Business travel and conferences

 

(A text by Stefanos Philippas read on the “Ready2board” magazine in February 2024. I don’t see so clearly that this is the origin, but it’s a point of view worth considering.)

[…] Let us take a brief look back at the origins of conferences, because actually, Greece also historically holds the trademark that today we call "Conference Tourism".

The idea of conferences began with the famous Delphic Amphictyony in Ancient Greece. Amphictyonies, of course, were also held earlier in many central sanctuaries of the country, where the inhabitants of the surrounding cities gathered and offered sacrifices to the gods, communicated the news of their social and political daily life and - through an exchange of views - decided on the observance of inviolable rules, which were checked at the next Amphictyony. Thus, gradually, what was originally a religious association was transformed into a political one, in the form that the Federations have today.

The most important Amphictyony of antiquity was that of Delphi, which was called Pylae. Soon, the Amphictyonies gained great political influence, directly affecting the intellectual and historical life of the Greeks. Twelve peoples - among them the Boeotians, the Dorians, the Ionians, the Phocians and the Thessalians, i.e. almost all of Greece - participated in the Amphictyonic Congress, which was held twice a year: In the autumn at Anthele near Thermopylae, and at Delphi in the spring.

In short, the Amphictyonies were the first attempt to unite different peoples, through conferences and the exchange of views by the speakers. With the passage of time, they were replaced by the Commons and by the Confederacies and, if we want to bring them into modern times, it is obvious that the Society of Nations and the UN have exactly the same pattern.

Teleporting from ancient to modern Greece, in 1927, the poet Angelos Sikelianos and his wife Eva, revived the Delphic Festivals. Today's "Amphictyonies" remain true to their essence - the sharing of developments and exchange of views - but have greatly enriched their range of activities. Business travel and conference organisation is now a whole experience for participants, all of which revolves around the purpose of the trip (business as usual) but also includes a package of activities that resembles a holiday: Visits to nearby destinations of naturalistic or archaeological interest, sports activities or - if time is limited - amenities and services that elevate even the simple hospitality of a hotel.

[…]

A small - but very significant and essential -parenthesis before the end, to make special mention of an institution that has contributed to the development of Business and Conference Tourism in Greece. We are referring, of course, to the Thessaloniki International Fair, with a legendary story going back to 1926 . In addition to its business interest, the Exhibition developed activities that extended to the field of culture, with the establishment of the Greek Film Festival (1960) and the Greek Song Festival (1962). […]