Byzantine rhapsody for meetings industry media

Istanbul CVB showcased its city on the Bosphorus’s charms, ancient and modern, to a select media group, 11-15 February. A city that not so long ago was in the ICCA City Rankings Top 10 is now confidently climbing back up the list, having fallen away five years ago due to terrorist attacks. The resurgent city is primed for hosting major events with new infrastructure – including what will eventually be the world’s largest airport, modern tram and metro systems and a new tunnel under the Bosphorus. A US$1.7bn investment in the Galataport Istanbul waterfront development is not only a feat of engineering, but projected to welcome 25 million visitors, including 1.5 million cruise passengers and crew per year.

The first ship is set to arrive on 5 April 2020. The group was welcomed to a seminar at Istanbul’s Chamber of Commerce, where the full gamut of city infrastructure investments to attract business and leisure visitors was outlined. The international media group visited Istanbul’s Congress Valley and its two side-by-side international convention centres (ICC and ICEC), as well as the Halic Centre on the waterfront. The rich Turkish cuisine and culture was sample with visits to the Galata and Maiden’s Towers; as well as Topkapi Palace, The Grand Bazaar and Sultanahmet Square and all its architectural wonders. A modern take on Turkish cuisine was on show at Portaxe restaurant, while a Sira Night combined Eastern Turkish traditional fare and music. For full report, see the next, March, print edition of CMW.