The global meetings and events industry turns its spotlight on Greece with the hosting of the Annual Meeting and General Assembly of the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO) at the Athens Concert Hall (Megaron) from 25 to 28 February, reaffirming the country’s growing momentum and its strategic position on the global conference map. More than 150 leading professionals attend the event, delivering a strong vote of confidence in Greece, which has long invested strategically in conference tourism. The sector fuels destination development, with the conference delegates and visitors spending five to seven times more than the average traveler. IAPCO represents more than 95 companies employing over 23,000 professionals across 185 countries. The economic impact recorded by its members for 2025 exceeds €16.8 billion.

The conference is themed “The Odyssey Reinvented,” linking Greek mythology with the challenges the sector has faced in recent years — a true odyssey marked by the pandemic, geopolitical turbulence, economic uncertainty, rapid technological advances, and growing sustainability demands. The conference is organised by the four certified IAPCO members in Greece — AFEA Congress, Convin, Era & Erasmus — and is supported by the Ministry of Tourism, the Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO), the This is Athens Convention Bureau, as well as leading organisations and companies across the entire conference organisation ecosystem.

The global IAPCO community gathered at the Acropolis Museum for the official Welcome Reception, marking the start of IAPCO AM&GA Athens 2026 under the theme “The Odyssey Reinvented.” The evening began with an exclusive private tour of the Museum, offering delegates the opportunity to experience one of Greece’s most significant cultural landmarks. (Photos: facebook.com/IAPCO)

The Opening Session was honoured by the presence of Olga Kefalogianni, Minister of Tourism of Greece, representing the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, and Haris Doukas, Mayor of the City of Athens, underscoring the high importance the destination places on the global meetings industry and recognising its far-reaching economic, societal and intellectual impact. (Photos: facebook.com/IAPCO)

In her address, the Minister of Tourism, Olga Kefalogianni stressed that "Greece is steadily strengthening its position as a modern, competitive, and outward-looking destination for meetings, conferences, and major international events". The Minister welcomed the delegates to Athens, noting that the selection of the Greek capital to host this event constitutes a vote of confidence in the country and recognition of its growing momentum in the field of international conferences and events. Furthermore, she emphasized that through continuous investments, enhanced air connectivity, and high-level services, the city offers a comprehensive and attractive environment for hosting international meetings and high-standard events. The hosting of the IAPCO General Assembly in Athens marks a significant milestone for Greek tourism and confirms the country’s commitment to strengthening conference tourism. At the same time, the Minister underlined that Greece has a modern and constantly evolving ecosystem for the MICE sector, featuring contemporary conference centers, high-quality services, and specialized human resources. Ms. Kefalogianni also highlighted the country’s unique cultural dimension, noting that cultural venues provide distinctive options for hosting events.

(Source: mintour.gov.gr)

The conference was preceded by the IAPCO Council Meeting, which was held at the Grand Hotel Palace in Thessaloniki, hosted by the Thessaloniki Convention Bureau, from 21 to 24 February (Photo: facebook.com/IAPCO).

Speaking to the an interview with the Athens–Macedonian News Agency, IAPCO CEO Martin Boyle pointed out that Greece is seen as “a kind of hub” for the conference market and an attractive destination. “You don’t need to sell the name ‘Greece’ to an international delegate. The moment someone says ‘Greece,’ they already have in mind an idea of what that name means to them (…) and I think that idea is very positive. On the other hand, I believe that when someone looks at other destinations, they even struggle to define what their brand identity is for an international participant. Here (in Greece), that brand is very strong. So there is a real opportunity for you to capitalize on it”. According to Mr. Boyle, the reduction in duration, combined with a focus on a specific perspective, creates exciting opportunities for conference destinations, which could host more medium-sized conferences within a week instead of fewer large ones. “There are more opportunities for medium-sized conferences, and for cities like Thessaloniki, I believe that a number of 1,500–2,000 delegates is really good,” he noted, while adding that the role of safety for conference participants is becoming increasingly important. In this context, European destinations remain at the center of attention.

(Source: amna.gr)

IAPCO AM&GA Athens 2026. “The Odyssey Reinvented” – A Very Human Journey Toward the Meetings of Tomorrow. Athens is a destination with forward-thinking heritage, vibrant urban culture, and world-class meeting facilities, offering excellent connectivity by air and sea, and sustainable and fast transport from the airport. With its impressive rise in the international meetings industry, Athens has already been established on the global map within the top 10 most popular destinations for congresses. (Source: iapco.org) 

IAPCO President, President & CEO of AFEA CONGRESS, Sissy Lignou stated in an interview with the Athens–Macedonian News Agency that the awarding of the international IAPCO conference to Athens is proof of the recognition of the professionalism and capability of Greek organisers to host an event of such high calibre. It also signals trust in the professional core of the international meetings market (PCOs) and confirms that our country can deliver a top-tier industry event in terms of experience, infrastructure and stakeholder collaboration.

