Interview – Anna Kalogeropoulou: ‘TBEX Event will Lead Peloponnese Tourism to a New Era’

“We are ready to welcome our guests next week with a beyond-the-obvious experience…” – Anna Kalogeropoulou, Deputy Governor of Tourism for the Region of Peloponnese

Greece is ready to welcome hundreds of travel bloggers, content creators, online travel journalists, influencers, travel brands and industry professionals from around the world to TBEX Europe 2023, which will take place in Kalamata in the Region of Peloponnese.

The largest conference and networking event of its kind, the TBEX (Travel Blog Exchange) event each year partners with a host destination in Europe, North America and the Asia Pacific to bring together the travel industry’s most creative minds to learn, network and do business.

Hosting the TBEX event for the first time, the Region of Peloponnese is more than ready to showcase all that Kalamata and its other destinations have to offer visitors.

TBEX Europe 2023 will take place during May 8-12.

As a media sponsor for the upcoming event, GTP had the pleasure of interviewing Anna Kalogeropoulou, the Deputy Governor of Tourism for the Region of Peloponnese. In this exclusive interview, Kalogeropoulou explains how Kalamata was selected as host destination of TBEX Europe 2023; shares her expectations for the event; and gives us a sneak preview of everything that will be going on next week.

Anna Kalogeropoulou, the Deputy Governor of Tourism for the Region of Peloponnese.

“Kalamata will be the center of all activities around the conference,” Kalogeropoulou says.

The main venue for TBEX Europe 2023 is the Grecotel Filoxenia hotel in Kalamata, which will host the conference itself along with educational sessions, keynote presentations from the top professionals of the industry and speed networking.

TBEX, however, will not only be business as delegates can also look forward to social networking events in the city and familiarization trips throughout the Peloponnese. It is expected that Kalamata and the Peloponnese will go viral as TBEX delegates traditionally post, tweet and share their experiences at host destinations.

TBEX delegates to have a ‘beyond-the-obvious’ experience

“During TBEX Europe 2023 Kalamata will become a hub of knowledge and ideas… We are confident the event will be a catalyst leading the Peloponnese to a new era, that of new technologies, and responsibility towards the local communities and the environment, thus shaping an even more enhanced and resilient tourism product,” Kalogeropoulou says.

A destination for all seasons, Kalamata is one of the fastest-developing cities in Greece. The capital of Messinia, Kalamata is a modern city that has been re-introduced to the world as a tourism destination thanks to a new national road and infrastructure improvements made at the city’s international airport.

“New hotels, sidewalks around the city, a vibrant coastal zone, areas of green, museums, and cultural attractions, all blend to enrich the destination… We are ready to welcome our guests next week with a beyond-the-obvious experience that will surely have them want to return to the destination,” Kalogeropoulou adds while spreading the Region’s tourism slogan this year: “Peloponnese – Greece Beyond the Obvious”.

Following is the full interview of the Peloponnese Deputy Governor of Tourism, Anna Kalogeropoulou.

• GTP: TBEX Europe 2023 is just a few days away. What exactly is the Region of Peloponnese aiming for by hosting the TBEX event in Kalamata?
  

Anna Kalogeropoulou: TBEX is the largest conference, bringing together the top representatives of the travel industry. Online travel media, travel bloggers, content creators, as well as DMOs will meet to redefine and reshape the sector. The conference schedule includes meetings, educational sessions, and keynote presentations from the top professionals of the industry, while it will be complemented by wonderful networking evenings for participants as well as familiarization trips throughout the Peloponnese.
TBEX attendees’ median stay in the wider region is estimated to be between 10 and 30 days, which will definitely boost the touristic season from the end of April to the end of May. During TBEX Europe 2023 Peloponnese, Kalamata will become a hub of knowledge and ideas exchange and we invite content creators and media, to partake in this event, which we are confident will be a catalyst leading the Peloponnese to a new era, that of new technologies, and responsibility towards the local communities and the environment, thus shaping an even more enhanced and resilient touristic product.

