Turkey holds a place in the top 10 meeting and congress destinations, according to the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA). The country ranks 18th globally as a growing Mice destination and capital Istanbul ranks eighth on the global leaderboard.
In addition to its geographic advantage as a natural bridge between Europe and the Middle East, bordered by the Black Sea and Marmara Sea, Turkey, and specifically its capital Istanbul, has seen billions of dollars invested in core infrastructure projects to boost its tourism sector and enhance its position as a viable business and family destination. The Istanbul Congress Centre (ICC) is one of the leading platforms that serve as a solid foundation for the industry. It has 14,000 sq m of exhibition space and houses more than 18 meeting halls and 90 workshops. The venue was constructed in 2009 and is centrally located in the heart Istanbul. What gives the ICC its edge is the Istanbul’s impressive and ever-evolving infrastructure. Turkey has been able to attract an increasing number of businesses and people from the European, Middle East and African regions, looking for opportunity and development. Long-term planning and active private-public investments in the country’s transport and tourism sectors have resulted in two international airports, and a third – said to be the biggest in the world – is now being built. The country’s flag carrier, Turkish Airlines, connects more than 200 destinations around the world. With the launch of the fifth Ace of Mice Exhibition in Turkey, the third largest congress, meeting and events exhibition in the world, between February 21 to 23 next year, Istanbul will become the focus of the international Mice industry. The annual exhibition will see 746 hosted buyers from 39 countries flock to the city. Over 9,791 business to business (B2B) meetings have been arranged, along with 220 national and international exhibitors, 19 sessions, 35 speakers, 160 sponsors and 15,000+ domestic and foreign visitors are expected to visit.