DISTINCTIVE EVENTS VENUES
AS WELL AS SEVEN CONVENTION CENTRES and several international hotels with conference facilities, the ICVB offers some “unusual venues” for meetings and events. For more information, visit
icvb.org
Beylerbeyi Palace
the high growth rates being experienced in the Middle East and Asian economies. As a result, the country is attracting large amounts of foreign investment interest.”
HOTEL GROWTH The region’s economic growth also is reflected in the hotel sector. Re- cent high-profile openings include the Shangri-La Bosphorus in 2013 (see Reviews, p117), and Raffles Istanbul in September last year. Openings slated for 2015 include St Regis, Mercure and Soho House properties. The 210-room Steigenberger Hotel Istanbul Airport is scheduled for completion in June 2016. Shangri-La Bosphorus general manager
Vito Romeo points out that the Istanbul property was one of the first three “strategi- cally chosen locations” in Europe when the brand started expanding from its Asian market – along with Paris and London. He says key factors during feasibility studies included the city’s location “as a crossroads” and its popularity for business and leisure travellers. Romeo adds that helping drive demand is “a wide range of direct flight connectivity,” wide choice of hospitality brands and value for money. Hotel market analyst STR Global reports nearly 7,000 rooms in the pipeline, a 15 per cent increase on the city’s current room- stock of more than 46,500. STR also notes that while Istanbul’s occupancy levels in 2014 were down slightly to 65 per cent, its revenue per available room (RevPAR) and average daily rate (ADR) were both up year-on-year. However, it’s not all plain sailing on the Bosphorus. Turkey’s volatile neighbours include Syria, Iraq and Iran, and the so- called IS caliphate is certainly too close for
114 BBT MARCH/APRIL 2015
comfort. According to Middle East online news channel Al Monitor, there are around 1.6 million registered Syrian refugees in Turkey, equivalent to a 2.1 per cent increase in the country’s population. Driving round Istanbul’s sophisticated city centre, it feels European; but one of the few obvious signs of its proximity to Middle Eastern turmoil is the Syrian refugee children darting danger- ously between cars at traffic lights, wiping windscreens for a few lira. As Turkish Airlines’ Genc delicately puts
it: “We are close to Europe and the Middle East, therefore we’re sensitive to economic and political changes in these regions. We are aware of this risk, and manage our capacity in our wide network to handle these fluctuations.” Severnside Consulting founder Chris
Pouney says: “The country’s confidence has taken a knock with the dual disappoint- ments in 2013 of failing to land both the 2020 Expo and the 2020 Olympics. Add to this the conflict in Syria, with which Turkey shares a 500-mile border, the growth and excitement around Istanbul and Turkey has been tempered somewhat.” But he lists several positives, including the flag carrier “going from strength to strength”, infrastructure investment and Turkey’s determination to join the EU. Of course, talking to locals – like most places in the world – there are plenty of gripes about the government, from Kurdish rights and freedom of speech to the con- troversial new 1,100-room presidential palace in Ankara, nicknamed the ‘White Palace’ in reference to the White House in Washington, which it dwarfs. But with three empires under its belt and more than 1,000 years on the world stage, it’s a fair bet that Istanbul will overcome its hurdles.
The ancient, underground Yerebatan (‘Basilica’) Cistern has more than 300 floodlit classical columns reflected in dark, shallow water that ripples with cruising carp. It makes a splendidly atmospheric setting for events, and is used for theatrical performances.
The 19th-century waterside Beylerbeyi Palace features an ornate mix of baroque and Ottoman architecture. Built as a royal summer residence for the Sultan, if offers indoor and outdoor event spaces for up to 1,000 people.
The NAR Restaurant is on the top floor of the stylish Armaggan department store, that champions local designers and artisans. NAR includes roof terraces which can be used for al fresco events for up to 70 guests, as well as three flexible private event spaces with moveable partitions. They can be combined for gatherings of up to 100 people.
The Glass Furnace is set in countryside out from the Asian side of the city. The glass-making school and studios are a hub for local and international artists – and can also be an inspirational venue for creative corporate team-building activities. It offers hands-on experience with molten glass, specialist tools and expert tutors, as well as catering and accommodation. For more information, visit
camocagi.org
BUYINGBUSINESSTRAVEL.COM
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