MeeTurkey Alternative Tourism & MICE Magazine - February 2017 by S&M Publication ltd.

FROM THE EDITOR

February’2017 Year:23 No:85

Thermal tourism Health tourism is one of the fastest growing segments in tourism industry. Today people are working in order to have a healthy life. As the prices for health treatments increase in the world, price becomes an important aspect together with type of treatments. Countries both try to offer proper treatments and also try to make it more economic for people. As the countries try to realize that, it creates another type of tourism; health tourism. Turkey emerges as one of the leading countries in the world that contributes health tourism in the world with its modern hospitals and effective health care treatments. Turkey’s healthcare facilities which internationally become popular with a range of services from hair implantation to organ transplant, also offers popular services with the country’s natural resources.

PUBLISHER & EDITOR IN CHIEF SUAT TÖRE suattore@smpublication.com EDITORS Özgür TÖRE ozgur@ftnnews.com Ömer KOCAMAN omer@smpublication.com Fusun TÖRE fusun@smpublication.com INT. RELATIONS Özge TÖRE ozge@smpublication.com PHOTOS MeeTurkey archive ART DIRECTOR Özgür TÖRE OFFSET PREPARATION Repronet FILM & PRINTING Repronet REPRESENTATIVES ANTALYA: Salih ÇENE salih@salihcene.com Tel: 90.242.248 50 35 -36 CANADA: Çetin GÜRZ

In this issue, we are bringing you stories about healthcare services that cetin@smpublication.com are offered in Turkey using thermal springs. Tel: 1.514.636 6810 I believe you will enjoy this issue that has many interesting stories as CHINA: Mr. LOUK well as our cover story; thermal tourism. info@tuerqu.nfo Wish you all happy health days, Suat Töre

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IN THIS ISSUE

30 Contents

Newsline Turkey ��6 Inbrief �� 15 Meet at Art �� 16 Meet at History �� 18 16 Meet at Museum �� 20 Meet at Culture �� 22 Fame & Game �� 24 Meet at DMC �� 26 Newsline World �� 28 Cover Story �� 30 20 Destinations �� 44 DMCompanies �� 49 Advertisement Index

WOW Istanbul ��Inside Front Cover kmice ��3 Orion-tour ��9 fez travel �� 17 24 Sanda Yachting �� 19 Akut �� 23 Radisson Blu Hotel Kayseri �� 27 Spa Hotel Colossae Thermal �� 33 The Grand Blue Sky & Hotel Imbat �� 41 ftnNEWS & RusTourismNews �� 45 28 Istanbul Modern �� 51 S&M Publication �� Back Cover

February 2017 | MeeTurkey | 5

NEWSLINE TURKEY

Tourism trends for 2017 Istanbul based technology and hotel reservation solutions provider; HotelsPro announced the trends and developments that can affect tourism industry in the world in 2017. Stating that global travel market will grow, the investment to mobile technologies will increase and personalized package tours will come into prominence in 2017, Nevgul Bilsel Safkan, Managing Director of HotelsPro, forecasted the trends and growth that will shape the tourism industry in 2017 and moving forward: Asia Pacific region will maintain its progress Being the rising destination of the tourism sector in recent years, Asia Pacific region will maintain its

progress also in 2017. The travel expenses of Chinese people will continue to increase As of 2017, China will be positioned as the biggest travel market with the increasing gross national product, employment and consumption rates. The travel expenses will increase in developing countries such as Russia, Brazil, India and Indonesia. Halal travel demand will scale up Having a rise in recent years, halal travel will make progress in 2017. Halal travel sector is expected to reach a size of 20 billion dollars in 2020. New technologies will increase the salesTravel product sales will

increase in the world with the effect of new technologies and business models. Travel product sales is expected to reach a size of 2.5 trillion dollars in 2020. Mobile technology expenses will increase Like all the other industries, online and mobile technologies will continue to affect tourism industry in a large scale. The mobile technology oriented expenses of the companies operating in the tourism industry will increase. Business travels to Asia will increase The increasing trade connections between East and West will cause an increase in global business travels. The biggest increase will be in Asia region.

Foreigners can obtain Turkish citizenship by investment Turkey has changed its citizenship laws to encourage investment. Access to Turkish citizenship has been eased for foreign investors with the amendments made to Turkeyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s current citizenship law. The revised decree published in

the Official Gazette. Foreigners who meet any of the following conditions would be eligible to acquire citizenship under the new regulations.

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- Proven by the Ministry of Economy to have made a minimum of US$2,000,000 of fixed capital investment - Proven by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization to have acquired an immovable property worth a minimum of US$1,000,000 with a title deed restriction of not to sell for at least

three years - Proven by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security to have created jobs for at least 100 people - Proven by the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency to have deposited at least US$3,000,000 in banks operating in Turkey with the condition of not to withdraw for at least three years

- Proven by the Turkish Treasury to have bought at least US$3,000,000 worth of government bonds and provided they are not sold over the course of three years The effective selling rate of the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey as of the proving date will be used as a benchmark to determine the actual values of operations.

Morgan Freeman is the new face of Turkish Airlines in the U.S. Iconic Hollywood actor Morgan Freeman is the new brand ambassador Turkish flag carrier and a leading European airline - Turkish Airlines (THY). Turkish Airlines announced Thursday that Freeman will be its new face to represent the brand in the United States. Turkish Airlines which creates several successful advertisements and promotional videos in recent years, will now work together with world renowned Hollywood actor Morgan Freemen.

A commercial featuring Freeman will be aired during the Super Bowl Final on February 5. The shooting for the commercial started in Los Angeles.morgan freeman

Last year, the carrier had sponsored “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” movie with Warner Bros Pictures. Through a series of commercials, it had introduced “Gotham City” and “Metropolis” as its two brand new destinations on Super Bowl night, reaching out to 35 percent of the U.S. population while the specially-designed Batman Batmobile had also crossed over Istanbul’s Bosphorus Strait. The commercials last year was viewed by 800 million people, and this year the number is expected to increase.

UNWTO Secretary-General Candidate Alain St.Ange visits Istanbul The former Seychelles Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine Minister Alain St.Ange who is a candidate for the top post at the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), visited Istanbul for 3 days first week of January. MeeTurkey editor Suat and ftnNEWS editor Ozgur Tore met with St. Ange at his first visit to Istanbul. St. Ange is a strong candidate at the race to be the next UNWTO Secretary-General at the May 2017 elections. Other candidates are from Zimbabwe, Korea, Georgia, Brazil, and Mexico. Visiting Istanbul for the first time, St. Ange met with airlines and government representatives during

his visit from 4 to 7 January. We also came together with Mr. St. Ange at Istanbul’s luxurious shopping center Istinye Park. Expressed that he likes Istanbul very much, Mr. St. Ange said, “Following the elections

in May, I will to visit Istanbul again and this time I will have more time for to see this beautiful city. I would like to see more of Bosphorus, islands, and taste delicious Turkish food again”.

February 2017 | MeeTurkey | 7

Russian tourists miss Turkey According to a new report by the Association of Tour Operators in Russia (ATOR), holiday bookings during the early booking sales period are to Turkey. “Russian tourists have missed Turkey. The Russian citizens want to benefit from early reservation discounts,” ATOR said.

which was 80% last year this period. The remaining 25% of sales accounts for Greece, Bulgaria, Spain, etc.. According to TUI Russia, Russian tourists are missing holiday in

The effect of increasing demand, the strengthening of the ruble and big discounts on accommodation are the main reasons of such high demand, according to the leading tour operators. According to Russian tour operators, early booking period for Turkish hotels started earlier than usual. Some Turkish resorts began early booking in September and as a result today Turkey's share in total number of tours sold is 50%. The domestic markets share today fell to 25%,

Turkey, and this season, want to secure a pre-summer vacation, especially taking into account the discounts for early booking. Representatives of the operator noted that compared to the same period of reservation in 2015,

Turkey demand has grown more than twice. Most popular tours are in the lead with arrivals in May, then in June and July, but there is a good amount of reservations with arrival and during September and October, which are not specifically happened in the booking period of 2015. One of the main reasons for strong growth in demand for Turkey is attractive prices that hoteliers offered to their Russian partners. Discounts on accommodation, depending on hotel rates, are up to 50%. The average cost of a week tour in Antalya at the beginning of June and hotel accommodation at 3-4 star hotels is around 30-34 thousand Rubles. According to the operators, it is one of the lowest prices on the summer tour at the moment.

