By A. Tsimplakis
[email protected]
Rising tourism figures for the greater Athens area has again rekindled debate over the fact that the Greek capital lacks a world-class convention center, infrastructure able to attract the biggest international trade events.
Numerous new hotels and renovations of older facilities have been completed and announced over the recent period, while the "AirBnb phenomenon" is making a major impact on several inner city Athens districts, essentially an unofficial gentrification process - with its positive and negative effects.
According to information collected by "N", the number of international conferences and business meetings in Athens and Thessaloniki has and will increase by 15 percent over the 2017-2020 period.
The major goal linked with constructing and operating an international standard convention and trade facility is to attract higher-income visitors.
Such as facility would need, according to most analysts, a main chamber able to accommodate upwards of 3,000 delegates/visitors, at least 35 smaller halls a minimum of 8,000 square meters of exhibition space.
No facility in greater Athens or Thessaloniki today can host more than 2,000 people, with only the Metropolitan Expo - located next to the Athens airport but far from the center - able to host major international conventions.
The good news, "N" has learned, is that Athens will host a major event in 2022 at the Athens Concert Hall (Megaron), with up to 4,000 delegates expected.
