DESTINATION REPORT BY PAUL REVEL
“We have lots of potential and advantages, because geographically we are in the centre of the world”
trading here since the 15th century – and its 5,000 shops are a dazzling riot of colours, sounds and aromas. While the bazaar is part of Istanbul’s
MICE Exhibition, which attracted around 10,000 delegates and exhibitors from more than 25 countries.
PAST MEETS PRESENT The ICVB offices are located in the city’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed historic district, a few steps from the sprawling Grand Bazaar. It’s one of the oldest covered markets in the world – people have been
remarkable heritage, its present-day reality features retailing of a different kind: 105 shopping malls, and enough luxury fashion brand outlets to take on the Champs-Elysees. The new Istanbul is a city of spectacular infrastructure projects, a burgeoning financial centre, free-trade zones and investment incentives, and growth in modern industry sectors from life sciences to telecoms. Much of the current infrastructure in- vestment is around transport – including a third bridge over the Bosphorus strait linking Europe and Asia, due to open this year, which will be the world’s longest combined motorway and railway bridge. A double-deck ‘Euro-Asia’ motorway tunnel under the seabed is also under construction. The trans-Bosphorus metro tunnel, which opened late 2013, has already seen more than 50 million people travel through. However, stealing the limelight from these projects is what is expected to be one of the world’s largest airports, with six
runways and an eventual annual capacity of 150 million passengers – the world’s largest by passenger volume. Istanbul Grand airport is scheduled to open in 2018, and will feature four terminals, parking for 500 aircraft (and 70,000 cars), hotels and a convention centre. Turkish Airlines senior vice-president Ali Genc says the new airport will play a key role in the airline’s growth strategy. “Turkish Airlines passenger numbers have been growing on average 17 per cent an- nually, “ he says. “The fleet is currrently 262 aircraft; by 2020 it will be more than 400. The new airport will support this growth, and we will have an opportunity to make our transfer product more attractive and competitive compared to other hubs.” The airline and the city’s convention
bureau have a close relationship –Turkish Airlines CEO Temel Kotil is an ICVB board member – and recognise each other’s im- portance to the region’s progress. Bureau boss Yavuz says the airline’s growing international network helps position Is- tanbul as a global hub, while Genc points to the city’s geo-location as a competitive advantage for the airline: “There are more than 55 capital cities that can be reached with narrow-bodied aircraft from Istanbul,” he says. “To be able to use narrow bodies gives Turkish Airlines a cost advantage, and operational flexibility.” Genc also cites the airline’s own con-
ventions services, which offer special fares and booking tools for organisers of events with more than 100 international delegates. “Turkish Airlines’ Group and Convention Department and the ICVB have been working in close coordination since 2008,” he says. “This continuing and effective collaboration is playing a key role in the rise of the congress and meetings industry in Istanbul.” The airline flies to 261 destinations in 108 countries, and is a significant player in the UK market: it flies to Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh, with a total of 89 UK departures a week. Technology and distribution giant Travel-
port recently opened a new operator office in Istanbul. Travelport regional president and MD Rabih Saab cites figures showing Turkey’s travel spend in 2013 at US$29 billion. “Turkey benefits from its unique geographical location straddling Europe and Asia,” says Saab. “Turkish businesses are able to deal with the more established Western markets and are also profiting from
BUYINGBUSINESSTRAVEL.COM BBT MARCH/APRIL 2015 113
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