Istanbul Named Best Meeting Destination by Kongres Magazine
Istanbul was judged to be the Best Meeting Destination as part of the Meetings Star Award 2014 after 45 destinations were compared taking into account natural and cultural factors, general and transport infrastructure as well as tourist infrastructure.
The Meetings Star Award 2014 was presented to Istanbul at a gala reception at Slovenia Convention Bureau's Conventa 2015 in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on 21 January, with Istanbul Convention & Visitors Bureau - ICVB’ s Vice President Bahadir Yasik and General Manager Ozgul Ozkan Yavuz in attendance.
Ozgul Ozkan Yavuz, General Manager of ICVB, says: “We are thrilled that Istanbul has been selected as the best meeting destination – a city of both historical and natural beauties dating at least 8500 years. As a historical meeting point between East and West and spanning two continents, today's Istanbul is a Top 10 Meeting & Congress destination offering unique and exciting venues. The city has the capacity to host every type of event, from bespoke incentives to meetings for up to 30,000 for corporate and leisure visitors alike. Combined with Istanbul’s historic venues, palaces, cisterns and the like, it offers meeting planners a variety of remarkable options to create truly outstanding events.”
Easily accessible from around the world, Istanbul is served by nearly 300 international airlines at its two airports. Turkish Airlines, named 'Best Airline Europe' by Skytrax for four years running, has a network of more than 260 direct flights and flies to more countries than any other airline in the world. With an almost 94,000-bed capacity, accommodation in the city offers a selection across the spectrum.
Istanbul was ranked 8th in the world by the International Congress and Convention Association in its 2013 Rankings for Cities and Countries and 1st for large congresses of 300-500 guests.