The press conference in Nafplio, Peloponnese, last December, where it was officially announced that Kalamata would host the ΤΒΕΧ Europe 2023 event. Photo source: Region of Peloponnese

• GTP: How difficult was it to win the bid to become the host destination of the TBEX event? Can you describe the experience?
  

Anna Kalogeropoulou: It was indeed an exciting experience. The Peloponnese Region team, along with our passionate teammates, and industry experts, worked very closely, and in less than a month we were able to coordinate all parties involved to create a winning proposal. The main venue, party locations, and familiarization trips were all designed, and for the most part, secured at this first bidding stage. We feel that the experience we are preparing to offer will surpass expectations and this was our belief from the very first moment.
All this wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the Ministry of Tourism, GNTO, and of course of the Municipality of Kalamata, from the very beginning. In addition, many of our current sponsors joined us in this effort from the very early stages of the bid preparation.

• GTP: What should TBEX attendees expect from Kalamata as a host destination during May 8-11?
  

Anna Kalogeropoulou: Kalamata as the host city of TBEX Europe 2023 Peloponnese will be the center of all activities around the conference that will take place on May 10 and 11 at Grecotel Filoxenia. Apart from the main two conference days and the one and three-day familiarization trips we have planned for our guests, the Municipality of Kalamata stands beside us in organizing the social networking events that will be hosted in the city.
The Peloponnese Food Stories opening party on May 9, will take place in the center of the city. An open food festival that will introduce TBEX Participants to the gastronomy of the region, with the presence of local associations and local producers from all over the Peloponnese as well as live cooking by chefs, who will showcase all the wonderful products the Region has to offer.

A Peloponnese Food Stories open food festival will take place during TBEX Europe 2023. Photo source: Mythical Peloponnese

TBEX Participants will have the opportunity to explore the city’s culinary scene during Restaurant Week, from May 8 to 14 with special menus at special prices designed to offer the best samples of the Region’s gastronomy.
The closing party will take place in Kastraki on May 11. A dreamy location, that offers spectacular views of the city, will become viral with shots of Kalamata under the sunset, music, drinks, and local tasty bites on a grand celebratory event!
Finally, in the context of a generous sponsorship by the George & Victoria Karelia Foundation to support the event organization, guests will have the opportunity to visit the Victoria Karelia collection of Greek traditional costumes, an experiential exhibit, an enchanting journey through history, culture, aesthetics, and art, all in the city of Kalamata.

• GTP: I’m aware that a PreBEX Press Trip took place in the Peloponnese in December. The press trip saw select travel bloggers visiting and exploring the region. What was the feedback on the PreBEX Press Trip?
  

Anna Kalogeropoulou: As we actively reached out to hear our guests’ comments post prebex trips that took place in December, overall, we are happy that the feedback we received from the select travel bloggers who participated in the trip was extremely positive. They were all impressed with the beauty and diversity of the region, as well as the hospitality of the locals.
Many of the bloggers also expressed their excitement about the potential for tourism in the Peloponnese, and they shared their experiences and photos with their followers on social media and created wonderfully written pieces of all the experiences we crafted for them, which helped to raise awareness of the region as a travel destination.
Overall, we were thrilled with the response to the PreBEX Press Trip, and we believe that it was a great success in terms of promoting tourism in the Peloponnese and a teaser to what’s in store for TBEX Europe 2023 | Peloponnese.

The city of Kalamata in the Peloponnese.

• GTP: Please introduce Kalamata to our readers. What are the destination’s tourism offerings and what makes it such a unique tourism destination? When is the best time to visit and how easy is it to get there?
  

