- \n
- The strategic extroversion and international positioning of Greece<\/li>\n
- The link between the Meetings Industry and economic growth<\/li>\n
- Investment and infrastructure as catalysts for growth<\/li>\n
- Technology and artificial intelligence<\/li>\n
- The Sustainability and ESG practices<\/li>\n
- The attendee experience and the role of hospitality<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The first day of the conference opens with topics on aligning destination narratives with market expectations, while a fire chat on the role of business events in national extroversion stands out, as well as a special session on artificial intelligence with a human-centric approach .<\/p>\n
Other topics of particular interest<\/b> include:<\/p>\n
- \n
- the discussions on the future of conference and exhibition infrastructure,<\/li>\n
- the contributions on cybersecurity in the industry,<\/li>\n
- as well as the topics on sustainable development and creating competitive advantage.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The second day focuses on strategy formulation, cooperation between institutions and stakeholders, as well as on issues such as accessibility, new business models and the development of destinations for all .<\/p>\n
At the same time, the organization of the Student Competition “City Boosters” stands out, highlighting the role of events as a driver of urban development, strengthening the connection between the sector and the new generation of professionals .<\/p>\n
Strong presence of institutional and leading figures<\/h3>\n
The conference is attended by leading representatives of the State, the market and the international community, confirming its importance as a reference point for the sector.<\/p>\n
Among others, the programme includes interventions by ministers, representatives of institutional bodies, leading executives of tourism, hospitality, investment and technology, as well as international organizations of the Meetings Industry .<\/p>\n
Antonia Alexandrou: “Turning the industry’s potential into measurable value”<\/h3>\n
HAPCO & DES President, Ms. Antonia Alexandrou, in a statement said, “The upcoming HAPCO & DES conference is a targeted initiative for the convergence of the public and private sectors, with the common goal of highlighting the conferences, exhibitions and corporate events sector as an essential driver of growth for the Greek economy. In a period of increased need for extroversion and investment, the sector remains underutilized, despite its proven multiplier effect. “Sync. Shift. Shape.” comes to highlight this potential through a dynamic and interactive programme. The objective is clear: to transform the existing potential into measurable value for the economy, regional development and Greece’s international image.”<\/p>\n
![\"hapco-des-president-alexandrou.JPG\"](\"https:\/\/tomanifesto.cachefly.net\/tomanifesto\/images\/placeholder.png\")
<\/figure>\nStrategic convergence for the next day of the industry<\/h3>\n
The HAPCO & DES Annual Meeting 2026 aspires to act as a catalyst for the formation of a new framework for cooperation between institutions, businesses and professionals, strengthening Greece’s position on the international map of conferences and events.<\/p>\n
Sponsorship<\/h3>\n
The conference is made possible with the significant contribution of Platinum Sponsor Mykonian Collection, as well as the support of major companies and organizations in the industry.<\/p>\n
Organization Details<\/p>\n
\ud83d\udccd Athens – Grand Hyatt Athens<\/p>\n
\ud83d\udcc5 29-30 April 2026<\/p>\n
\ud83c\udf10 https:\/\/hapcodescongress.gr<\/p>\n
About HAPCO & DES<\/p>\n
The Hellenic Association of Professional Conference Organisers (HAPCO & DES) is the institutional representative of the conferences, exhibitions and professional events sector in Greece, actively contributing to the development, extroversion and international promotion of the Meetings Industry.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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<\/figure>\n