Turkey most searched holiday destination on Yandex among Russian tourists Turkey is the most searched holiday destination on Yandex among Russian tourists, the search engine’s commerce director, Maxim Grishakov, said at the World Tourism Forum on Dec. 10 in the southern resort of Antalya. “When we analyze the holiday searches Russians have made, we saw that interest in Turkey has gained momentum. There has been a 32 percent increase in searches for Turkey in the travel category in 2016 compared to the same period last year. Turkey has become the most searched holiday destination in 2016, leaving Tunisia and Greece behind,” Grishakov said.

Among the most searched holiday destinations in Turkey was Antalya’s Kemer, followed by the province’s Side district and the Mediterranean

province

Marmaris.

Grishakov encouraged tourism experts to use Yandex’s advertising platforms to contact their customers

and emphasized the need for tourism ties between the two countries. “There is a great tourism potential between Russia and Turkey. As Yandex, we are continuing to develop advertising solutions that focus on this potential. Both Russian and Turkish tourism companies can advertise their offers in the most productive ways by cooperating with Yandex. Yandex is being preferred by growing numbers of users in Turkey day by day. We are certain that we will be one of the most effective mediums in performance advertising fields in Turkish markets,” Grishakov added.

POYD expects 3 million Russian tourists in 2017 Over 3 million Russian tourists are expected to visit Turkey in 2017, with the tourism sector already experiencing some relief after the normalization of ties between the two countries, according to a leading tourism representative.

The head of the Professional Hotel Managers Association (POYD) noted that 2016 was a year of losses for the sector, but some recovery has started to be seen with the normalization of bilateral relations with Russia. “The number of Russian tourists visiting Turkey increased [in the

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final months] to around 800,000 over this year, up from almost zero. This rapid increase makes us very optimistic about the coming year,” said POYD head Hakan Duran. Saying that Turkey saw sharp losses in the number of European

February 2017 | MeeTurkey | 9

NEWSLINE TURKEY arrivals this year, Duran said more campaigns should be conducted in order to recover Turkey’s image. “Several significant image-building campaigns need to be carried out without any interruption … We also need to visit all European countries and tell their people how comfortable vacationing in Turkey still is. Foreigners who have visited our country could also make a contribution to these campaigns,” he noted. According will likely decrease of in tourist of $11-12

to Duran, Turkey close 2016 with a around 40-45 percent numbers and losses billion in tourism

revenue

compared

2015.

tourism industry struggles amid political and security concerns.

“We always need to look to the future. We have already started to reap the yields of our campaigns to new markets, including China, India and Far East Asian countries,” he said. The number of foreign arrivals to Turkey dropped by 25.8 percent to 2.45 million in October, compared to the same month in 2015, temporary data from the Tourism Ministry showed on Nov. 29. This was the smallest shrinkage in foreign arrivals in the last seven months, as Turkey’s

In the first 10 months of the year, Germany, Georgia and the United Kingdom were the top sources of foreign arrivals to Turkey, the ministry’s data showed.

New Eurasia Tunnel between Istanbul’s European and Asian sides Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Binali Yildirim opened the Eurasia Tunnel, which connects Asian and European sides via a highway tunnel going underneath seabed, in Istanbul, Turkey. “Mehmet the Conqueror, when he conquered Istanbul, moved ships overland and now his descendants, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his friends, are moving trains and automobiles under the sea,” said Turkish PM at the opening ceremony. The first road tunnel under the Bosphorus in Istanbul will significantly reduce travel time between Istanbul's Asian and European sides. The $1.3-billion tunnel was constructed underneath the seabed of the Bosphorus by ATAS, a company whose shares are equally

owned by prominent Turkish contractor Yapi Merkezi and a major international company -- SK E&C from South Korea.

Turkey’s transport ministry said that the road toll -- excluding tax -- for automobiles and minibuses would be $4 and $6 respectively.

Construction of the two-story undersea tunnel took over four years. The total length of the project is 14.6 kilometers (nine miles) and the most crucial part, the Bosphorus crossing, is 5.4km long.

According to officials, the Eurasia Tunnel is expected provide a solution to Istanbul's traffic problems by decreasing travel times on the route from around 100 minutes to 15 minutes.

Open only to light vehicles, the tunnel will serve the KazlicesmeGoztepe route -- where Istanbul vehicle traffic is at its most intense.

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The tunnel has also been designed so as to be resilient to earthquakes and tsunamis, and can be used as bunker if necessary. ATAS has the right to operate the tunnel for around 24 years in accordance with the build-operatetransfer model. At the end of this period, the Eurasia Tunnel will be transferred to the state.

Istanbul CVB offers free planners’ toolkit for meetings & events Istanbul Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) announced the launch of its brand new planners’ toolkit for meetings and events. Istanbul as a leading congress, meeting, and incentive destination that hosts many international congresses and events has a new toolkit offering various customized options. The kit contains ready to use templates including print ads, flyers, banners, posters, roll-up posters, seasonal postcards, power point presentations and social media posts for your marketing campaign. You can also find high-res photos of Istanbul, together with videos and logos in this kit. Moreover, planners can insert their own logo into the materials before sending out. General Manager of Istanbul CVB, Mrs. Ozgul Ozkan Yavuz adds: ‘Istanbul continues to be one of

the top places for meetings and conferences. We have been witnessing a busy congress calendar especially for October and November. Recently, Istanbul hosted the World Energy Congress with 10.000 delegates, World Congress on Human Resources Management with 3.000 delegates and many significant congresses like EUROSOIL and so on. Ahead we are looking forward to host the Universal Federation of Travel Agents Associations’ (UFTAA) Golden Jubilee Congress between 25 – 26 November and International Congress of Management Economy and Policy between 26-27 November. With all the feedbacks from the associations, organisers

as well as our members, we have decided to release this marketing tool according to their needs and we put together different ready to use materials in one package. We believe that this kit will help planners to promote their event in Istanbul more effectively and hope that the kit will boost the number of delegates for their meetings and events.’ Available free of charge from Istanbul CVB’s website: http://icvb.org.tr

TV tower, Istanbul's new landmark, starts coming into view Istanbul will have a new landmark next summer as Çamlıca TV tower on the city's Asian side rapidly rises on the eponymous hill overlooking the Bosporus. Workers completed work on 95 meters of the tower which will have a height of 365 meters and will replace a clutter of TV, telecom a n t e n n a e . The construction on the tower, which will be higher than France's Eiffel, started in March. The floors under the roof where the antennae will be installed will feature a terrace, restaurants and convention venues. The tower's basement floors will house libraries and exhibition halls. The tower, which is estimated to cost about TL 170 million, is scheduled to be completed by June 2017, its opening date.

Turkey earns over $318 mln in bridge, highway tolls foto Turkey earned over 1.11 billion Turkish Liras ($318.2 million) from tolls collected on two bridges

over Istanbul’s Bosphorus and linking roads in the first 11 months of 2016, the country’s highway directorate said Dec. 27. The July 15 Martyrs’ Bridge, previously known as the Bosphorus Bridge, and the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, both of which are over the Bosphorus connecting Europe to

Asia, yielded around 268.3 million liras ($76.65 million), while the highways earned 845.35 million liras ($241.5 million), according to data released by the Turkish Highways Directorate. The figures indicate that around 386.3 million vehicles paid tolls in the period. Drivers in Turkey paid 4.75 liras ($1.36) for the bridge tolls, with higher fees for vehicles with more than two axles. This 33.5 used Turkey’s toll roads, paying a 100 million liras

November, over million vehicles bridges and toll total of nearly ($28.5 million).