Anna Kalogeropoulou: Kalamata is one of the fastest-developing cities in Greece. Located at the site of ancient Farai, Kalamata is the capital and central port of Messinia. A modern city, a city break destination that is ready to claim the future. The new national road, with one of the most impressive bridges in Europe, and the infrastructure improvements made in the International Airport of Kalamata have re-introduced the city as a tourist destination. New hotels, sidewalks around the city, a vibrant coastal zone, areas of green, museums, and cultural attractions, all blend to enrich the destination.
Kalamata is a city for all seasons, due to its mild climate and good temperatures. Summer is the obvious selection, but as the city also has a historic and cultural tradition to share with its guests, all seasons are bliss. Long walks along the beach are truly enjoyable during any time of the year, the local culinary scene is not to be missed, and just 50 kilometers away, are the wonderful villages of Western Mani. The smooth drive from Athens is about 2 and a half hours and of course, the Kalamata airport offers connections with major European Cities.

• GTP: What is the ‘brand identity’ of the Peloponnese?
  

Anna Kalogeropoulou: The Peloponnese brand is an honest proposal to its guests and residents alike. The region has an enormous variety of resources such as 5 UNESCO sites, multiple archaeological sites, a diverse yet safe natural environment, a breathtaking coastline, and many other touristic offerings. Despite all these, the basic elements of the region’s identity are simplicity and a way of life that makes you feel at home. Elements that offer an experience of Greece beyond the obvious.

• GTP: What is the focus of the Peloponnese tourism policy? What would you say is the Region’s strongest tourism advantage?
  

Anna Kalogeropoulou: The tourism policy of the Peloponnese is based on the sustainability of its natural and cultural environment and, of course, of its local communities. We aim for nothing more than to improve the way of life of its people and share this warm feeling with our visitors. This is the greatest advantage of the Peloponnese as a destination: visitors get a chance to enjoy our precious way of life!

• GTP: What about domestic tourism? Is the Region planning any initiatives to showcase the Peloponnese domestically to attract more Greeks?
  

Anna Kalogeropoulou: Traditionally, due to the ease of access to the capital city of Athens, Peloponnese has been one of the first choices among Greeks when planning for their holidays. Greek visitors are indeed our own people, and all our promotion activities focus to a great extent, on the local market. Our efforts aim at strengthening The Peloponnese brand positioning, in local markets that go beyond Athens, all over Greece, to Central Macedonia, Crete, and Epirus.

Anna Kalogeropoulou, the Deputy Governor of Tourism of the Region of Peloponnese, during the press conference in Nafplio last December, where it was officially announced that Kalamata would host the ΤΒΕΧ Europe 2023 event. Photo source: Region of Peloponnese

• GTP: Where does the Peloponnese stand today tourism-wise? Which are the Peloponnese’s main (traditional) markets? What was the Region’s tourism performance last year and what are your expectations for the number of tourists and revenue in 2023?
  

Anna Kalogeropoulou: Peloponnese is one of the least developed destinations on the Mediterranean Coastline. This can be interpreted in two ways. On the one side, tourist activity has not contributed to the local GDP as it has in other Greek destinations. On the other, more positive side, uncontrollable touristic development has affected the Peloponnese in quite a painless manner.
Markets, apart from the local, that target the Peloponnese as a destination are Germany, the UK, and the US, while interest has raised a lot from France and Italy in the past few years.
The pandemic has not hit hard on the Peloponnese as the road access provided for safe independent traveling, and the destination itself, not being overpopulated, provided for a wonderful holiday destination. This improved outlook has been preserved during 2022, when markets have in general recovered. We expect increased traffic from the markets of the US and Canada and our goal is to stand over the national average in all our touristic indexes.

• GTP: Before we close this interview, please give a message, just a few words, to those getting ready to attend the ΤΒΕΧ Europe 2023 – Peloponnese in May.
  

Anna Kalogeropoulou: Well, we have planned an event that is genuine and honest, just like the Peloponnese. We are ready to welcome our guests next week with a beyond-the-obvious experience that will surely have them want to return to the destination. You just can’t get enough of the Peloponnese and the TBEX Europe 2023, in Kalamata, is here to prove it!

Details on the TBEX Europe 2023 event can be found here.

The Greek Travel Pages (GTP) is an official media partner of the TBEX Europe 2023 event.