The Development Association of Western Athens (ASDA) announces a Call for Expressions of Interest for the selection of fifteen (15) businesses to participate in an organised business delegation and a joint exhibition presence at the international exhibition PHILOXENIA–HOTELIA 2026.
The exhibition will take place from 13 to 15 November 2026 at the Thessaloniki International Exhibition & Congress Centre, Greece. PHILOXENIA–HOTELIA is a professional exhibition dedicated to tourism and hospitality, bringing together businesses, industry professionals and organisations to showcase products and services, facilitate business networking and foster new partnerships.
The initiative is open to active micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as self-employed professionals operating in Greece, offering products, services or technological solutions relevant to the exhibition’s thematic areas. Particular emphasis is placed on informing and engaging businesses based in Western Athens, without the location of a business’s registered office constituting, in itself, a criterion for exclusion or evaluation.
Indicatively, the Call targets businesses operating in the following sectors:
- Tourism services, travel agencies, tour operators and destination management services.
- Hotel equipment, furniture, lighting and interior design solutions.
- Catering equipment, café equipment and equipment for professional hospitality facilities.
- Production, processing and distribution of food and beverages, including local, traditional and certified products.
- Gastronomy products, bakery and confectionery products, coffee, beverages and other products intended for the food service and hospitality sectors.
- Packaging, standardisation, promotion and commercial distribution services and solutions for food and beverage products.
- Reservation systems, management software and digital applications for tourism and hotel businesses.
- Technical solutions, air conditioning, energy efficiency, sustainability and accessibility.
- Marketing, branding, promotional services and solutions aimed at enhancing the visitor experience.
Parallel Initiative at FOOD & DRINKS by Detrop 2026
Alongside its participation in PHILOXENIA–HOTELIA 2026, ASDA is planning an initiative to promote Western Athens as an urban gastronomy destination. The initiative will take place within the framework of FOOD & DRINKS by Detrop 2026, which will be held during the same period in Thessaloniki.
The initiative will showcase food and beverage production, gastronomy and food service in Western Athens as an integrated value chain and a distinctive visitor experience. It will highlight the connection between the area’s productive sector and the network of restaurants, cafés and leisure establishments across ASDA’s member municipalities, promoting Western Athens as a destination where visitors can discover the city through its flavours.
Indicatively, the initiative may include:
- Live culinary demonstrations combining products from local producers with the cuisine of the area’s food service businesses.
- Presentation of gastronomic routes connecting food production facilities, restaurants and leisure establishments across Western Athens.
- Digital information and promotional material accessible via QR codes, such as an interactive map of gastronomy and leisure experiences in the area.
- Networking meetings between food and beverage producers and professionals from the hospitality, food service and tourism sectors.
The final format and content of the initiative will be determined in accordance with the programme and facilities made available by the exhibition organiser.
This initiative is intended to promote Western Athens collectively and will be implemented independently of the selection procedure established under the present Call for Expressions of Interest. Opportunities for participation by economic operators will be announced separately on the website www.business4extroversion.gr.
What Is Provided to Selected Businesses
ASDA will undertake the organisational preparation and coordination of the business delegation, the joint exhibition presence, the adaptation of corporate and promotional materials, and the organisation of targeted business-to-business (B2B) meetings, subject to the availability of suitable business contacts.
Through their participation, businesses will have the opportunity to showcase their products and services, establish contacts with tourism and hospitality professionals, explore new commercial partnerships and gain insights into current market trends and requirements.
The services provided under this initiative are offered without any financial contribution to ASDA. Their value amounts to EUR 270.00 per business and is recorded as de minimis aid in accordance with Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2831.
Application Submission
Applications must be submitted exclusively online through the following platform:
https://business4extroversion.gr/eggrafi/
Application deadline: 23 October 2026
Interested businesses are invited to carefully review the Call for Expressions of Interest, which provides detailed information on eligibility requirements, supporting documentation, the evaluation procedure and the obligations of selected businesses.
Download the Call for Expressions of Interest for PHILOXENIA–HOTELIA 2026
Contact Information
Development Association of Western Athens – ASDA
Project Team Contact Person: Evangelia Boutsi
Telephone: +30 697 096 9512
Email: extroversion@asda.gr
Project Website: https://business4extroversion.gr/