Last year, 412.4 million vehicles used the toll bridges and roads in Turkey, paying 880.2 million liras ($290.4 million). The bridge toll at that time was 4.25 liras ($1.21) per passage.

February 2017 | MeeTurkey | 11

NEWSLINE TURKEY Third Annual Turkish American Youth Leadership Congress held in Washington, DC. The Turkish Coalition of America (TCA) announced the conclusion of its Third Annual Turkish American Youth Leadership Congress, November 3-6, 2016 in Washington, DC.. Twenty-five young Turkish American college students, graduate students, and young professionals came away inspired to take a more active role in local and national politics and to become effective representatives of the Turkish American community. Youth Congress delegates attended meetings and briefings with Turkish policy experts, congressional staffers, a U.S. Former Member of Congress, the U.S. Department of State, political activists, and leaders in the Turkish American community. Over the course of the weekend, they were able to network with other young Turkish

Americans while learning about the U.S.-Turkey relationship and the political systems of both countries.

They engaged in an active dialogue on the state of U.S.-Turkey relations and the 2016 U.S. election, and they also learned about the role of citizens in policy-making and the steps they could take to be successful Turkish American advocates. Delegates toured the U.S. Capitol and the Turkish Ambassador's historical residence, and their visit to the nation's capital was topped off with a jazz concert at the historic

Howard Theatre and a tour of the monuments on the National Mall. On the occasion of the Youth Congress, TCA received video messages from three of the co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on U.S.-Turkey Relations and Turkish Americans: Congresswoman Virginia Foxx ( R - N C / 5 t h ) , Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA/11th), and Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN/9th); two prominent Turkish Americans: Cenk Uygur, co-founder of the Young Turks Network and a leading Turkish American political commentator, and Judge Jay Karahan, Harris County/Texas Criminal Court and the highest elected Turkish American; and Turkish German Parliamentarian Belit Onay, a member of the Green Party in Germany.

Istanbul hosts Global Satellite Conference the Global SatShow is an annual satellite conference and exhibition, providing a platform to address crucial market trends and spur business development, as well as a vibrant showcase of the industry’s leading technology and services. World’s leading satellite manufacturers met in Istanbul on 9 and 30 November at Halic Congress Center to present their latest high-tech wares at the 2nd Global Satshow. Hosted by the EMEA Satellite Operators Association (ESOA) and organised by MedyaCity,

The Global SatShow takes place every year in Istanbul, bringing together the satellite industry’s hard hitters, market disruptors, thought-leaders and space pioneers. The CEO Summit reveals the plans of the most influential companies and maps out the future of satellite. Compelling conference sessions address the biggest

trends impacting the industry, and run alongside a vibrant allday exhibition that attracts tens of thousands of buyers and end users. Networking opportunities connect the right people at the right time, making the Global SatShow the most efficient platform for business development. The two-day event, whose main theme was “Smart Connections,” was supported by the Global VSAT Forum (GVF) and the Society of Satellite Professionals International (SSPI).

Yunus Emre Institute in Kiev to consolidate friendship between Turkey and Ukraine Yunus Emre Institute has taught Turkish to more than 99 thousand people in 40 countries and has introduced Turkish culture since its establishment in 2009. The interest towards Yunus Emre Culture

Centers that aims to introduce Turkish culture and language to the world in 50 centers in 40 countries, steadily increases. Turkish Ambassador to Ukraine Mr. Yönet Can Tezel announced that

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a new culture center will be soon opened in the Ukrainian capital city of Kiev.

Yunus Emre Cultural Center in Kiev is expected to provide free Turkish courses to Ukrainian

citizens besides promoting Turkish culture and arts. Yunus Emre Cultural Center will also step up

cultural exchange and consolidate friendship between Turkey and Ukraine.

Istanbul New Airport wins coveted award before opening Istanbul New Airport or Third Airport, which is currently under constr uction, has won a coveted award before opening. The airport is planned as the largest airport in the world, with a 150 million passenger annual capacity. It will be the third i nt e r n a t i o n a l airport to be built in Istanbul after Istanbul Atatürk Airport and Sabiha Gökçen International Airport. The new airport has received a design award at the World Architecture Festival in Berlin.

The award for Infrastructure – Future Projects went to lead designer

feature of being the biggest terminal under one roof in the world,” Transport M i n i s t e r Ahmet Arslan said. The airport will host 2,000 flights a day and more than 100 million passengers annually via 250 airlines when the first phase of construction is completed in early 2018.

Scott Brownrigg and original designers Grimshaw, Nordic and Haptic. Architects Fonksiyon and TAM/Kiklop were also honored for their work on the project. “The terminal building will have the

Also receiving an award at the festival held on Thursday and Friday was the Beyazit state library in Istanbul, which houses more than a million works. Tabanlioglu Architects received the award in the New and Old – Completed Building category.

Istanbul to host 2017 UEFA Regions' Cup Turkey have twice had a side at the amateur finals, with Ankara making it to the 2011 and 2015 tournments. The qualifiers: intermediate round winners Group 1: Ingulee, Kirovograd Region (UKR) Group 2: Castilla y León (ESP) Group 3: South Region (RUS) Group 4: Lisboa (POR)

Istanbul has been selected to host the 2017 UEFA Regions' Cup finals from 1 to 9 July. The draw will be on March 2 at the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) headquarters. The home side will joined by teams from Croatia, the Czech Republic, Portugal, the Republic of Ireland,

Russia, Spain and Ukraine next June as they compete for the European amateur title. In the draw, the qualifiers will be split into two groups of four with the winners of each section to play in the final.

Group 5: Istanbul (TUR, finals hosts) Group 6: Olomouc Region (CZE) Group 7: Munster/Connacht (IRL) Group 8: Zagreb (CRO)

February 2017 | MeeTurkey | 13

NEWSLINE TURKEY

Antalya’s popular new theme park welcomes half million visitors in 3 months Opened on 01 July 2016, The Land of Legends Theme Park is the biggest leisure and entertainment park in Turkey, situated in Belek, Antalya. It includes Europe’s largest aqua park. It is the first collaboration between Rixos World Parks & Entertainment, Dragone Productions, the world’s leading brand in cultural creativity and Emaar Properties PJSC. The Land of Legends is a brand new entertainment concept with its spectacular architecture and the creativity of entertainment world legend Franco Dragone. In its first 3 months of opening in 2016, 500,000 visitors enjoyed

over 70 slides in the aqua park. Rixos Hotels are building a strong reputation with UK visitors and welcomed 40,000 Brits in 2015, a 25% increase over 2014, and 1 million guests in total across its 9000 rooms in Turkey.

Tamince, Chairman, The Rixos Hotels, “We also thrive on being able to accommodate people from all walks of life as we have a variety of Rixos properties that cover different ranges, the highest being Rixos Premium Belek.”

“Our success was ensured by our unique business model. I am not an hotelier but I am a destination creator. Rixos has created a new lifestyle and a new family destination. We are not competing with other contenders in the market, rather we created a new market within the hospitality market.” commented Mr Fettah

Established in 2000, Award winning Rixos Hotels is a fast-growing global luxury chain of hotels. Their vision is to provide traditional Turkish hospitality to guests. The Antalya-based Group consists of 26 hotels across 10 countries including Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Croatia (Dubrovnik), Switzerland (Davos), and Egypt amongst others.

Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts presents Culture&Art Card for students The foundation will present 1000 university students aged 18-25 a 250 TL worth İKSV Culture&Art Card, valid in all the events organized by İKSV throughout the year.

Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV), in celebration of its 45th anniversary in 2017, is launching a remarkable project with the support of its co-founder and sponsor; Eczacibasi Group.

