Two significant European corporate award ceremonies will take place in Athens for the first time in the coming months. They are the European Business Awards, which recognize the continent’s most innovative enterprises, and the World Travel Awards for Europe, known as "the Oscars of the travel industry." The European Business Awards event will take place on May 26 - 27. Its organizers say that participants in the 2012-13 season were business groups with a total turnover of over €1 trillion and over 2.7 million employees.

European Business Awards Head of Events Jacqueline Yanko said: "We are absolutely delighted to be hosting our prestigious gala event in Athens this year. Athens is a fantastic city, steeped in history and regarded as a foundation stone for so many elements of modern society.”

The World Travel Awards ceremony will take place on August 2, with the President and founder, Graham E. Cooke, expressing delight that this year’s event will be hosted in Greece for the first time. "As Europe's oldest city, Athens beautifully balances its 2,500-year history with a vibrant contemporary culture scene."