 “We chose the theme “The Odyssey Reinvented” in order to highlight not only the importance of the final destination on the way to achieving our goal, but also the great significance of the journey itself and the ‘experience’ that the organisation of conferences and events can create for each visitor or participant. We present the ‘journey’ as an opportunity, beyond the challenges,” Ms Lignou noted.

As the first Greek president of the international organisation, Ms Lignou believes that Greece possesses a deep tradition of hospitality, strong scientific capital, a dynamic academic community, and highly adaptable professionals. “Our scientists are recognised by international organisations, which turn their attention to our country for hosting their national conferences and events. Greek entrepreneurs excel abroad, making Greece an attractive hub for corporate meetings. In recent years, Greek PCOs have demonstrated that they can operate according to international quality standards, incorporate sustainable practices, and leverage technology in meaningful ways,” she notes. She also emphasizes that “Greece can influence global trends not only as an appealing destination, but as a ‘laboratory’ of innovation in conference and event design. Our country’s authenticity can once again highlight the importance of the human element and genuine interaction in a world dominated by technology.”

(Source: amna.gr)

This is Athens – Convention & Visitors Bureau, established in April 2008, is the business division of the city's international brand and advances Athens in the global tourism and meetings industry. As part of Develop Athens S.A., the City of Athens' development agency, it strategically attracts international tourism and investment, leveraging the city's unique assets and cultural heritage. It has been recognized multiple times as Europe's Leading City Tourist Board at the World Travel Awards. Athens has been awarded "World's Leading Cultural City Destination" for 2024 by the World Travel Awards, continuing its recognition as a top destination.

Thessaloniki Convention Bureau (TCB)is a non-profit member-based organization set up by a group of private companies, leading partners of the events and conventions industry, acting as intermediary link between meeting planners and local service providers, conference centers, venues, hotels, PCOs & DMCs. High professionalism in meetings organization, attractive venues, high standards hotels and a large number of relevant to the industry services, add value the city’s charming profile.

The post Athens at the center of the global conference industry appeared first on Greek News Agenda.

The historic signing of the construction contract for the Holocaust Museum of Greece in Thessaloniki marks a historic milestone for a project of national and international significance. The contract was signed between the Jewish Community of Thessaloniki and the construction company METKA S.A., following the successful completion of the required public tendering process and preliminary works, thus signaling the transition of the Museum from planning to implementation. The project reflects Greece’s commitment to historical memory, education, and responsibility toward future generations.

The realization of the Holocaust Museum of Greece has been made possible through the decisive contribution of major donors. Key supporters include the Greek Government, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), the Tavma Foundation, and the Genesis Prize Foundation, through a donation by Albert Bourla. Their sustained support has played a critical role in the maturation, advancement, and launch of this important project.

The Holocaust Museum of Greece will be constructed on the site of the former Thessaloniki Railway Station, a location deeply connected to the memory of the city’s Jewish population, as it was from there that the Nazis deported Thessaloniki Jews to concentration camps during World War II. The plot of land was granted to the Jewish Community of Thessaloniki by GAIAOSE S.A. (the public utility company operating in the management and development of railway real estate assets), with the essential and continuous engagement of the Municipality of Thessaloniki, which actively backs the realization of a project deeply embedded in the city’s historical and cultural identity.

On the morning of March 14, 1943, the Jews of the Hirsch quarter of Thessaloniki were instructed to assemble in the local synagogue, where they were informed that they were to be deported to Poland The next morning, they marched to the station, where they were driven into the waiting cars, which were soon overloaded to twice their capacity, closed, then sealed, and off to Poland. During the next few months, new convoys arrived from various Jewish neighborhoods of the city and they were sent off to the Auschwitz and Birkenau extermination camps. The last convoy left in the 7^th of August 1943. 43,850 Jews, 95% of the Jewish population, were deported from Thessaloniki in these months. Very few Jews of Thessaloniki found refuge in the surrounding countryside where they joined the resistance, or in Athens, where a significant proportion of the Jewish population was saved by the help of the Christian population. (Source, Photos: Jewish Museum of Thessaloniki– The Holocaust, Deutsches Bundesarchiv)

Speaking at the event, David Saltiel, President of the Jewish Community of Thessaloniki, the Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece, and the Holocaust Museum of Greece, emphasized the symbolic and practical importance of the day. “Today’s signing of the contract marks the transition from planning to action. The Holocaust Museum of Greece is a national project of memory and responsibility. It is a project that concerns the entire country and future generations.” METKA CEO Dinos Benroubi said Thessaloniki will “soon acquire a modern beacon of memory and culture.”

