Tourism Biz in Play

The Greek National Tourist Organization is seeking an agency to promote the 2004 Olym pic Games in Athens.

Eleven unidentified Northeast agen cies, primarily in New York and Con necticut, have returned RFPs, confirmed George Tambakis, director of GNTO in the U.S.

Though spending was not disclosed, Tambakis said the organization plans to ramp up its ad efforts substantially. “We want to be very aggressive with our marketing,” he said. “We want to promote tour ism, culture and the Olympics.”

Until now, the bulk of GNTO’s marketing has been aimed at overseas markets and handled in-house or by agencies abroad, he said.

A final decision is expected soon after an 11-person committee from the organization’s Athens headquarters visits GNTO’s New York office the week of Nov.