Athens Convention Bureau scores big success at IMEX 2009

With particularly encouraging messages regarding Athens' position in the international conference market and an outcome that exceeded all expectations, the Athens Convention Bureau's participation in IMEX 2009, which took place in Frankfurt 26-28 May, ended on a high note.

Specifically, ACB representatives took advantage of every minute available at the three-day meeting and incentive exhibition to conduct more than 55 planned and unplanned meetings with hosted buyers and trade visitors, international trade association representatives, conference organisers, and meeting and incentive travel organisers from more than 35 countries in Europe, Asia, Australia and the USA.

Many of these meetings confirmed that interest in Athens as a conference and event destination over the next five years remains high, despite the generally unfavourable economic conditions whose impact is being felt at this time. In addition, most visitors cited ACB's presence as "a determining factor," expressing satisfaction with its method of operation, as well as with the material and information available on Athens, its infrastructure and its conference product.

ACB's presence was reinforced by the International Congress and Convention Association's (ICCA) release of the report on the international conference market and the rating of world conference destinations for 2008.

According to the report, Athens showed an impressive upward trend among all destinations as a city, reaching 15th place with 72 conferences (from 25th with 54 conferences in 2007) together with Istanbul (it was 19th in 2007). The improved position of Athens is considered to have helped Greece's position in general, as the country was among the 20 top conference destinations in 2008 in the 19th place with 123 conferences, up from 21st in 2007.

ACB gave particular emphasis on the opening of the New Acropolis Museum at this year's IMEX, as it was already a topic of great international interest. This year's IMEX drew 3,500 exhibitors from 157 countries and attracted a total of 3,700 hosted buyers and 5,000 visitors.

For more information:
Katerina Papadopoulou
Τ. 2103253123
F. 2103216653
kpapadopoulou@atedco.gr