1 st Announcement 5 th Pan-Hellenic Conference

1 st Announcement 5 th Pan-Hellenic Conference & Workshops for Conference & Business Tourism “STRATEGIES OF REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF CONFERENCE TOURISM IN TIMES OF DEPRESSION” 6 & 7 Μarch 2009 Grand Hotel Palace – Olympia Conference Centre Thessaloniki, Greece Under the auspices of: Ministry of Tourism Development – Greek National Tourism Organization Greek Chamber of Hotels 2 -4 Alkmeonidon str. • 161 21 Athens, Greece • Tel. + 30 210 725541 -3 • Fax. + 30 210 7258487 hapco@hapco. gr • www. hapco. gr

CONFERENCE PROGRAMME Friday 6 th March 2009 08: 00– 12: 30 09: 00– 11: 15– 12: 30– 14: 30– 15: 30– 17: 45– 19: 00 Arrival – Registration HAPCO Annual General Assembly (only for HAPCO members) Coffee break Opening Ceremony 1 st Session: «The international economic crisis of today and its impact on tourism, with emphasis on Congress Tourism» Light lunch 2 nd Session: «Possibilities for Developing Congress Tourism in the Region of Northern Greece» Coffee break Workshop 1: Presentation of the results of the following two empirical studies: * «Northern Greece as a Regional Congress Destination: Problems and Opportunities» undertaken by the University of the Aegean and the Minoan International College * «Infrastructure, facilities and human resources of Congress Tourism in the Region of Northern Greece» undertaken by the Alexandrian Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki 20. 30 Departure for the Polis Thessaloniki Convention Centre 21: 00 Gala Dinner (by invitation only) Saturday 7 th Μarch 2009 09: 00– 10: 00– 12: 15– 14: 15– 15: 30– 16: 30– 17: 30 21. 30 Arrival - Registration 3 rd Session: «Prospects of Developing Inter-Balkan Cooperative Networks» Coffee break 4 th Session: «Thessaloniki as in Inter-Balkan Hub of Congress & Business Tourism » Light lunch Workshop 2: «Planning & Technological Support of Congress Facilities and Events » 5 th Session: «Synopsis - Conclusions» HAPCO Party

Scientific Committee President Zacharias Kaplanidis Managing Director, ZITA CONGRESS & TRAVEL S. A. Secretary General, EFAPCO (European Federation of Associations of Professional Congress Organizers) Member of the Board, HAPCO Members Michael Vastardis General Manager, Elysium Resort & Spa Lecturer, MBA Programme – Tourism Management, University of Piraeus Dr Gerasimos Zacharatos Professor, Tourism, Economics and Management, University of Patras Dr Aggeliki Kosmopoulou Scientific Collaborator, Department of Business Economics, University of Thessaloniki Managing Director, Logos Associates – Liaison S. A. Dr Dimitris Koutoulas Consultant, Tourism Development & Marketing Professor, University of the Aegean and Greek Open University Dr Periklis Lytras Professor, Department of Business Tourism, Technology Institute of Athens Visiting Professor, Athens University of Economics Dr Thomas Mavrodontis Professor, Department of Tourism Enterprises, Technology Institute of Thessaloniki Yiannis Michailidis General Manager, Hospitality & Tourism, Tourism Consultants Dr. Stergios L. Mourgos University Professor Vice President & Chief Αcademic Officer, Minoan International College Dr Michalis Sfakianakis Associate Professor, Department of Business Administration, University of Piraeus Dr Paris Tsartas Professor, Tourism Development, Director, MBA Programme «Planning, Management and Tourism Policy» , University of the Aegean

ORGANIZING COMMITTEE Dinos Astras President & Managing Director TRIAENA TOURS & CONGRESS S. A. President of the Board of Directors, HAPCO Dimitris Arvanitis Managing Director, LIVANIS PROFESSIONAL CONGRESS ORGANIZERS Treasurer, HAPCO Kalliopi Karakatsani Congress & Events Executive, HELEXPO Secretary General, HAPCO Sissy Lignou Manager Congress & Events Department AFEA S. A. Special Secretary, HAPCO Dimitris Mantzios President, AMPHITRION – C&C INTERNATIONAL S. A. Board Member, HAPCO, Past President, HAPCO Panagiotis Podimatas Managing Director, P. C. PODIMATAS AUDIOVISUAL S. A. Vice-President, HAPCO Lilia Sbokos Managing Director, SBOKOS D. M. C. S. A. Board Member, HAPCO Kostas Tsovilis Managing Director, GOLDAIR S. A. Board Member, HAPCO

Accommodation: During the 5 th Pan-Hellenic HAPCO Conference, the Hotel-Member Grand Hotel Palace in Thessaloniki, is offering special rates* for congress attendees residing outside of the Thessaloniki area and wishing to participate in the Conference: Deluxe single room: Deluxe twin room: € 80 BB € 95 BB Room reservations should be made direct with the hotel, together with payment for the stay, mentioning the 5 th ΗΑPCO Conference: Person responsible for bookings: Ms Zoe Ferekidou (tel. +30 2310 -549000, email: reservations@grandhotelpalace. gr *The special rates are per room per day and include full American Breakfast, free use of the inside, heated swimming pool, gymnasium, sauna as well as all the taxes. Flights: Aegean Airlines is the Official Conference Airline and is offering a special 50% discount on published return fares to Thessaloniki, departing on 05/03/09 or 06/03/09 and returning on 07/03/09 or 08/03/09 or 09/03/09, from the following destinations: • Sofia, Bucharest, Larnaca • All Greek destinations For more details and information about the special reservation code, please contact the Conference Secretariat HAPCO Conference Secretariat: 2 -4 Alkmeonidon Str, 161 21 Athens Τel. : +30 210 72 56 541 -3, Fax: +30 210 72 58 487 E-mail: hapco@hapco. gr www. hapco. gr