Greece makes debut at The Hotel Show 2005

At least nine leading Greek manufacturers and manufacturers' associations will make a debut with a Greek national stand under the umbrella of the Hellinic Foreign Trade Board (HEPO), an organisation under the supervision of the Greek Ministry of National Economy.

"Many Greek companies are interested in establishing business links with the Gulf region and our debut at The Hotel Show aims to open the lines of communication between them and their potential clients or partners in this region," said Michalis Pavlakos, project manager, HEPO. "We believe Greek companies are perfectly positioned to gain a good share of the market for hotel supplies in the region," he said.

The line-up of Greek exhibitors includes manufacturers of lighting systems, high-quality bedroom and table linens and blankets. One exhibitor is G-Style S.A, which specializes in stainless steel bathroom accessories. The company will showcase its full range of bathroom mirrors and other accessories for hotel rooms and public bathrooms as well as specially-designed bathroom accessories for disabled people.

"The Middle East market is our number one strategic target for the forthcoming years," said Andreas Giannaros, the company's managing director. "At the moment we generate 7 per cent of our turnover in this region and our aim is to increase this figure to 30 per cent by the end of 2006," he said.

Bronze Art is another Greek manufacturer of bathroom accessories which will be attending the event. The company's turnover was US$11 million in 2004 with no direct sales being registered in the Middle East.

"Together with one of Greece's most famous designers, we have developed a collection of high-end bathroom accessories and we aim to find exclusive agents to represent us in the Middle East," said Panagiotis Dededimos, Manager, Bronze Art.

The Hotel Show is organised and owned by dmg world media Dubai Ltd. With a targeted audience of the region's hotel owners and developers, the exhibition attracts the world's major hotel supplies manufacturers.

Exhibitors are arriving from as far afield as Italy, Australia, the Far East, Russia, South Africa and the United States, as well as from the major regional players. So far, ten national pavilions, from China, France, Portugal, Germany, Greece, Malta, Mexico, Spain, Turkey and the UK, have signed up to take part in the exhibition.