All university students aged 1825 studying in Turkey will qualify to apply for İKSV Culture&Art Card. Applications will be collected through the website binuniversiteliaraniyor.com from 23 January to 11 February 2017. The applicants will be asked to give the correct answer to a question to

14 | MeeTurkey | February 2017

continue filling out the necessary information to apply. 1000 students to be drawn from among the applicants will gain the right to receive the card for the year 2017. New applications will be accepted each year for the project which will continue in the oncoming years. İKSV Culture&Art Card will be valid for all the events organized by İKSV until the end of the year, and will be limited to personal use. For detailed information: http://kultursanatkart.iksv.org/

Istanbul hosted UFTAA’s Golden Jubilee Congress The Universal Federation of Travel Agents ‘Associations (UFTAA) hold its Golden Jubilee Congress and celebrated its 50th anniversary with Istanbul congress. The congress organized at Istanbul CVB member Hilton Istanbul Bosphorus between 25 – 26 November.

The UFTAA congress was sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism & Culture of Turkey and supported by the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies as well as Turkish Airlines.

congress had 300 delegates from all around the world.

Congress highlights included business sessions with speakers and panelists, a forum conducted by UFTAA members, an awards ceremony, a gala dinner and a B2B exhibition and tradeshow. The

Inbrief

Yeşim Doğukan named as the marketing & communication manager of Carlson Rezidor Hotels of Turkey. Bülent Derin has been appointed as the sales & marketing manager of Hilton Bodrum Türkbükü Resort & Spa. Anna Yiğit is the new sales & marketing director of Antalya Bellis Deluxe Hotel. Huseyin Gazi Cosan,is the new director of Turkish Tourist Office in Berlin. Hicran Ozbuk has been appointed as the new General Manager of Istanbul Convention & Visitors Bureau (ICVB). Fercan Başkan named as the new General Manager of Radisson Blu Conference & Airport Hotel Istanbul. Gokçe Kesikciler Bugday, has been appointed as the new General Manager of Ontur İzmir Hotel. Kai Winkler, is the new manager of the Fairmont Quasar Istanbul. Murat Arslan has been appointed as the new General Manager of Elite World Europe Hotel.

Uygar Kocas, has been appointed as the new General Manager of Le Meridien Istanbul Etiler. SunExpress has a new CEO, Jens Bischof. Nevzat Ahmet Celebi is the new manager of the Steigenberger Airport Hotel Istanbul. Tarek Mourad named as the new General Manager of Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul Bosphorus & Sultanahmet. Tayfun Baskurt is the new manager of the Sheraton Çeşme Hotel Resort & Spa. Tolga Akıncı named as the new General Manager of Mercure İstanbul Taksim. Bülent Süzer, is the new hotel manager of Four Points by Sheraton İzmir. Mesut Kurtulmuş has been appointed as the sales & marketing manager of Barut Hotels Antalya. Hacı Ömer Özkul named as the new General Manager of Kaya Prestige Sunshine Çeşme Hotel.

Omur Akın is the new manager of the Alkoçlar Hotels&Resorts Uludağ and Alaçatı Hotel. February 2017 | MeeTurkey | 15

MEET AT ART Contemporary Istanbul’s 11th edition a success as collectors show solidarity with the fair The 11th edition of Contemporary Istanbul (CI) ended on 6th November, having seen strong support from philanthropists, collectors and the public, strengthening the fair’s vision of solidarity at this time.

Bringing together 70 galleries from 20 countries exhibiting over 1,500 artworks by 520 artists, the fair attracted a record number of 90,000 visitors with 62% of exhibited artworks sold.

Jaume Plensa, White Forest (Lou), €280,000, Galerie Lelong, Paris Janis Kounellis, Untitled, €220,000, Galeri Artist, Istanbul Stiller, Matchstickman, €130,000, Galerie Mark Hachem, Paris/ Beirut Wim Delvoye, Untitled (Pasion) , €110,000, Galeri Artist, Istanbul Fahrelnissa Zeid, Untitled, USD 100,000, Galeri Artist, Istanbul Son Seock, 25-RHNO, €38,000, Galerie Mark Hachem, Paris/ Beirut Gülay Semercioğlu, A Sip of Water, USD 50,000, Pi Artworks, Istanbul/ London Christiaan Lieverse, Labiatae, €38,000, Villa del Arte Galleries, Barcelona Niloufar Banisadr, Voiles aux vents, €25,000, Galerie 55 Bellechasse, Paris This year, the fair launched the Best Curated Booth Award which was won by Istanbul-based emerging gallery The Pill.

CI Artistic Advisor Marc-Olivier Wahler states: "There is an identifiable, strong and positive movement over recent years in the Turkish art world that cannot be stopped, and CI has an integral role in this. Art provides a visual narrative and a lens through which our society can be understood through different perspectives. Especially in Turkey and the region, contemporary art acts as a toolbox for mental hygiene and this makes the fair even more relevant on an international stage.” New dates for 2017: Preview Day: 12th September 2017 Exhibition dates: 13th – 17th September 2017 After a difficult year across the

region, CI realises that to position Istanbul as an even stronger hub for culture, the fair has to work even more collaboratively alongside other arts org a n i s at ion s. As of 2017, the fair will take place in the second week of September during which Istanbul will host various significant art events. Ali Güreli, CI’s Chairman, states:“We believe our individual efforts will be enhanced by working together and that mutual support during these challenging times is essential for culture to thrive. We hope our combined efforts will create an even stronger date in the art world calendar for Istanbul. Over the past 10 years we have established a market within a sector that has received international recognition. Istanbul has drawn attention as an important player in the art world through the organisation of major exhibitions - the most prominent being the Istanbul Biennial.” Gallery responses Moiz Zilberman, Founder, Gallery Zilberman, Istanbul/ Berlin “I believe the number of visitors set a new record and a large number

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of notable collectors attended the fair. The audience enjoyed the fact that there were fewer galleries exhibiting. I feel quite content with the sales as well as the possibilities for us to meet new and young collectors. Collectors’ Stories was also a great addition to the fair this year.” Bertrand Scholler, Founding Partner, 55 Bellechasse, Paris “We had museum directors and individual buyers considering purchasing works from our artists as well as discussing possible new commissions. CI is one of the strongest fairs we have participated in, in terms of quality and number of attendees. We look forward to coming back and love Istanbul. It is of course a very tough time for the

MEET AT ART

whole world, but people from Turkey faced those difficulties in solidarity which we find very impressive.” Can Yavuz, Director, Yavuz Gallery, Singapore

“We are very happy with the response of the city and improvement of the fair. The reduction in the number of exhibitors has proved to be impactful in terms of flow and quality. It is very impressive to see people engaged with creativity and coming to the fair to support art during these turbulent times.” Yashian Schauble, Founder, ACAF Projects, Shanghai

“This year’s CI has proven that the current political landscape in Turkey has not dampened the spirit and enthusiasm of art lovers and collectors from Turkey and the region.”

“This year’s crowd was sophisticated and curious, and enjoyed both our group and solo shows. They were highly intellectual, and I feel very satisfied. Turkish audiences appreciate both the emerging and well established artists exhibited at the fair and this is fantastic.”

