MPI has announced that İstanbul, Türkiye, will host its signature European event in 2025. 

The European Meetings & Events Conference (EMEC), 22-25 February, will deliver the unparalleled experiential connections and learnings for which EMEC is renowned worldwide while also allowing attendees to experience a fantastic country that offers the best cultural and tourism values and an excellent MICE infrastructure, according to Ismail Bütün, general manager of the Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency.

“We organise numerous local and international activities to showcase our potential in this segment,” he says. “We are witnessing thousands of MICE professionals choosing Türkiye for their events. EMEC attendees will benefit significantly from world-class MICE facilities and a superior travel experience when visiting our country.”

We spoke with Bütün about what makes Türkiye popular for groups, what’s new for meetings and events and hosting successful events for the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and others.

Can you tell us what makes Türkiye—and İstanbul in particular—a popular destination for meetings and events?

As meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) tourism rebounds globally, Türkiye emerges as a prime destination, renowned for industry-leading event planning services amidst some of the world’s most captivating backdrops. From İstanbul and İzmir to Bodrum, Antalya and Cappadocia, Türkiye offers a unique blend of enriching experiences, exceptional meeting venues and great value for those combining business with leisure.

Our slogan for MICE tourism—"Meet Türkiye: Where Business is Pleasure”—embodies the essence of "bleisure" travel, seamlessly blending business and leisure. As global MICE tourism rebounds post-COVID, driven by remote and hybrid work models, the appeal of destinations and participant experiences has never been more critical.

Türkiye has introduced a digital nomad visa to support extended stays for business travellers, underscoring our commitment to accommodating evolving work habits and facilitating longer-term engagements.

There’s a clear trend towards integrating business with social and leisure activities, reflecting changing priorities and a desire for enriched experiences.

Modern travellers increasingly value sustainable, nature-based, healthy and secure experiences, seeking authentic immersion in local cultures and activities.

Cosmopolitan and multifaceted, İstanbul is ideal for hosting large-scale international events and offers many unique accommodations. From Ottoman-style imperial palaces and waterfront mansions to sleek luxury brands and boutique hotels, İstanbul’s charming neighbourhoods provide a glimpse into local life.

What are some of the prominent meeting facilities in İstanbul?

In Türkiye, meeting planners are spoiled for choice with purpose-built convention centres in many cities and a wide selection of four- and five-star hotels equipped with meeting facilities—these range from city locations to resorts, golf hotels and state-of-the-art conference and exhibition spaces nationwide.

İstanbul is a global meeting hub with 8,500 years of history as the capital of three empires, unique geography and diverse cultural heritage. At the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa, İstanbul has a rich legacy in the meeting industry. It first secured its place in ICCA’s “Top 10 Congress Destinations” list in 2010 and has remained a leading destination ever since.

The city offers a variety of options, including top international and domestic hotel brands at various price points and four integrated meeting and exhibition clusters in the airport district, the Congress Valley, the Golden Horn and İstanbul’s Asian side. With seven purpose-built convention centres, three exhibition centres, a bed capacity of more than 200,000 and more than 220 four- and five-star hotels, İstanbul can accommodate any event. From incentives to association meetings with up to 30,000 participants, the city boasts a history of hosting high-level and successful events.

What has been added/updated in the past few years?

One of the most significant advantages of our country’s tourism is that our national carrier, Turkish Airlines (THY), connects most cities worldwide by serving over 300 destinations in more than 120 countries. The strength of THY also excels in domestic connectivity within Türkiye, providing seamless internal flight connections that enhance passengers’ travel experiences and further solidify its reputation for comprehensive service and connectivity.

İstanbul Grand Airport. Istanbul Airport, the largest of the two international airports serving İstanbul, serves an estimated 90 million passengers annually, with a central terminal of 1.4 million square meters, three independent runways, an air control tower and support facilities. Having accommodated more than 250 million passengers during the five years since its establishment, the İstanbul Airport can now operate flights to 315 destinations worldwide as of January 2024. Once all phases are complete, Istanbul Airport will offer flights to more than 300 destinations with an annual passenger capacity of 200 million.

