Driving Growth Through Collaboration: Athens' presence at the International MICE Summit Riyadh

From 26 to 27 November 2025, our team participated in the International MICE Summit (IMS), held at The Canopy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. As a prominent gathering for the global meetings industry, the summit brought together leaders across tourism, investment, and event delivery to examine the trends shaping the future of the sector under the theme "Public-Private Collaboration Fueling MICE Growth."

Focus on Public-Private Collaboration

A focal point of our participation was the contribution of Mr Ioannis Georgizas, CEO of the Develop Athens S.A., who has joined a distinguished panel of speakers under the theme "DMCs and Convention Bureaus Perspective: How to Tackle the Challenge of Building a Destination?". Participating alongside senior representatives from organisations such as the Honegger Group, Messe Frankfurt, and RX Global, the discussion addressed the critical synergies required between government bodies and private stakeholders.

The panel discussion centred on the operational synergy between Convention Bureaus and Destination Management Companies (DMCs). The bureau's strategies were outlined for positioning Athens as a premier event destination, emphasising the importance of cohesive public-private partnerships in enhancing the client experience. The session also provided a platform to showcase unique, lesser-known attributes of the city that reinforce Athens' distinct identity in a competitive global market.