Xenia 2019 to Open with Record Number of Participants and Innovative Concepts

Tourism and hospitality experts as well as hosted buyers from Greece and abroad will gather at the Metropolitan Expo in Athens during November 23-25, to participate in the Xenia 2019 exhibition.

A prime event for Greece’s hospitality sector, the expo this year is expected to host 550 exhibitors across 50,000sq.m. of exhibition space; 300 international buyers; over 100 hosted buyers; and a total of 45,000 visitors.

“Xenia 2019 is expected to break its previous record and become the epicenter of significant much-needed investment decisions that Greek tourism needs,” said Thanasis Yialouris, vice president of Forum SA, organizer of the event, during a press conference on Thursday.

Xenia’s exhibitors will present a wide range of high-tech innovative products and services for hotels, focusing on construction, renovation, energy conservation, equipment, F&B and digital technology.

The event is also expected to generate new business deals by bringing Greek and foreign companies closer. According to the organizers, 92 percent of participants in the 2018 event, managed to seal new partnerships during the expo or within the next six months.

Forum SA Vice President Thanasis Yialouris; HCH President Alexandros Vassilikos; Forum SA Communications Manager Katerina Konstantopoulou. Photo: GTP

Meanwhile, Forum S.A. and its German partner are currently seeking ways to promote Xenia to neighboring countries, the Middle East and Northern Africa. Their aim is to attract visitors for next year’s event.

“Currently, there is not a concept like Xenia in the Balkans and the Middle East. We have approved a broad digital campaign for next year, as well as a transportation and accommodation program for this purpose,” Thanasis Yalouris said.

3^rd International Hospitality Forum

Xenia 2019 will also host the third edition of the International Hospitality Forum, the annual event organized by the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels (HCH).

The event will feature Greek and foreign executives of international tourism brands, experts of the academic community and the business consulting sector including travel industry research authority Phocuswright.

The issues to be discussed will focus on the future of direct bookings and H&R, and ways of reinventing hotel F&B:

• The Challenge of Driving Direct Bookings: Taking back control over hotel distribution,
• Rethinking Hotel F&B: Stop thinking of hotel F&B as hotel F&B,
• Happy Workforce – Happy Guest: Increase your employees engagement by challenging existing norms.

The Greek Travel Pages (GTP) is a communication sponsor of the 3rd International Hospitality Forum.

Parallel events

Apart from its main exhibition floor, Xenia 2019 will host a number of parallel events including the innovative Hotel Megatrends Project.

Under the theme, “Innovation and Tradition”, five renowned architects and designers will present five concepts: Reception/ Lounge by Mintsouli Design Studio; Boutique Room by Sotiris Lazou Design Studio; Studio Room by Α & Μ Architects; Restaurant in Nature by Gian Paolo Venier; and Smartech Space by L+DG Lighting Architects.

Furthermore, the “Megatrends Talks” event will include a number of presentations on design, technology, wellbeing and investment trends.

Xenia 2019 will also host the Digi Hotel event, which will feature leading executives of the hotel and digital marketing sectors.

Moreover, Xenia’s Hall 1 will present Greece’s best products and recipes within the framework of HCH’s “Greek Breakfast” culinary initiative.