Yeşim Turanlı, Director, Pi Artworks Director, Istanbul/ London

Sera Sade, Director, Galeri Siyah Beyaz, Ankara “Our experience of the fair was perfect. The sales by international collectors has increased dramatically and we have had the chance to meet various new people. We are also very

“We have participated in Contemporary Istanbul in its 11th year and will also certainly come back in 2017. We have sold various artworks by all of our artists and there was a lot of engagement from visitors as well. Notably we sold Kemal Seyhan’s works to a collector from New York and also made lots of other sales amongst which were a work to a London-based and another to Bahrain-based collector. We also met new younger collectors which I believe is very important.” Carlos Duran, Director, Galeria Senda, Barcelona

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glad and honoured that our artist Ardan Ozmenoglu was awarded with the artist residency program provided by Basu Art Foundation at the fair.” Suela Cennet, Director, The Pill, Istanbul “CI has proven to be a very productive and strong fair for us in terms of the feedback we have received. It was also an opportunity to get to know the public and establish a close relationship with local collectors. We are extremely proud to see that we could introduce our gallery at such a short time since we opened 6 months ago. It has been a great motivating factor to continue under the turbulent circumstances.” View of the Pi Artworks booth at Contemporary Istanbul, 2016. Oktay Duran, Founder, Art On Istanbul, Istanbul “Contemporary Istanbul still proves to be the most vivid example that

the public wants to experience art. The fact that tens of thousands of people visited the fair and followed the art and artists also shows the lack of important museums in Istanbul. We hosted thousands of art enthusiasts in our gallery and informed the visitors about the exhibited artworks, as well as made a number of sales. We have participated in Contemporary Istanbul for the last 5 years since the gallery’s establishment and the fair has become an indispensable part of our calendar.”

MEET AT MUSEUM Madame Tussauds Wax Museum opened in Istanbul Merlin Entertainments, one of the world's leading visitor attraction operators, has unveiled its newest Madame Tussauds in Istanbul, Turkey. The Madame Tussauds Istanbul is at the Grand Pera building Grand Pera which is located at the heart of Istiklal Avenue in Beyoğlu. The world's most famous wax museum features 55 famous figures including historical and cultural icons as well as artists, sports stars and politicians from the past and the present.

Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbaş has attended the official opening ceremony. “The Madame Tussauds Istanbul will add value Istanbul’s tourist attractions.Travel guides will definitely add the Madame Tussauds Istanbul to their must visit attractions list. I should also mention that here is better than the museum in London,” said Mr. Topbaş.

Mr. Ahmet Misbah Demircan, the mayor of Beyoğlu District; Mr. Nedret Apaydın, İstanbul Provincial

Director of Culture and Tourism and Osman Ekşi, District Governor of Beyoğlu also attended the opening ceremony. The double-story museum which covers a 2,000 square meter area on the first two floors of Grand Pera will offer interactive, unique entertainment for visitors of all ages, with waxworks displayed in sections that include history, science, cinema, music, sports and party. 20 | MeeTurkey | February 2017

February 2017 | MeeTurkey | 21

MEET AT CULTURE Yortan jug returnes to Turkey It is not everyday you return from holiday with a exactly what happened to Mrs Thelma Bishop of

4500-year-old souvenir. But inadvertently that is Gatley, near Stockport.

Last year Adam Partridge Auctioneers and Valuers seeking further information on a ceramic jug visiting Ephesus in Turkey in the early

in Macclesfield were approached by Mrs Bishop she and her husband Malcolm had bought after 1960s.

Mrs Bishop, a regular client of her Lucie Ries from her Hans Copers authenticity of the jug. Luckily, Jason Ceramics at Partridge’s, was on hand. made contact through his Turkish wife the jug to be a genuine Early Bronze Age (c.2500 BC) and of a type commonly found western Anatolia at this period. It is beakan almost-perfectly rounded base and looping in remarkably good condition for its age and stands

Partridge’s studio ceramics sales, knew but was at a bit of a loss as to the Wood, Specialist Consultant in Studio Wood, who is also an archaeologist, with several experts who confirmed artefact belonging to the Yortan culture as a burial offering in many graves in spouted, black-slipped and burnished with handle with small raised lugs to the body. It is 26.5cm high.

What to do? Although it was bought in good faith over 50 years ago, it was now clear that the jug should never have left Turkey. Wood therefore advised Mrs Bishop that it would be wrong to sell the jug at auction and that it should be returned to Turkey. Mrs Bishop agreed to this course of action and Wood then contacted the Turkish Embassy in London for advice on the necessary procedure to follow. The jug will be handed over to the Turkish authorities in London on Monday 16 January 2017. It will find a new home in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in the Turkish capital Ankara. Jason Wood: ‘It is not everyday that a prehistoric pot from Anatolia is unearthed near Stockport. Given its age, fragility and how far it’s travelled, I’m also astonished at its remarkable condition – better than some 20thcentury ceramics I’ve catalogued.’ Adam Partridge: ‘I’m so pleased this rare Turkish artefact is returning to its country of origin. Not all auction houses faced with this situation would act in the same way. I hope we have set an important precedent for similar cases in the UK.’ Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism: ‘Turkey has been fighting against illicit trafficking of cultural artefacts for many years and working for their repatriation. The Turkish Directorate General for Cultural Heritage and Museums expressed Ministry’s thanks to Mrs Bishop and Adam Partridge Auctioneers for contributing to the protection of Turkey’s cultural heritage. Their sensitive actions set an example to the auction community, while stressing the importance of transparency in the art market. The Ministry will be pleased to welcome Mrs Bishop and Adam Partridge Auctioneers to Turkey and will be presenting them with museum passes to use in all the museums in Istanbul.’ As one of the leading source countries of the world’s oldest civilizations, Turkey banned the export of cultural artefacts more than a century ago in 1884. The country’s recent efforts have seen the repatriation of numerous artefacts, including notably the Weary Heracles Sculpture from the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, the Boğazköy Sphinx from the Pergamon Museum in Berlin, and the Orpheus Mosaic from the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts. In the 1990s, Turkey was successful in world-wide legal cases that ensured the return of the Lydian Treasury from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, and the Elmalı Treasure from an American private collector. Turkey continues its negotiations and legal proceedings for the repatriation of cultural assets. Malcolm and Thelma Bishop ran an art dealership through a gallery in Fallowfield in Manchester, with a reputation for selling quality studio ceramics and modern design. At the time it was known as ‘the Primavera of the North.’ Malcolm died in 2005. The next studio ceramics sale at Adam Partridge Auctioneers will be on Friday 17 March 2017; entries invited until 20 February.

22 | MeeTurkey | February 2017

AKUETS SAV

LIVES

Text AKUT to 2930, donate 10TL and save a life yourself.

AKUT yaz 2930’a gönder, 10TL bağış yap, bir can da sen kurtar!

akut.org.tr twitter.com/AKUT_Dernegi

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instagram.com/AKUT_Dernegi

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FAME & GAME Samsung Bosphorus Cross Continental Swimming Race in Istanbul selected as the best in the world Swimming between continents is something that few people in the world rarely have an opportunity to do. The Samsung Bosphorus Cross Continental Swim in Istanbul is excellently organized to offer this dramatic possibility to thousands of people every year. Istanbul’s open water swimming event in 2016 has been selected as the best event by the World Open Water Swimming Association (WOWSA). The World Open Water Swimming Association announced the 2016 WOWSA Award Winners: 2016 WOWSA Man of the Year – Nejib Belhedi 2016 WOWSA Woman of the Year – Jaimie Monahan 2016 WOWSA Performance of the Year – Sarah Thomas’ Lake Powell Swim 2016 WOWSA Offering of the Year – Samsung Bosphorus Cross Continental Swim

The National Olympic Committee of Turkey has grown the 6.5 km point-to-point traverse of the Istanbul Strait from 68 swimmers in 1989 to nearly 5,000 applicants from 52 countries from all walks of life. Boat traffic in the strait is stopped once per year on this day when people challenge themselves against shifting currents and tidal flows with logistics and a wide safety net at their protection. Samsung Bosphorus Cross Continental Swim provides the self-satisfaction and challenge of a cross-continental swim from the Asian continent to the European continents to 2,200 swimmers, for organizing an aquatic challenge across a dynamic body of water in an iconic location, and for the joyful multi-cultural, multi-lingual ambiance of swimmers from around the world. The 29th edition of the Samsung Bosphorus Cross-Continental Swimming Race will be held July 23 this year.