From the signing of the contract. From left: Dinos Benroubi, Panagiotis Pikrammenos, David Saltiel

Representatives of the founding donors were present at the signing ceremony, including Panagiotis Pikrammenos, representing the Greek Government, Mark Strohmenger from the German Consulate in Thessaloniki, and Eleni Agouridi from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.

Mr. Pikrammenos, former Prime Minister and former President of the Council of State, described the occasion as “a day of joy and emotion.” He highlighted that the Museum was a vision of the late Mayor of Thessaloniki, Yiannis Boutaris, embraced by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and stressed that it is a project owed to the city of Thessaloniki. “The process is now underway. The Museum will be built and will be a jewel for the city,” he stated.

German Consul Mark Strohmenger underlined the contemporary relevance of the project, noting: “This project is extremely important in our times, in an era when societies are drifting apart. Remembering the past and learning from it is more important than ever.”

The Holocaust Memorial in honor of the 50,000 Greek Jews of Thessaloniki. It was erected in honor of the 50,000 Greek Jews of Thessaloniki who testified in the Nazi camps. It is placed at the southeast corner of Eleftherias Square, the same square where Nazi men had gathered the city's Jewish men and tortured them in July 1942. The monument represents the seven-light lamp, the menorah, with its flames enveloping human bodies. It was designed by the great sculptor Nandor Glid, a Jew of Serbian descent, who had lost almost his entire family in the concentration camps. (Source: visit-centralmacedonia.gr)

Exhibition at Werkbund Galerie in Berlin, presenting the Holocaust Museum of Greece in Thessaloniki, 19.2-15.3.2025 (Source: makridisassociates.com)

The architectural design of the Museum has been developed by EKA Efrat Kowalsky Architects (Israel), HvB Heide von Beckerath (Germany), and Makridis and Associates (Greece), in collaboration with an interdisciplinary team of specialists. The museological and exhibition design has been undertaken by the internationally acclaimed firm Atelier Brückner, in collaboration with Professor of Museology at the Department of Communication, Media and Culture, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Andromache Gazi ensuring a contemporary museum experience aligned with international standards. Overall project coordination and management have been assigned to the joint venture Samaras & Associates S.A. – Hill International.

Project Description (Source: Efrat-Kowalsky Architects):

The architectural concept of the Holocaust Museum of Greece in Thessaloniki is rooted in the dual notion of presence and absence. Rising on the site of the former railway station, the museum embodies both a place of departure and a place of return a space where memory, light, and material converge to tell the story of a lost community. Its octagonal form resonates with the geometry of ancient and sacred architecture found throughout the city, while the interplay of light and shadow across the marble and concrete surfaces evokes the coexistence of life and loss.

Designed as an open and permeable monument, the building invites the public to experience remembrance not as a closed chapter, but as a living dialogue with the present. Transparent thresholds and framed views connect the museum’s interior to the city beyond, transforming the act of remembrance into a civic gesture. Inside, a vertical sequence of exhibition spaces, research areas, and public zones reflects the layered history of Thessaloniki a city where Jewish, Christian, and Muslim cultures once flourished side by side.

The museum is conceived as both a place of reflection and a catalyst for renewal. Through its architecture, it seeks to reconcile the fragmented narratives of the past with the pluralistic identity of Thessaloniki today a city once known as la madre de Israel, “the mother of Israel,” and now reimagined as a beacon of coexistence and hope.

Construction of the Holocaust Museum of Greece is expected to take approximately two years. Upon completion, the Museum aims to become an international center for remembrance, education, and research, serving as a powerful space for historical reflection and dialogue, while contributing significantly to the cultural, educational, and social landscape of Thessaloniki and Greece as a whole.

(Source: amna.gr, ekathimerini.com)

Read also:

“Heritage and Memory: A Focus on Jewish Greece” a virtual event for the International Holocaust Remembrance Day (27.01)

I.A.

The post Construction of the Holocaust Museum of Greece Officially Launched in Thessaloniki appeared first on Greek News Agenda.