Expomedia Hellas Is Latest Olympic Hopeful

Two European event-planning firms want to take advantage of Greece's newly infused worldwide appeal created by the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.

London-based facility management company Expomedia Group and Athens-based event production and entertainment development firm EY ZHN have co-developed Expomedia Hellas, an Athens-based exhibition, conference and event-organizing company.

The joint firm's first show launches will focus on construction management (Construction Forum 2004, Nov. 11–12) and Olympic venues (Post Olympics Venues, Dec. 2–3).

An Expomedia Hellas-managed EXPO XXI Intl. Expocentre is also a possibility for the capital city. The chain of Expomedia-developed Expocentres currently includes two facilities in Poland. Future development plans include one venue each in Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Belgrade, Serbia; Cologne, Germany; Moscow; and New Delhi. Regional centers in Germany, as well as secondary cities in Spain, Russia and France, are being considered for venue construction. Expomedia also has plans in place with dmg world media to launch Intl. Pipelines Exhibition in Moscow and Construction and Interiors in India.

Under the terms of Expomedia Hellas' agreement, Expomedia will provide marketing support and the benefit of its network of international offices. EY ZHN will be responsible for operations of the events.

"We are pleased to announce this move into the Greek market and to work with a leading and established local company such as EY ZHN," said Paul Hancock, business development director for Expomedia Group.

Yannis Sotirakos, chairman of EY ZHN (which means "well-being" in ancient Greek), said the joint company will make the most of the unique marketing opportunity offered the country by the 2004 Olympics. "The brand new infrastructure, venues and facilities will provide support. Our partnership aims to make the most of this unique opportunity," he said.