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Gaming Istanbul to take place at Istanbul Congress Center GL Events, a leading global events company, will organize the second edition of 'Gaming Istanbul'. Launched in 2016, as Turkey’s leading entertainment and gaming fair, will be held at the Istanbul Congress Center next month from February 2-5, 2017. The show is expected to cater thousands of consumer and trade visitors with areas for exhibition, eSports, indie showcases, and multiple stages through the venue, hosting gaming and entertainment shows and music from international artists. The 10,000 m2 venue will also house conferences, careers and B2B zones to facilitate investment and partnership opportunities. The Consumer exhibition space has been designed to cater to the latest games, offering an array of options for international publishers, and with the publishers already signed-up to the event, it promises to put Turkey on the map for international gaming events. Trade visitors can look forward to VR specific content, a wide range of panels and presentations on art, design, concept and programming, all linked directly to one of Europe’s largest in-event careers zones, specifically designed to put talent in touch with job creators. Online matchmaking apps will make introductions easier than ever before. Gaming Istanbul Brand and Marketing Manager Meriç Eryürek said: "Istanbul has been known as the gateway to Eurasia for centuries, and Gaming Istanbul was designed with this ethos in mind. In Turkey, an average game player spends around 39 minutes on one game session." There are more than 1.7 billion active game players and the sector grows 20 percent annually. For more information and registration visit, http://www.gamingistanbul.com/en/

February 2017 | MeeTurkey | 25

MEET AT DMC Global DMC Partners Establishes New International Sales Office in Turkey New Istanbul-based sales team expands Global DMC Partners’ worldwide client service Global DMC Partners forecasts exponential International growth in 2017 with the recent addition of a third International Sales Office based in Istanbul, Turkey. The Global DMC Partners Eurasia Office is led by industry veteran, Mustafa Yalcin, who will assume the role of Global DMC Partners Managing Director, Eurasia to expand Global DMC Partners’ International sales efforts and client support across Eurasia and Africa. Global DMC Partners President, Catherine Chaulet, states, “After working with Mustafa and his team for many years, I am thrilled to establish the Global DMC Partners Eurasia Sales Office. I am extremely confident that they will be instrumental in strengthening Global DMC Partners’ International presence and brand awareness. They are experts in the DMC industry with extensive knowledge of these key markets and client needs.” Yalcin has been actively involved in travel trade and international meetings for more than 30 years as a fullservice DMC, and he will continue his current DMC operations alongside this new position. With their office based in Istanbul, Yalcin and team are strategically located to work closely with the Eurasian and African markets. “Our home base, Turkey, is where ‘East meets West’ which perfectly aligns with Global DMC Partners’ mission to represent the largest network of the best DMCs all over the world, from East to West,” states Yalcin. “I have had the privilege of working with most of our DMC Partners for more than two decades, bearing witness to their true expertise, so it is a great honor for me to introduce these leading DMCs to a vast new client base.” “This marks another great milestone for Global DMC Partners,” says Chaulet. “We understand how vital it is to have sales presence around the globe to support our growing international client base. Along with our sales offices in the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany, we are ecstatic to officially add Turkey to that list.” Chaulet, Yalcin, and the Global DMC Partners team will be exhibiting at IMEX Frankfurt from May 16-18 in Frankfurt, Germany at stand D010. To set up an appointment, please email info@globaldmcpartners.com. About Global DMC Partners: Global DMC Partners is the largest global network of independent destination management companies and sales advisors offering meeting professionals one worldwide solution for total event success. The network has exclusive partnerships with more than 55 Destination Management Companies (DMCs) that represent over 100 destinations around the globe. Each DMC provides an unparalleled level of creativity and commitment to clients by promising to deliver one-of-a-kind programs under a singular standard of excellence. Thanks to a global team with decades of experience and a passion for the industry, clients can centralize everything from DMC communication to DMC spend through one dedicated Global DMC Sales Advisor. For more information, including a complete listing of destinations in the Global DMC Partners network, please visit www.globaldmcpartners.com

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NEWS LINE WORLD Event Organiser Demand Drives Abu Dhabi MICE Success Abu Dhabi’s constantly evolving infrastructure, value for money and support mechanisms for event organisers mean the Emirate is proving ever more popular with MICE industry professionals. Testament to this is the fact that a raft of new exhibitors have signed up for the first time to ibtm arabia 2017, the Middle East’s leading one-to-one event for the MICE industry, which takes place in Abu Dhabi, UAE, from 7 – 9 February. Shinu Pillai, Exhibition Director, ibtm arabia, commented: “Such is the growing popularity of Abu Dhabi as a destination for corporate events and incentive experiences, that we’ve had some extremely high profile brands sign up as exhibitors for the first time, including, amongst others, Millennium Hotels & Resorts, Jumeirah, The Rezidor Hotel Group and IMG Worlds of Adventure. Returning exhibitor numbers are also growing year-on-year, in part given the extremely high calibre of new Hosted Buyers our event attracts each year.” ibtm events was among the first to host an exhibition in the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre in 2007. In 2014, 327 events took place in the facility and the number continues to grow each year. Abu Dhabi broke into the top 100 ICCA ranking for the first time in 2012, having been placed 234th the year before, and continues to rise. Shinu continues: “Abu Dhabi is a destination which is constantly evolving, with a huge level of ongoing investment and development meaning that new venues launch every year. For event organisers and meeting planners, there is always a new and exciting venue to consider. The world is intrigued to see the Middle East with their own eyes - no other destination on earth has been built from scratch in 50 years – with 80% of the region’s infrastructure less than two decades old.”

A major benefit to Abu Dhabi as a location is that it is extremely well connected globally, via Etihad and other premium airlines, and has world-class airport facilities which makes the beginning and the end of a delegate experience in Abu Dhabi second to none. Commenting on events in the region, Shinu continues: “There is sometimes a misconception that there is a lot of bureaucracy involved in organising an event the Middle East, however in our experience there is an excellent support mechanism in place for event organisers, headed by Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau and, on a wider scale, by Abu Dhabi Culture & Tourism Authority, with whom we have partnered for a number of years.

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“Ensuring attendance at a show in the Middle East is as productive as possible requires real local expertise. There are regional nuances when it comes to doing business in the region that it is essential to acknowledge and adhere to." “There is huge importance placed on networking and building a relationship ahead of having formal meetings. To ensure that we give our attendees at ibtm arabia the very best and most effective environment for doing business, we created a one-to-one ‘pod’ format for our event which, combined with ibtm events’ bespoke ‘matchmaking’ software, creates a personalised diary of 100% mutually matched pre-scheduled appointments for each attendee. This means that time is focused on meeting with people with whom there is a very high chance of doing business.” The overall agenda of ibtm arabia is deliberately structured to facilitate relationship building, with nine networking events held over the threeday-event, kicking off with a ‘Discovery Day’, which allows our Hosted Buyers and exhibitors to get to know each other whilst exploring the local culture in an informal environment before meetings commence. The day begins with a keynote educational session which acts as a forum for attendees to debate and discuss key industry issues, innovations and themes. Shinu concludes: “In such a dynamic industry, it’s essential that we keep things fresh and exciting for our attendees. Abu Dhabi’s ever evolving offer ensures we are able to do just that, resulting in the long term success of the event.”

February 2017 | MeeTurkey | 29

COVER STORY

Turkey, Paradise of

Turkey

with its rich and curative mineral waters is the paradise of thermal springs and welcomes the ones seeking for good health with its high quality facilities.

