Greece Talks by Travel.gr opens a dialogue about Crete’s role in the new era, focusing on how the island makes a difference and shapes the future.

Travel.gr, the largest travel media outlet in Greece, in collaboration with Proto Thema and with the support of the Region of Crete, is organizing the conference “Greece Talks, Crete Forward: Experience, Culture & Connection.”

The conference will feature Kostis Hatzidakis, Kyriakos Pierrakakis, Christos Dimas, as well as influential figures from Greece and abroad, representing the fields of Tourism, Business, Economy, Culture, and Gastronomy.

Conference Speakers

10:00 – Arrival

10:30 – Opening & Welcome Remarks
Androniki Kolovou – Director, Travel.gr

10:40 – Crete: Making a Difference, Shaping the Future
Stavros Arnaoutakis – Regional Governor of Crete

10:50 – Tourism, Development, and the New Big Opportunity
Kyriakos Pierrakakis – Minister of National Economy and Finance, President of the Eurogroup
Fokion Karavias – Chief Executive Officer, Eurobank S.A.
Michalis Lempidakis – CEO, Plastika Kritis
Moderator: Antonis Sroiter

11:30 – Building Crete’s Tomorrow: Infrastructure that Changes the Map
Christos Dimas – Minister of Infrastructure and Transport
Pavlos Geroulanos – Member of Parliament (PASOK–KINAL), Parliamentary Spokesperson
Manousos Manousakis – President & CEO, ADMIE
Anastasios Aranitis – CEO, AKTOR Construction & AKTOR
Dinos Benroubi – Vice President & CEO, METKA ATE
Christos Panagiotopoulos – CEO, TERNA S.A.
Moderator: Giorgos Evgenidis

12:25 – Lunch Break

13:15 – Crete: Connecting the Destination with the World
Kostis Hatzidakis – Deputy Prime Minister
Mari Daskalantonaki – CEO, Grecotel
Ioannis Grylos – Founder & Chairman, IOGR Group (SKY express)
Kyriakos Mageiras – Executive Chairman, Attica Group
Andreas Taprantzis – CEO, AVIS Greece
Moderator: Babis Koutras

14:10 – The Experience in a Global Tourism Brand
Andreas Fiorentinos – Secretary General, Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO)
Ilias Kikilias – General Director, INSETE
Andreas Metaxas – CEO, Metaxa Hospitality Group
Giorgos Spanos – Vice President & CEO, Domes Resorts
Ilias Kokotos – Director of Business Development, Elounda Collection Hotels & Resorts
Moderator: Kostas Panagakis

14:55 – Crete: Gastronomy as an Identity
Dimitris Kalaitzidakis – Operations Director, Grecotel Hotels & Resorts
Nikos Douloufakis – Winemaker, Oenologist
Katerina Xekalou – President & CEO, AVLI AXTΕ
Panagiotis Magganas – Owner, Peskesi Restaurant and Peskesi Organic Farm
Moderator: Tina Mandilara

15:30 – The Voice of the Land: How Cretan Music Speaks to the World
Ross Daly – Musician, Founder of the Labyrinth Musical Workshop

15:45 – Closing