Atatürk Cultural Centre (AKM). The historic Atatürk Cultural Centre in İstanbul’s iconic Taksim Square reopened on 29 October 2021, Turkish Republic Day, revitalising the local arts and culture scene. With a 400-square-metre gallery, a multipurpose hall, a 2,040-seat opera hall and an 802-seat theatre hall, AKM offers abundant opportunities to explore the finest performance art in the city. 

Galataport. Galataport İstanbul is set to become a new landmark on the Bosporus shore, attracting modern travellers not only to iconic sites like the Hagia Sophia Mosque and the Blue Mosque but also to a vibrant neighbourhood dedicated to culture, art, design, contemporary shopping and gastronomy. Galataport İstanbul is projected to host 1.5 million cruise passengers, 7 million tourists and 25 million visitors annually. Additionally, guests arriving via İstanbul Airport can extend their journey through the Aegean on cruise ships departing from Galataport.

“İstanbul is a global meeting hub with 8,500 years of history as the capital of three empires, unique geography and diverse cultural heritage.”

Night-time Museum. Türkiye is one of the countries with the most privileged positions in the world regarding cultural assets. Our ministry is carrying out the most intense work in history to unearth these values, which are the common treasure of world heritage. Within the scope of the “Legacy to the Future” project, our ministry has increased the number of archaeological studies to 720 annually. Related to this, another project they have implemented is “Night Museology.” Especially during the summer months, tourists cannot leave the hotel in our coastal cities because the daytime temperature is very high. With the Night Museum Project, we will keep our museums open at sunset until late at night in places close to city centres and tourism centres. In this way, we will ensure that tourists leave the hotel and that other city stakeholders receive a share of tourism revenues.

MICHELIN Guide. Experiencing Turkish cuisine, one of the world’s most decadent and flavorful, offers something for everyone. Turkish cuisine boasts a rich culinary heritage that caters to all preferences, from meat enthusiasts to vegetarians and vegans. Each region presents a unique gastronomic adventure, with Istanbul and other locations featuring numerous MICHELIN-starred restaurants. 

Gastronomy is crucial in shaping emotions and memories, enhancing the travel experience. A new generation of chefs is transforming Türkiye's culinary scene. İstanbul has become the 38th international destination recognised by the MICHELIN Guide.

Can you tell us what types of groups/events meeting planners frequently bring to Türkiye?

In 2022, ICCA started the association’s first destination partnership agreement in Europe with Türkiye, marking a year of robust collaboration. We are thrilled to continue this partnership and are actively working with international partners like MPI to showcase Türkiye’s premier conference and meeting destinations, starting with İstanbul.

Positioned at the convergence of Europe, Central Asia, North Africa, and the Middle East, Türkiye serves as an ideal hub for connecting diverse audiences. The country boasts a rich cultural heritage, history, world-class venues and excellent infrastructure, contributing to its rapid growth as a global meeting destination.

Several notable events have already supported Türkiye’s industry. “The Future of Healthcare Meetings,” jointly organised by ICCA and the Associations & Conference Forum, was hosted by TGA 6-8 June in İstanbul, attracting 35 associations and 160 participants from more than 30 countries. This congress brought decision-makers from the world’s most critical medical congresses to Türkiye. Other examples include the Association of British Travel Agents Travel Convention, the Irish Travel Agents Association Annual Conference, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council Sustainable Tourism Conference and the EuroVelo and Cycling Tourism Conference, which were held in 2023. Additionally, in February 2024, İstanbul hosted the SITE Global Conference, attracting more than 500 incentive professionals.

The SATW Annual Convention, with the participation of 350 American travel writers, will be held in various destinations across our country with pre- and post- tours in 2024. 

In addition to these events in 2024, Türkiye hosted two significant wedding planning conferences: the RSVP Conference in İstanbul and the Exotic Wedding Planning Conference in Bodrum. Each year, Türkiye welcomes more than 500 destination weddings from around the world.