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 Athens, Greece Tel Fax

Friday 6th March :00–12:30 Arrival – Registration 09:00–11:00 HAPCO Annual General Assembly (only for HAPCO members) 11:00–11:15 Coffee break 11:15–12:30Opening Ceremony 12:30–14:30 1 st Session: «The international economic crisis of today and its impact on tourism, with emphasis on Congress Tourism» 14:30–15:30Light lunch 15:30–17:30 2 nd Session: «Possibilities for Developing Congress Tourism in the Region of Northern Greece» 17:30–17:45 Coffee break 17:45–19:00 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 20.30Departure for the Polis Thessaloniki Convention Centre 21:00Gala Dinner (by invitation only) Saturday 7th Μarch :00–10:00Arrival - Registration 10:00–12:00 3 rd Session: «Prospects of Developing Inter-Balkan Cooperative Networks» 12:00–12:15 Coffee break 12:15–14:15 4 th Session: «Thessaloniki as in Inter-Balkan Hub of Congress & Business Tourism » 14:15–15:30 Light lunch 15:30–16:30 Workshop 2: «Planning & Technological Support of Congress Facilities and Events » 16:30–17:30 5 th Session: «Synopsis - Conclusions» HAPCO Party CONFERENCE PROGRAMME

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 5th 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: € 80 BB Deluxe twin room: € 95 BB Room reservations should be made direct with the hotel, together with payment for the stay, mentioning the 5th ΗΑPCO Conference: Person responsible for bookings: Ms Zoe Ferekidou (tel , *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, Athens Τel.: , Fax: