Established in 1997 The Istanbul Convention & Visitors Bureau – ICVB is a non-profit destination marketing organisation working as a branch of Tourism Development & Education Foundation – TUGEV.

ICVB’s main goal is to represent Istanbul around the world and to seek international associations and corporations planning to hold high-profile international congresses and events. ICVB has played a key role in Istanbul’s rapid rise of popularity as a congress destination according to the ICCA statistics. Thus reassuring the significance of Istanbul’s 8,500 year of history as well as professional services offered by the city’s tourism industry and professional solutions offered by ICVB’s strategies.

ICVB members include the leading corporations and associations involved in the conference and incentive tourism such as hotels, conference and exhibition centres, DMC & PCOs, airlines and other companies. The ICVB, working in close collaboration with the Turkish Ministry of Culture & Tourism, the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce and the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality;  designs and implements special events and other marketing strategies to raise Istanbul as a congress and event centre.

ICVB is also an active member of international meetings industry organizations such as the International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA), European Cities Marketing (ECM), Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and, lastly UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism.