- Heraklion is on a mission to become a 365-day City Break destination.
- The city unveiled its tourism strategy at the 14th HAPCO & DES Conference in Athens.
- Officials highlighted strengths like Heraklion’s Cultural and Conference Centre (P.S.K.H.) and strong hotel infrastructure.
- There’s a focus on synergy between tourism, culture, and gastronomy.
- A new Destination Management & Marketing Organisation (DMMO) is in the works.
- Collaboration between the public and private sectors is central to the plan.
Heraklion will become famous as the new conference hotspot in the Mediterranean. That’s precisely the message Heraklion’s leadership shared at the 14th Panhellenic Conference on Conference Tourism, hosted by HAPCO & DES in Athens on 10–11 March 2025.
With the theme “Metamorphosis” (how very Greek of them), the event dug into challenges and trends in conference tourism. For Heraklion, it was an opportunity to shake hands, make a splash, and dish out its ambitious plans to professionals, organisers, and industry experts from around the globe.
Selling Sand to the Desert? Not Exactly
You’d think turning a place with sunshine 300 days a year into a year-round destination is a bit over the top. But Heraklion is playing it smart. Officials are working hard to position the city as a 365-day City Break and conference magnet. Before you roll your eyes, here’s why it might work:
- Cultural and Conference Centre (P.S.K.H.): Fancy name, big deal. This is one of Europe’s most state-of-the-art conference centres. It’s got the scale and tech setup to pull in major international events.
- Strategic Location: Heraklion boasts an international airport connecting over 130 destinations. Translation: easy access equals higher chances of showing up on organisers’ radars.
- Hotels Ready to Impress: The city’s hotel options have fully kitted-out conference facilities.
- A Tourism Trifecta: Combine business with leisure by mixing conferences, local culture, and fantastic food. Meeting attendees leave full—of both knowledge and bougatsa.
At the conference, two VIPs took the mic on behalf of Heraklion’s municipality:
- George Agrimanakis (Deputy Mayor for Finance & Tourism):
- Pushed the city as a key destination for large-scale meetings/events.
- Highlighted the importance of public-private partnerships—for example, teaming up with Professional Congress Organisers (PCOs) and airlines.
- Stressed linking tourism products (yes, including gastronomy) into the broader conference experience.
- Kostas Varverakis (President of D.E.P.A.N.A.L. S.A.): Echoed the same enthusiasm for showing how Heraklion aims to outshine its Mediterranean neighbours.
Learning from the World
Other countries played their part, too. Ireland, Sweden, and Portugal showcased how they tackle conference tourism.
To bring all this talk to life, Heraklion is setting up a Destination Management & Marketing Organisation (DMMO). The group will oversee coordination and ensure the city gets a slice of the lucrative international MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions) pie. While this sounds like one of those head-scratching committees, it has serious teeth in terms of delivering results.
To see Heraklion’s bold plans, visit their official updates here: Heraklion Municipality Press Releases.
