exhibition halls of EMITT 2016.

The Greek Travel Pages (GTP) was a media partner to EMITT 2016.