CulturePolis

The Department of Planning and Regional Development of the University of Thessaly and the Initiative “Imagine the City” are organizing a conference with an interdisciplinary approach and parallel actions such as exhibitions, workshops, debates and urban interventions. We welcome anyone interested to participate as speaker, exhibitor or as part of the audience (please notice that the conference language is greek).

Place identity is increasingly becoming a subject of marketing and branding strategies. The image and the reputation of a place is related to its ability to attract new inhabitants, visitors and investors and create a sense of civic pride and belonging to the existing inhabitants. The increased interest in the fields of place marketing and branding at its different spatial levels – neighbourhood, city, region, country- creates the need for a scientific approach. In Greece the field is developing in a rather slower pace than in other countries and there is still need to trigger a debate. The conference aims to provide a forum for researchers, local government officials, professionals, designers and planners to exchange findings and review knowledge and understanding on a variety of contemporary themes related to place marketing and branding in Greece.

The Conference includes different sub-themes:

• Place Marketing and Branding as development instruments for urban and regional development. Developing a Local Identity Strategy.
• The role of the community in place marketing and branding: Participatory planning, stakeholder management and in conflict solving.
• Local culture and festivals as elements of promoting the Identity of a Place.
• Connecting sustainable tourism development to destination marketing.
• Place Marketing and Branding strategies for investments and enterprises.
• Implementing and evaluating the results of place marketing and branding strategies.
• The Image of a Place (architecture, urban design, communication design, logo design).
• Research methods and tools for Place marketing and Branding.
• Nation Branding: the international promotion of Greece.
• Place e-marketing and social networks.

Conference Venue:

The conference will be held at the building of the Department of Planning and Regional Development of the University of Thessaly in Volos (opposite of the KTEL bus station). More information on accommodation and the parallel events will be provided soon at the conference web-page (www.placemarketing.gr)

Contact:

Alex Deffner Associate Professor, Chair of the Scientific & Organizing Committee,
e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , tel: 0030 24210-74428, fax: 0030 24210-74381

Eva Psatha, PhD Candidate, Secretary of the Organizing Committee, email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it tel: 0030 24210-74494, fax: 0030 24210-74381
Pedion Areos, Volos 38334