A major five-year strategic redevelopment plan is currently being drawn up by the management of Thessaloniki's TIF-HELEXPO, as the organisation prepares for a transformative period that will reshape its role and physical footprint in Greece's second-largest city.
Speaking at the Blue Heritage Summit in Thessaloniki, TIF-HELEXPO president Christos Tsentemeidis said the plan, expected to be finalised within months, will define the organisation's future exhibition and conference strategy as well as its international outreach. The timing is critical, as the company is set to evolve alongside the large-scale redevelopment of its central site.
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At the heart of this transformation is an ambitious urban regeneration project that aims to reposition the Thessaloniki International Fair grounds as a hybrid public and business space. Tsentemeidis described it as Greece's only example of a "Privately Owned Public Spaces" project, meaning that while the land belongs to the organisation, it will function as an open, accessible area for the entire city.
Rather than remaining a traditional exhibition venue, the redeveloped site is envisioned as a year-round multifunctional urban park. He said the new TIF will be a destination offering a wide range of cultural, social and sporting activities, to attract visitors "365 days a year".
The scale of the change is significant. Currently, around 70% of the site is densely built, with 37 structures occupying most of the area. Under the new plan, this will be reversed: 70% of the land will become a metropolitan park spanning 120,000 square metres, up from just 7,000 square metres of scattered green space today.
Only seven buildings will remain, including two state-of-the-art exhibition halls, the OTE Tower, the MOMus Museum of Contemporary Art, the preserved Esso Pappas pavilion, the Alexandreio Melathron arena, and the "I. Vellidis" conference centre, which will be renovated. An underground car park with more than 600 spaces is also planned.
The redevelopment is progressing steadily, with a tender for the project expected by summer 2026, a contractor to be selected by the end of the year, and construction scheduled to begin in early 2027. Completion is projected within three years.
Tsentemeidis also highlighted the importance of governance in navigating an increasingly competitive international exhibitions market. He pointed to the participation of the Municipality of Thessaloniki and the Region of Central Macedonia on the company's board, as well as the recent establishment of a high-level Advisory Committee, as key steps towards more effective and transparent decision-making. "We ensure the participation of institutional and social stakeholders in the operation of the company," he said, adding that this approach strengthens "transparency and democratic function".
While public debate continues over the redevelopment, including a proposed referendum, Tsentemeidis stressed that differing views are respected. However, he argued that the final plan reflects extensive consultation with society and that the real measure will be in comparing "the before and after".
Ultimately, Tsentemeidis said the vision is to create a new landmark for Thessaloniki, combining modern exhibition infrastructure with a large-scale urban park and a strong social dimension. Drawing inspiration from cities such as Barcelona, the project reportedly aims to attract "people from all over the world" while also serving local communities, potentially setting a model for similar developments across Greece.