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Turkey’s location on top of a major geothermal belt, it is among in the top seven countries in the world for quality and quantity of thermal springs with over 1000, with temperatures ranging from 20ºC to 110ºC. Most are in the Marmara and Aegean regions and because of their proximity to popular travel destinations such

thermal springs

as Istanbul, Izmir, Pamukkale and Marmaris, public transport is easy. Many of Turkeyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s historical places developed because of their springs, like the ancient city of Hieropolis which was built upon the rich mineral springs of Pamukkale, and the ancient Lydian city of Kaunos, whose people took baths in the rich mineral

mud of Lake Koycegiz. Since the arrival of winter in the northern hemisphere, holidays filled with sun and sand have been replaced by winter holiday destinations, ranging from kayaking to thermal springs. With its healing thermal springs and five-star heated hotels, Turkey is the perfect destination

February 2017 | MeeTurkey | 31

to spend your time relaxing. For tourists seeking the health benefits of Turkey's natural wonders, spending a holiday in

natural thermal springs - known as kaplÄąca in Turkish - is gaining popularity among locals and foreigners, especially tourists from Arab countries. Many believe that

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these thermal springs have healing qualities, which is why the elderly are particularly attracted to them, but they also provide a fun vacation to people of all ages.

COVER STORY

The ancient Romans were the first to discover the therapeutic effects of these springs in Turkey. With

more than 1,000 thermal springs reflecting the country's geological and historical beauty, Turkey

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provides a rich experience for those seeking some centuries-old relaxation and the health benefits

that these ancient thermal springs have to offer, scattered across western Anatolia. If you are looking for the ultimate escape from the stress of daily life, thermal destinations should be on your list. The cities most famous for their springs are Bursa, Ä°zmir and Yalova. If you are fond of hot springs and vacationing in thermal resorts, you must know why these provinces attract so many visitors. The springs in those cities are believed to cure many illnesses, and the facilities in thermal resorts are high quality. With thousands of tourist visiting yearly, the city of Bursa in northwestern Turkey is like a thermal haven that is visited mostly by Arab tourists. Located in the Ă&#x2021;ekirge district of Bursa, the hot springs and thermal baths are rich in terms of different natural cures, including sulfur and iron, and are rich in magnesium. These springs are also known as "silver waters" due to their crystal clear view. Thermal hotels & resorts offer a comfortable and spacious place to stay with its stylish and modern rooms. You can also experience the pristine, traditional Turkish bath and spa at this luxury hotels, not to mention the thermal facilities that aim to give you ultimate relaxation.

February 2017 | MeeTurkey | 35

COVER STORY Known as one of the most tourist-friendly cities, Çeşme in the western city of İzmir is also renowned for its thermal springs, located in the Ilıca and Sifne districts. The town is easily reachable and offers thermal springs, vivid blue Aegean waters and a mild climate. You can visit its thermal resorts during the summer or winter due to the unchanging climate. Then, after swimming in the picturesque Aegean Sea, you can visit the hotel's thermal pool

and take a relaxing dip in its waters. According to research conducted by the Çeşme Hotels' Union, the thermal springs in Çeşme have healing effects for rheumatism,

joint diseases, tissue rheumatism, psoriasis, acne, eczema, varicose veins, genital infections and high or low blood pressure. The best destination to enjoy thermal waters in Çeşme is a perfect destination

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to spend your winter holiday. If you visit during this season, you can enjoy the tranquility and mild weather of İzmir. Yalova is the closest destination

to Turkey's commerce capital of Istanbul, which is why it is generally preferred for weekend getaways.

A one-hour ferry ride across the Sea of Marmara and a short taxi ride will take you to Yalova. Of

all the thermal resorts in the city and this city's thermal springs are rich in minerals such as calcium, sulphates and flouride, and it won the "Best Hot Spring with Beneficial Waters" award at a competition held in Rome. It offers facilities that include drinking mineral water from the springs, an open-air hot thermal swimming pool and Turkish saunas. Like other thermal facilities, Yalova's hot springs are also good for rheumatic diseases and arthritis. It is said that by drinking the water one can prevent tooth decay and stomach and intestinal diseases. The healing elements

February 2017 | MeeTurkey | 37

COVER STORY

of the springs have also been analyzed and endorsed by Istanbul University. The stunning white calcium pools, which cling to the side of a ridge, have long been one of the most famous picture postcard views of Turkey. Pamukkale, literally meaning â&#x20AC;&#x153;cotton castleâ&#x20AC;?, is also the site of the ancient city of Hierapolis of which there are many interesting ruins, and is a very popular destination for a short visit. Pamukkale was formed when a spring with a high content of dissolved calcium bicarbonate cascaded over the edge of the cliff, which cooled and hardened leaving calcium deposits. This formed into natural pools, shelves and ridges, which tourists could plunge and splash in the warm water. Hotels were springing up from the 1970s to cater for the large influx of tourists, and shortly afterwards UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site. But by the 1990s, this took its toll on the state of the calcium pools and restrictions were placed on these travertine terraces. Many hotels were knocked down, visitors are only allowed on major paths around the sites, and must remove footwear to stand on the calcium

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deposits. This seems to have been a successful move, as the water supply is now used for preservation and some of the damaged calcium deposits have been strengthened. Pamukkale is an amazing display

of natural hot water pools in Denizli Province, south-western Turkey. What you see in the photos below are known as travertines or the terraces that form due to the carbonate minerals that gather up as the flowing water circles.

Pamukkale is actually Turkish for “cotton castle”, a name that we think manages to characterize the true inner “fluffiness” of this place. Pamukkale Hot Springs can be visited all year long, but it is

February 2017 | MeeTurkey | 39

COVER STORY

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COVER STORY

absolutely spectacular in the winter time, when natural pools of hot water form and tourists can take long, soothing baths.

your shoes and bring along some slippers for visiting the travertines. And your bathing suit.

Getting there is possible by taking

issue, as you will find that the area is highly developed in matters of tourism. In fact it is too developed, although in the winter time you might just get a little privacy.

a plane or a bus to the city of Denizli â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Cardak Airport. From here on a bus to Pamukkale is available (20 km). Remember to take a bag for

Accommodation will not be an

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There is a lot more information in the uploaded video about how these incredible formations were born. Here is a site for getting you started in planning your trip and finding a hotel in Pamukkale. Another city is Afyon and this city is famous with it's spas, healing waters / springs, natural beauties

and with it's rich local kitchen. The city was named after the plant "opium" which grows a lot in this area. Afyon located in Aegean region is a natural curve because of it's geographically location. The roads and highways from Ankara to Izmir, Istanbul to Antalya intersect in this city therefore there are many stop and rest spot on the main road of the city. Dalyan's very famous mud bath is another great attraction for the visitors. Dalyan's hot springs and mud bath is very healthy for the patients having the diseases such as rheumatism, sciatica and calcinosis. It is a popular resort located on the 80 kilometers southeast of Marmaris. Dalyan can be considered as a wonder of nature where the sea and the lake come together. The region is famous with the golden beach of Iztuzu, the sea turtles (Caretta Caretta), healthy mud bath and the ancient city of Kaunos. A must see place for the holiday makers. There are several stories about our Spa's ancient origins. Two of them concern the adventures of Agamemnon over 3000 years ago. These tales are probably true. And thus our Spa is known as Agamemnon Spa. The second tale concerns Clytemnestra's and Agamemnon's Daughter Crysothemis. The story goes: "She had a (skin) disease. So Agamemnon chained her up at our Spa to protect his warriors. But she rolled in the therapeutic mud and cured herself." Probably the disease was one of belief! You can read Agamemnon's story for yourself in Homer, Sophocles, Aeschylus and Euripedes. Greeks like Alexander the Great, and Roman Ceasers too loved our Spa! Some Byzantines disapproved of bodily cleanliness and let our Spa here at Balcova fall into disrepair. So it was left to the Islamic

Ottoman Turks in 1415 to repair and renovate things and to create a Turkish Baths, a hamam. And, of course, in these Republican Times, the Izmir Metropolis developed our Balcova Hot Springs Hotel and Treatment Thermal Centre. This up-grade was soon to be discovered and approved by Scandinavian Governmental and Private Health Organizations. After all, the location and services are unbeatable. So why not join a constant stream of delighted North Europeans here at our Hot Spa, Hotel and Treatment Centre? Let Crea Club, at Balcova, on the Turkish Aegean, the Birthplace of Western Civilizations welcome, cosset and cure you! You can't beat our secure professionalism and Turkish Hospitality! You'll love it here.

