Istanbul to premiere inspiring multimedia intro package that showcases the city at The Meetings Show UK

In particular they will highlight the key characteristics of the city, its tourism facilities, meetings and events spaces, its historical and natural beauties and modern congress centres. The “International Congress Destination Istanbul” project is part of the Istanbul Development Agency 2012 Financial Support Program.

Istanbul is seeking to raise the profile of the city through more effective advertising, promotional, and marketing channels. Within the scope of the project, Istanbul is creating a destination film, congress tourism portal and promotional kit. Created around the needs of meeting, event planners and visitors; the destination film will include dramatic aerial shots and highlights the city’s venues; whilst brochures, maps, and DVDs will make up the kit. 

The congress tourism portal and destination film will be available in five languages – English, German, French, Spanish and Turkish – the preview English Language version of the destination film will be launched at The Meetings Show UK. Istanbul will also be undertaking activities aimed at increasing the brand value of Istanbul as an international congress destination.

The website highlights Istanbul’s historical and natural beauties, and the facilities it can offer the meetings and events industry. The website will include visuals, be detailed in content, easy to use, interactive and informative. It will also include: 

• Interactive Map 

• 360 Degree Virtual Tour via the Interactive Map 

• Video Applications 

• Congress Center and Location Finding Application (Venue finder) 

• RFP Application 

• My Istanbul Application 

• Desktop Application 

• Electronic Card Application 

• E-bulletin 

• Mobile sites and applications

In order to make Istanbul a leading destination in the field of congress tourism and meetings organisations, The Tourism Development & Education Foundation, ICVB and Istanbul Chamber of Commerce started the approximately €335,000 “International Congress Destination Istanbul” project in October 1, 2012. This was partly in response to the fact that Istanbul first broke into the, world’s Top 10 Congress Destinations in 2010 and subsequently became the world’s number one congress destination with more than 500 delegates in 2011 & 2012 (ICCA statics).

With seven purpose-built convention centers and three exhibition centers large enough to accommodate even the biggest international fairs, Istanbul can easily accommodate large international congresses. With over 89.000 total guestrooms and 94 five-star and deluxe hotels, Istanbul offers meeting planners a variety of options, including top international and domestic hotel brands.

Istanbul offers three separate but integratable meeting and exhibition clusters in the Airport District, the Conference Valley and the Golden Horn, augmented by new centers being constructed on both continents, and existing centers being updated and expanded. Combined with unique incentives afforded by Istanbul’s historic venues, palaces, cisterns and more, Istanbul presents meeting planners with a variety of remarkable options to create a truly outstanding event.

Another factor in Istanbul’s success as a congress destination is easy accessibility from anywhere in the world. Turkish Airlines, a member of the Star Alliance, offers more than 225 direct destination flights between Istanbul and five continents, meaning that two billion people live within six hours’ flying time of Istanbul. With two airports and a third opening later in 2013, Istanbul is served by nearly 300 international airlines.

The “International Congress Destination Istanbul” project is part of the Istanbul Development Agency 2012 Financial Support Program. The content of this publication has been prepared as part of the project, it does not reflect the view of the Istanbul Development Agency or the Ministry of Development. Responsibility for the content remains with TUGEV, ICVB and Istanbul Chamber of Commerce. 

Istanbul will be exhibiting at The Meetings Show UK from 9-11 July, 2013 on stand M21.