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Greece Attending WTM London 2022 with a ‘New Face’

The Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) will attend this year’s World Travel Market (WTM) in London, the annual B2B exhibition for travel industry professionals, with a brand new multifunctional pavilion that will highlight Greece’s identity.

In its 42nd year, WTM London, taking place during November 7-9, will be back to its fully live, pre-pandemic format, at London’s ExCeL.

With the strapline “The future of travel starts now”, the exhibition will look forward to the future, beyond the Covid-19 pandemic, and focus on how the industry powers on, and keeps up the resilience that was shown (in abundance) through the pandemic – to enable business deals and resolution-based conversation.

Greece to present best to UK market

The best of Greece will be presented to the UK market and the rest of the world from the revamped Visit Greece/GNTO stand (EU1100 – EU1150), which will host over 80 Greek exhibitors, including regional tourist boards, travel trade partners, travel agencies, hotels, resorts, tour operators and other players.

Greece is a huge favourite among British holidaymakers while the UK is the country’s second-largest source market.

According to data from the Bank of Greece, in January-August 2022, the number of inbound travellers from the United Kingdom to Greece rose by 316 percent to over 3 million year-on-year. Travel receipts from the UK during the first eight months of the year recorded an increase of 173.1 percent to over 2.2 million euros.

Greece @ WTM London 2022

On Monday, November 7, the 2022 trade event will kick off for Greece with a “Greek Breakfast” event. Media and travel professionals are welcome to join the Visit Greece team from 10:00 –to 11:00 at their stand for a glimpse of the “Greek Breakfast” selections that are found on the menus of Greek hotels that are part of the initiative.

The inauguration of the Visit Greece stand will follow.

Visit Greece press conference

World Travel Market London 2021, ExCeL London - Greece Press Conference.

Later in the afternoon, between 13:30 – 14:30, Greek Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias will attend the press conference hosted by the GNTO at the WTM London’s International Media Centre (ME670) for journalists, bloggers and travel professionals.

The minister will present the latest updates from Greece with a re-cap of 2022 – a record tourism year for the country – and a projection towards 2023 on introducing winter flights for Greek islands.

Greek Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias outside of ExCel expo center in London.

Kikilias will also focus of the ministry’s key strategic pillars and lead a discussion on the future of Greek tourism and how it can maintain momentum and grow sustainably. He will be joined by a panel of leading tourism experts including Susan Deer, Director of Industry Relations, ABTA; George Hatzimarkos, Governor of South Aegean Region; Sebastian Ebel, TUI Group CEO; Jo Royle, Founder and CEO, Common Seas; and Kash Bhattacharya, influencer and digital nomad.

Following the media event, at around 14:30, wine and refreshments will be served at the post-press conference networking reception for media representatives at the Visit Greece stand.

Throughout the days of WTM London, Minister Kikilias is expected to meet with British and international tourism industry executives, tour operators and airlines to discuss partnerships.

Events

Sustainability-focused event @ Visit Greece stand

On Tuesday, November 8 at 12 noon, a special presentation will take place to inform how the GNTO is progressing new sustainable tourism activities.

Right from the Visit Greece stand, GNTO Secretary General Dimitris Fragakis and the GNTO’s director in UK & Ireland, Eleni Skarveli, will present the recently launched “Sustainable Greece” platform. The event will be attended by representatives from Greece’s green & smart islands – Chalki, Astypalea and Naxos – to showcase best island practices.

Inaugural event: Greek Travel Awards

Another event to be held during WTM London 2022 involving Greece will be the inaugural Greek Travel Awards on November 7 at the SIX PARK PLACE in London.

An invitation-only event, the Greek Travel Awards will celebrate Greece’s tourism success this year at an evening of wine tasting, dishes curated by 2019 BBC MasterChef Champion and networking.

Greece again sponsor of WTM London’s International Media Centre

Relaxing @ WTM

The GNTO, for the 14th year, will sponsor the International Media Centre at WTM London.

As sponsor, Greece will have an additional platform to promote itself to the world through thousands of press and influencers – from trade and consumer publications across print, broadcast and online, as well as bloggers and others that move in the new media – that attend every year.

WTM London 2022 will see hundreds of destinations exhibiting and brands from across the globe showcasing their new products to buyers.

“For over 40 years, WTM London has been THE place to meet new and existing business contacts and nurture relationships, and as the industry builds itself back after a challenging time, this platform is more important than ever,” WTM London Exhibition Director Juliette Losardo told GTP Headlines in a recent interview.

According to Losardo, organisers are pulling out all the stops to make WTM London 2022 the most memorable so far, with a packed conference programme across four themed stages (Future Stage, Sustainability Stage, Technology Stage, Insights Stage) and over 70 live sessions.

The WTM London will run until November 9, with opening hours from 10am – 6pm for all three days.

The Greek Travel Pages (GTP), as the official WTM media partner for Greece, will be at the Visit Greece stand during the three days of the exhibition. Follow our WTM London 2022 Special for news and updates. GTP representatives can be found at stand EU1100 and also MP17.

Follow GTP Headlines on Google News to keep up to date with all the latest on tourism and travel in Greece.
About the Author
Nikos is Greek-American born in New York, USA, and has lived in Greece for over 30 years. He is the managing editor of Greece's leading monthly travel and tourism guide, the Greek Travel Pages (GTP) since June 2008 and of news site GTP Headlines since its launch in September 2012. Nikos has also served as international press officer for the City of Athens and for the mayor. He has a degree in Mass Media and Communications, specializing in Journalism. Nikos is a native English speaker and speaks Greek fluently.

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