POSIDONIA 2024

Posidonia Exhibitions SA has specialised in trade fairs regarding the international shipping and sea tourism industries. The company is the organiser of Posidonia, the international shipping exhibition, the Posidonia Maritime Policy Forum, a one-day conference addressing issues of importance to the international shipping community, and the Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum, an international conference and exhibition about sea tourism.

Posidonia, the international shipping exhibition, has long been established as one of the major calendar events of the shipping industry, and Posidonia 2018 attracted the most influential personalities from the Greek and international shipping community and major companies and organisations active in all sectors of the shipping industry. The international exhibition Posidonia first took place in 1969 and has been taking place every two years ever since.

Posidonia 2022 was the largest in terms of exhibition space and most publicised event in the exhibitions’ 50-year history and has become the largest trade show in Greece. Posidonia 2018 welcomed 2,009 exhibiting companies from 92 countries & territories and was attended by 23,527 visitors from 104 countries. In total the exhibition was attended by 39,485 participants including exhibitors, visitors and media representatives. The exhibition had 22 national pavilions from the following countries and territories: Austria, Bahamas, Brazil, Cayman Islands, China, Cyprus, Denmark, Georgia, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, Republic of Korea, Liberia, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Poland, Singapore, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the USA.

Posidonia not only serves as a bridge linking the international shipping industry with the Greek shipowners, who operate the largest fleet globally of over 4,000 vessels, the largest under the control of any national group, but also serves as the platform that brings international shipowners in touch with the latest developments in the shipping industry and offers them direct access to the entire range of shipping products and services available on the international shipping market.

To promote Posidonia sales worldwide, Posidonia Exhibitions SA has agreements with international selling agents in the U.S.A., United Kingdom and Hong Kong. Posidonia’s international selling agents are The Maritime Executive in the U.S.A., Informa Markets/ Seatrade in the United Kingdom and Informa Markets in Hong Kong.

The Greek Prime Minister traditionally inaugurates the exhibition, in the presence of Heads of State from major shipping nations, foreign Ministers, EU Commissioners, Secretary Generals of International Organisations, Chairmen of International Associations and Organisations and leading personalities of the world of shipping, trade and finance.

In 2006, Posidonia was for the first time awarded the US Trade Fair Certification, which proved extremely useful in recruiting US companies. Posidonia has been receiving the certification ever since and is the only exhibition in Greece to be awarded this status.

During Posidonia week, a number of networking sporting events take place including, the Posidonia Cup sailing race in Faliron Bay, Piraeus, the Posidonia Shipsoccer Tournament, a one-day 5x5 soccer tournament for the shipping industry, the Posidonia Golf Tournament, as well as the Posidonia Running Event in Piraeus. In 2024, a Squash as well as Basketball tournament will be added to the Posidonia sports events agenda.

Posidonia makes an essential contribution to the Greek economy every two years, with its thousands of visitors and exhibitors boosting the tourist industry and related sectors, as more than 10,000 people visit our country for the exhibition. Specifically, it is estimated that some €60 million are generated throughout Posidonia week by exhibitor and visitor spending on hotels, restaurants, business meetings, hospitality events, stand constructions, transportations, customs clearance and movement of exhibits etc. Moreover, such a high quality event taking place in Athens promotes Greece and the city itself as an ideal destination for major international trade events, contributing to the future development of the MICE sector in the region, and also projecting a positive image of Greece to the world.

Posidonia is organised under the auspices of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs & Insular Policy, the Union of Greek Shipowners, and the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping, and with the support of the Municipality of Piraeus and the Greek Shipping Co-operation Committee.

The Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum, launched in 2011, has quickly established itself as a leading business platform for global cruising and yachting industry decision makers and governments, tourism bodies, regulators and ports and destinations from the entire Mediterranean. The biennial forum examines the need for new facilities, infrastructure and services as well as prospective joint ventures that are expected to result in important benefits for Greece as well as the countries in the wider Eastern Med region.

Top executives representing the most important international cruise and yachting companies participate, share their insight and know-how with the Forum’s audience and discuss business with exhibitors and participants. The event also enjoys the active support of CLIA Europe and MedCruise.

Since its inception, new focused workshops and seminars have been added to the Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum’s agenda, generating further growth. With approx. 1,000 participants and 35 exhibitors from over 20 countries and territories participating in this industry focused dialogue, the Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum has become the landmark event for the sea tourism industry in the Eastern Mediterranean.