AFEA Travel & Congress Services

05.2021

Hospitality Returns

A white paper on Greek hospitality investments by DHR Services.

AFEA was included in the White Paper published by DHR Services and AFEA CEO, Sissi Lignou, was among the 26 leaders of the tourism and business industries, sharing their insights on the future of investments in hospitality.
For the first time, key players in the industry reflect and express their opinion on how the investment landscape of the hospitality industry will be shaped in 2021. This is accompanied by quantitative research on a sample of top Tour Operators and Travel Agents, both from Greece and abroad, regarding the new era.

Source: DHR Services

03.2021

AFEA celebrates women

In the effort to celebrate the role of Women in the Meetings & Tourism Industry, as well as to highlight the power of the female element in Business in general, AFEA participated in various campaigns and actions, launched around the world on the International Women’s Day (March 8th 2021).

Wishing to thank all the women active in our organization and to show our appreciation for their continued support even during critical times, we launched a "thank you post" on all our social media channels.

AFEA CEO, Mrs. Sissi Lygnou, was invited to participate in various campaigns on the occasion of this celebration:

Greek Travel Pages (GTP) campaign, with the message #choosetochallenge, invited women in Greek Tourism, decision-makers, insiders and passionate professionals, to step up for the International Women's Day and to speak about the challenges faced in the industry and the vision, as well as the suggestions in the re-defining of Greek Tourism.

Sissi Lygnou had the opportunity to deliver a powerful message through this campaign.

“The greatest challenge ahead will be to join forces on a national level with the aim to formulate strategies for the immediate re-positioning and re-opening of our country as the ideal tourism and meetings destination.”

Our business’ focus and formats have changed, but our country has the potential and the professionals to demonstrate its ability to re-invent, re-think, re-design and to thrive, showing the world that Greece is THE place to be.”

ICOM, an established worldwide PCO and member of IAPCO, close partner of our Association, launched a campaign called "Where there is a woman, Τhere is magic", inviting women around the globe, to speak about the challenges they have been facing since the beginning of their career path and what advices they would like to give to the next generation of Women Leaders.

02.2021

AFEA CEO on IAPCO Council

We are excited to announce that Sissi Lygnou, AFEA CEO, was elected as a new member of the IAPCO Council (International Association of Professional Congress Organizers), during the Association’s General Assembly & IAPCO Day on February 15th 2021.

IAPCO is the International accreditation member-driven association for Professional Congress Organizers around the world, with the mission to raise the standards of service amongst its members and other sectors of the meetings industry by means of continuing education and interaction with other professionals.

AFEA has been a very active member of IAPCO since 2009 and Sissy Lignou has represented the international body in various tasks and committees, always aiming in further advocating on the important role of the Meetings Industry in the recovery and development of countries on global level, as well as the need to recognize its value.

«It is a great honor to be part of the Council of the ultimate body representing our Meetings Industry globally and I will do my outmost to contribute further to the amazing work already done by IAPCO, in an effort to advocate on the importance of our business as well as continue to raise the standards of service provided by Professional Congress Organizers globally. Through this position, I also hope I will have the opportunity to showcase our readiness to respond to a global crisis and to embrace the spirit of collaboration towards a brighter future”, Sissi Lygnou stated.

The “Greek Presence” in IAPCO’s council has been embraced by the National Tourism & Meetings Industry and has contributed to attracting more attention on the need to restart, promote and support the Greek Meetings Industry even further.
Sissi serves the Hellenic Association of Professional Congress Organizers (HAPCO) for more than 13 years and has more than 20 years of professional experience in the Meetings industry.

Source: IAPCO The PCO 2021