Istanbul: Grand History and Exciting Modernity

Istanbul is a rare city where you can seamlessly travel between past and present, ancient and brand-new, East and West. At one moment you could be awestruck by the beauty of the centuries-old Hagia Sophia, a breathtaking Byzantine basilica that's survived since the sixth century to serve as a church, mosque, and now, a museum. The next, you might find yourself contemplating contemporary art at one of the city's three SALT gallery spaces. So it makes sense that, this year, the Istanbul Convention and Visitors Bureau's global tourism campaign promotes the city as "A Tale of Two Cities."

Indeed, much like the intricate tapestries found inside the labyrinthine Grand Bazaar, the city is an interwoven masterpiece of different cultures, religions, and experiences -- the sum of which makes it an exciting, one-of-a-kind destination for groups.

"Istanbul is certainly unique in giving visiting groups the opportunity to admire magnificent mosques, atmospheric churches, intriguing museums and sultans' palaces, or take to the waters of the Bosphorus all in one day," says Istanbul CVB General Manager Özgül Özkan Yavuz. "A metropolis with its rich history of 8,500 years … it's the ideal MICE destination with its vibrancy, modernity, swathe of new infrastructure, heritage, and enviable geographical position."

In its 2013 rankings, the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) ranked Istanbul as eighth in the world, and first for large congresses of more than 500 delegates. In 2014, the city hosted approximately 130 international meetings and 143 national congresses. By February, Istanbul already confirmed 65 international meetings for 2015. Last year, the city welcomed 11.8 million international visitors.

And while the city's shining monuments -- the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and Topkapi Palace among them -- continue to draw crowds, Istanbul is investing heavily in ways to improve its already robust tourism infrastructure to accommodate even more travelers in the future.

A third airport is expected to debut in 2018, catering to 150 million passengers -- making Istanbul the world's largest airline hub. The new Eurasia Tunnel is under construction below the Bosphorus, connecting the city's European and Asian sides. A third bridge along the Bosphorus is being constructed to help alleviate traffic congestion; when completed, it will be the longest combined motorway/railway bridge in the world. Hotels from brands that include Hilton DoubleTree, Sheraton, Fairmont, and Hilton Garden Inn are opening in 2015. Other recent openings include The St. Regis Istanbul and Soho House Istanbul.

 Making Meeting Magic
It's not every day that you get to feast in a sultan's palace, let alone one so close to the Bosphorus, but that's exactly what you can do at Ciragan Palace Kempinski's signature restaurant. Tuğra specializes in fine Ottoman cuisine and can accommodate up to 105 guests (indoor and outdoor). Don't miss out on ordering the Testi lamb casserole, which is baked all day in its own clay pot; the waiter will break it open for you -- with flourish -- tableside.

Istanbul is home to a number of great convention centers, but few possess the waterside views that Haliç Congress Center does. With over 191,000 square feet of outdoor riverfront space spread out over a total of 1.06 million square feet of space, and a modern design that evokes Istanbul's rich history and architecture, this Golden Horn-based venue is an ideal backdrop for larger meetings and events.

Istanbul has no shortage of truly historic venues but one of its most storied is the Grand Pera Ballroom at the stunning Pera Palace, originally built in 1892. In its heyday, the ballroom, which holds up to 120, served as the main dining room for famous guests such as Ernest Hemingway, Agatha Christie, Alfred Hitchcock, and Turkey's founding father, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

Seeing is Believing
Seeing these accolades and statistics for Istanbul, however, doesn't compare to experiencing it firsthand. At least that's how I felt when I visited for the first time in March, and James Gantenberg, executive director of the World Federation of Neuroradiological Societies, agrees. Last September, Gantenberg was involved in the Symposium Neuroradiologicum (SNR) 2014, which attracted some 1,092 physicians from around the world to Istanbul.

"As an SNR attendee and a prior visitor to the city, Istanbul is, in my opinion, one of the great cities of the world," Gantenberg says. "It will draw many people from all over the world simply because of its heritage and history and the ancient sites that it offers. The meeting space [Lutfi Kirdar Convention & Exhibition Center] was very well run."

When it came to concerns regarding safety and security for his fellow attendees, Gantenberg says, "There was a general sense of fear in some people going there because of some of the problems they experienced in Taksim Square a few years earlier, the current political environment, and concerns about unrest in Muslim countries. But if you are working with world-class travelers, they are going to come. We had over 1,000 physicians, many from the U.S., who went to Istanbul without any problems at all."

Gantenberg adds that the level of service and hospitality he received in Istanbul was exceptional. "The service in the hotels is absolutely superior in comparison to American hotels even of the same quality. People bend over backwards to serve. They are so cordial, very warm, and very engaging people. I think that's a highlight."

Another memorable moment, he adds, was simply walking through some of the neighborhoods off the normal tourist routes with a local guide. "We thought it was one of the most valuable experiences that we had, rather than seeing all the regular tourist sites. Get off the beaten path with a good guide and that person will show you a part of Istanbul that you may not realize exists," Gantenberg says.

I did just that during a small group walking tour with Culinary Backstreets (click here for more information) and, like Gantenberg, I feel like it was one of the most memorable parts of my visit. Meeting one-on-one with locals, and learning about favorite Turkish dishes and cultural traditions enhanced my experience beyond what I ever expected it to be.

That, coupled with the levels of service and incredible facilities -- from five-star palace hotels to impressive conference centers -- has me and Gantenberg convinced that Istanbul is more than worth a return visit.

Questions or comments? Email [email protected]

This article appears in the May 2015 issue of Successful Meetings.