The 5th General Assembly of the Greek Exhibition Industry Association (SOKEE) successfully concluded
The 5th General Assembly of the Greek Exhibition Industry Association (SOKEE)was successfully concluded on Thursday, 16 July 2026, at Athens Metropolitan Expo in Spata, Attica.
During the General Assembly, the SOKEE Board confirmed that the Association will conduct a joint study with HAPCO, aiming to assess the overall economic impact of the MICE sector on the Greek economy. The study will be carried out within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two organisations earlier this year.
At the same time, SOKEE continues to place strong emphasis on educational initiatives aimed at introducing the exhibition industry to the younger generation and creating highly skilled professionals who will further develop the sector in the future. To this end, SOKEE will also seek cooperation with Greek universities.
The General Assembly, attended by the majority of SOKEE members, also included a presentation of the Association’s activities and achievements, as well as the financial report for the previous year, both of which were approved by the attending members.
Among the many actions undertaken by the Association during the past year, the following stood out:
• The completion and presentation of the ALCO research study, which recorded the contribution of exhibitions to the Greek economy. Among other findings, the research highlighted the contribution of exhibitions to tourism and the international promotion of Greece, demonstrating that exhibitions generate more than one million overnight stays in the country, particularly during non-tourist periods (November–April). The study, titled “Greek Exhibitions: Visitor and Exhibitor Research – The Profile and Economic Behavior of Exhibition Exhibitors and Visitors”, was conducted by SOKEE in collaboration with the research company ALCO. Its findings were presented in detail at an event in March 2026, shedding light for the first time, in a systematic manner, on the true economic footprint of the exhibition industry in Greece.
• The signing of an MoU with the Hellenic Association of Professional Congress Organisers (HAPCO), aimed at strengthening joint initiatives that will contribute to the development of the MICE sector in Greece and promote the country’s modern brand as a leading destination for exhibitions, conferences, and events.
• The participation of the Greek exhibition market, through SOKEE, in international research initiatives, including the UFI Global Exhibition Barometer, Euro Fair Statistics 2025, the IFES Exhibitions Survey, and others.
• The implementation of the educational program “Executive Program in Exhibition and Event Management” in collaboration with ALBA Business School.
• The representation of the Greek exhibition industry through SOKEE at international events, including the IFES Congress, the HAPCO & DES conferences, as well as the UFI Global Congress, which took place in Thessaloniki in June 2025.
During the Assembly, the two new members of the Association, Eventora and Exponymo, also had the opportunity to present their companies. Both organisations recently joined SOKEE, recognizing its importance for the exhibition industry and the opportunities for cooperation and growth it provides for its members.
The President of SOKEE, Mr. Theodore Vokos, stated:
“With the completion of five years of operation, SOKEE has achieved a significant part of the objectives it had set. The contribution of the exhibition industry to the national economy, the country’s export potential, and job creation has now become widely recognized, while the State has found an important partner representing the entire sector.
In addition, our educational programmes, as well as our continuous research initiatives highlighting the economic impact of the industry, have generated renewed interest in the exhibition sector, which is on a growth trajectory and is expected to expand further through the launch of new exhibitions and the enlargement of existing ones in the near future.
We look forward to close cooperation with both the government and other stakeholders to overcome future challenges and enable the MICE sector to become a catalyst for future economic activity.”