The 21st World Summit of the International Federation of Exhibition and Event Services was held June 26-28 in Athens, starting with the official annual general meeting and presentation of 13 new members.
Some 250 guests accepted the invitation to a party over the rooftops of Athens on opening night as a prelude to the event, this year at Ble, a peninsula in the middle of the Ionian Sea.
For the second time, the World Summit was preceded by the Sustainable Starter, a mini-convention on the subject of sustainability. This year, the winners of the UFI Sustainable Award presented their award-winning projects.
The speakers’ lineup was true to the motto, “Summit of Inspiration.”
Dimitris Tsouchlos inspired with extensive experience in management, psychology and team dynamics and accompanied the audience on a transformative journey. He says 40 percent of our state of mind depends on our behavior, and this has to be actively used.
Origami master Myrto Dimitrou, with the help of a Din A4 sheet, showed why communication can go wrong every day. As a social anthropologist, she combined Greek folk art with the Japanese art of paperfolding and an educational program: Rethinking.
“Design Ambassador” Vassilios Bartzokas introduced four extraordinary Greek architects under the heading, “The Greek Inspiration.”
Ermis Adamantidis, director at Not a Number Architects, presented spatial installations through urban planning. Helen Brasinika, designer and co-founder at Blend Design & Research Office, presented the architectural link between creation and environment. Dimitris Koliadimas, owner and creative director at Semiotik, introduced “The Volvo Ocean Race,” and Ilias Papageorgiou, Greek architect and founder of PILA, presented “Mini living!”
Jochen Witt of JWC Consulting can look back on a success story of many years in the ranges fair strategy, price structuring of fair achievements, business development, planning and building of meeting places and business Intelligence. As desired, his presentation was a follow-up to the World Summit in Chicago and with a focus on China.
Peter Economides presented a motivating and appealing narrative based on a strong belief and value system, which offers a strong brand and controls it while defining external expectations. And Charles Pappas discussed how the World Expositions changed life.
Panagiotis Podimatas dealt with the thought, “When the economy drives your creativity,” using the example of the Athens flight week. Dr. Christian Coppeneur-Gülz, in a fascinating lecture, asked himself whether we should leave the stage to Google & Co.
The Eugenides Foundation, as a venue, has been committed to scientific and technical education for more than 50 years and is looking forward to a future with completely renovated and renewed facilities by creating a multi-story education center to the highest standards in the Faliro Delta.
The three-day summit concluded with the hand-over to Amsterdam for World Summit 2020.
