Published on
November 11, 2025
Walking through the corridors of the exhibition centre in Thessaloniki this November, tourism professionals and travel‑enthusiasts alike will feel not just the energy of deals in the making, but a revived sense of exploration and connection. The 2025 edition of Philoxenia – Hotelia and FOOD & DRINKS by Detrop gathers on 14‑16 November in the Greek city, offering a platform where travel meets hospitality, and culture finds its voice again.
For Greece’s travel industry the event is more than an exhibition: it is a statement of optimism, a reconnection of networks, and a timely celebration of the country’s potential as a year‑round destination. With its focus on culture and tourism in partnership with the relevant Ministry of Tourism and cultural track‑holders, Philoxenia aims to embody Greece’s evolving travel narrative.
Bridging Travel Destinations and Cultural Heritag
At the heart of Philoxenia 2025 lies the theme of unified travel and cultural heritage. Organised by HELEXPO S.A. in collaboration with the Hellenic Organization of Cultural Resources Development (H.O.C.RE.D.) and the Ministry of Tourism, the exhibition emphasises how Greece’s archaeological sites, museums and monuments can be leveraged to enrich travel products and destination appeal.
Professionals attending the show will engage in B2B meetings, sector‑specific seminars and cultural‑tourism panels. These sessions are designed to explore how destinations can shape immersive travel experiences rooted in local culture, heritage and authenticity. The aim is to move beyond traditional beach‑sun models into layered tourist journeys. The exhibition listing indicates strong emphasis on buyer‑programmes and international networking.
A Travel Industry Platform with Purpose
Since its early days, Philoxenia has served as a keystone within Greece’s tourism trade calendar. The 2025 edition, scheduled for the Thessaloniki International Exhibition & Congress Centre, invites exhibitors, service providers, destination bodies, travel agencies and hospitality‑equipment suppliers. Participation is open to trade visitors (with registration) and the general public for a minimal entry fee.
The travel‑industry implications are significant. This event provides a critical opportunity for destination‑marketers — from Greek islands to mainland regions — to pitch directly to international buyers and tour operators. It also brings to the fore the hospitality infrastructure side, via the Hotelia component, which supports service‑industry growth. As Greece continues its push for sustainable, all‑year travel, such platforms become essential for dialogue, innovation and collaboration.
What Attendees Can Expect
- Dates and Venue: Philoxenia 2025 runs from 14‑16 November 2025 in Thessaloniki.
- Opening Hours: Friday 10:00–20:00; Saturday 10:00–20:00; Sunday 10:00–18:00.
- Themes & Programmes: Conference sessions exploring “Tourism and Culture”, buyer‑matching programmes, destination‑showcases, and parallel hospitality‑exhibition content emphasizing equipment and services.
- Focus: Wider international representation, curated travel‑industry meetings, and dialogue between culture‑heritage organisations and tourism‑business operators. The photography‑exhibition element showcases four decades of Greek hospitality through visual storytelling.
Travel‑industry professionals are encouraged to register early, tailor their objectives (destination pitch, buyer sourcing, hospitality supply chain) and take advantage of Thessaloniki’s accessibility and networking environment.
Why This Matters for Travel & Tourism in Greece
Greece’s travel strategy has increasingly emphasised culture, regional diversification and off‑season appeal — a shift away from purely summer, mass‑market tourism. As the Ministry of Tourism has indicated, leveraging cultural heritage is key to sustainable development, infrastructure enhancement and extended‑season demand.
Philoxenia plays into that wider policy strategy. It offers a showcase for how destinations — from lesser‑known mainland regions to the islands — can harness authenticity, heritage and hospitality to appeal to discerning global visitors. For hotel‑equipment and service providers, the linkage between infrastructure‑investment and travel experience is front‑and‑centre.
For destinations within Greece and for inbound‑tourism facilitators abroad, participating in or tracking the event offers visibility, insight into buyer‑needs and alignment with Greece’s evolving travel‑vision.
Thessaloniki Travel – Where Travel Ideas Meet Warm Greek Welcome
As professionals gather in Thessaloniki this November, they carry with them more than brochures and business cards: they bring hopes for destination transformation, memorable guest experiences and new travel partnerships. Philoxenia 2025 invites attendees to connect, imagine and create the next chapter of Greek tourism.
By the end of the exhibition, it is not simply deals that matter but the broader promise of shared travel dreams — destinations aspiring to greatness, service‑providers building bridges to global markets, and travellers discovering the genuine heart of Greece’s hospitality.
Let Philoxenia 2025 mark your calendar — not just as an industry event, but a celebration of travel’s potential to inspire, connect and endure.