February 2017 | MeeTurkey | 43

DESTINATIONS - ANKARA

Ankara, the capital of Turkey, is located in the center of Anatolia province. With a known history of around 3000, Ankara has seen great heights in the past. Around 3000 years ago, the Hittites established a city by the name of Akuwash (old name for Ankara) at the intersection of two trade routes in Turkey. During its earlier phase, Ankara was ruled by Phrygians, Macedonians (under Alexander the Great), and Romans. Seljuk Turks captured the city in 1071 AD and renamed it as Enguriye. Most important moment in the history of Ankara came when Atatürk founded his provisional government here in 1920, and in 1923 when it became the capital of Turkish Republic. The city has seen a number of changes since then, however it has been successful enough in maintaining a fine balance between the old and the new and thereby living up to its unique identity as the “Melting Pot of East and West”. Today, Ankara is a sprawling urban mass thoroughly organized and well - planned and much European in look than most of the cities in Turkey. Its wide-open roads, large hotels, restaurants and government offices distinguish the city. Besides, there are several tourist attractions and meetings in the city making it an ideal destination for the tourists and mice industry. City At a Glance Population: 3,627,098 Traffic Code: 06 Telephone Code: 0312 How to go Ankara’s international Esenboga Airport is well connected to other cities in Europe as well as to important destinations in other parts of the world. What to do The foundations of this citadel were laid by Galatians to be completed by the Romans. Byzantines and Seljuk made major changes later on. The citadel is located atop a hill in the old city where one can see some fine examples of traditional architecture of Ankara.

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¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡

What to see The Ankara Citadel The Museum of Anatolian Civilization Anıtkabir The Temple of Augusts The Roman Bath The Column of Julian Had Bayram Mosque The Hatti Monument Victory Monument Monument of the Republic Yeni Mosque Kocatepe Mosque

DESTINATIONS - ANTALYA

Visit the picturesque old quarter of Kaleici; narrow, winding streets and old wooden houses around the ancient city walls. Since its founding in the second century B.C., Antalya has been continuously inhabited. The region, bathed in sunshine 300 days of the year, is a paradise of sun-bathing, swimming and sports activities like windsurfing, water skiing, sailing, mountain climbing and hunting. If you come to Antalya in March or April, in the mornings you can ski the slopes and in the afternoons you can swim in the warm waters of the Mediterranean. Important historical sites await your discovery amid a landscape of pine forests, olive and citrus groves, and palm, avocado and banana plantations. The Turquoise Coast is the tourism capital of Turkey. Its full range of accommodations, about 35 000 delegates, sunny climate, variety of excursions and activities, and its warm hospitality make it a soughtafter venue for meetings and conferences. The Antalya Convention Bureau, ACB, is an independent, non-profit making organization. Founded in 1995, the Antalya Promotion Foundation (ATAV) has become a member of the European Federation of Conference Towns (EFCT) in 1997. A Culture, Exhibition and Congress Center was opened in 1996 in the Konyaalti district. The Congress Center is located in a glass pyramid. City At a Glance Population: 1.132.211 Traffic Code: 07 Telephone Code: 0242 How to go Antalya airport is 10km east of the city center, and has direct flights from Europe. It is well connected to other parts of Turkey, and daily direct flights from Istanbul and Ankara. What to do With its palm-lined boulevard, internationallyacclaimed marina, and old castle with traditional architecture, all set amidst a modern city, Antalya is a major tourist center in Turkey. In addition to the wide selection of hotels, restaurants, bars, nightclubs and shops, the city also plays host to a number of sporting

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events throughout the year, like International Beach Volleyball, triathlon, golf tournaments, archery, tennis and canoeing competitions. Opened in 1995, the Cultural Center hosts cultural and art events. The main area of interest in the city is central old quarter within the Roman walls, known as Kaleici, and there are many interesting museums around the city. ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡

What to see Archaeological Museum Truncated and fluted minarets Hadrian’s Gate Old Harbour Perge, Side, Aspendos Düden and Kursunlu Waterfalls Antalya Castle

DESTINATIONS - ISTANBUL

The former capital of three successive empires -Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman- Istanbul is a fascinating mixture of past and present, old and new, modern and traditional. The museums, churches, palaces, mosques, bazaars, and the sights of natural beauty seem inexhaustible. As you recline on the shores of the Bosphorus at sunset contemplating the red evening light reflected in the windows and slender minarets on the opposite shore you understand, suddenly and profoundly, why so many centuries ago settlers chose to build on this remarkable site. In addition to its unique historical and cultural background and innumerable attractions, modern hotels, exclusive restaurants, nightclubs, cabarets, bazaars and shops make Istanbul a superb site for meetings, conferences and conventions. Istanbul is fast becoming one of the most popular international congress and exhibition destinations. The opening of the Lütfi Kirdar International Conference Center (ICC) doubled the capacity of congress facilities in Istanbul. The ICC is ideally located in the modern district of Harbiye, at the center of the city’s business, cultural and commercial life, surrounded by some of Europe’s top quality hotels. Istanbul Convention & Visitors Bureau (ICVB) has all the contacts and information for your meetings in Istanbul. City At a Glance Population: 14.000.000 Traffic Code: 34 Telephone Code: 0212 (European side) - 0216 (Asian side) How to go Istanbul city has modern and new international airport, which is well connected by regular flights, with most important destinations in Europe, Middle East, and North America with. Besides, vast networks of flights fly between Istanbul and various other cities of Turkey. Ataturk International Airport is 20 km from city center. Helicopter service is also available between the cities. What to do While in Istanbul there is so much to do and look forward to. The museums, castles, palaces, great mosques, bazaars and sights of natural beauty seem inexhaustible.

Being a cultural and historical center, exploring the grand heritage of the city should be the top most priority. Shopping which can be a pleasure in the markets of Istanbul should form another important part of your itinerary. More than anything else a walk down the lanes and by lanes of the many bazaars in Istanbul can be a great experience, if interested in feeling the culture and lifestyles of the people of this amazing land. ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡

What to see Dolmabahçe Palace ¡¡ Covered Bazaar Küçüksu Pavillion ¡¡ St. Sophia St. Irene ¡¡ Kariye Museum Blue Mosque ¡¡ Beylerbeyi Palace Topkapi Palace ¡¡ Yerebatan Cistern Mosaic Museum ¡¡ Miniatürk

February 2017 | MeeTurkey | 47

DESTINATIONS - IZMIR

Izmir, historically known as Smyrna, is the third most populous city of Turkey and has the country’s largest port after Istanbul. It is located in the Gulf of Izmir, by the Aegean Sea. It is the capital of Izmir Province. Izmir has the inherit of almost 3,500 years of urban past, and possibly up to that much more in terms of advanced human settlement patterns. It is Turkey’s first port for exports and it has free zone, a Turkish-U.S. joint-venture established in 1990, is the leader among the twenty that Turkey counts. Its workforce, and particularly its rising class of young professionals, is concentrated either in the city or in its immediate vicinity (such as in Manisa). Izmir is widely regarded as one of the most liberal Turkish cities in terms of values, ideology, lifestyle, dynamism and gender roles. The Izmir Convention & Visitors Bureau (Izmir CVB) was founded in 2007 by Izmir Tourism Promotion Foundation (IZTAV), as a non-profit and independent organization. Izmir CVB’s mission is to promote the city’s rich cultural and natural assets .It has great potential on a national and international level and is seeking guidelines and best practice to develop the city’s congress tourism. City At a Glance Population: 3,627,098 Traffic Code: 35 Telephone Code: 0232 How to go Adnan Menderes Airport, 16km south of the city center, has several daily flights to Istanbul, Ankara and Antalya. There are also regular flights from many European cities.

and Gördes carpets, traditional costumers and camel bridles. Situated on Atatürk Caddesi (Street) there is an old Izmir house used by the founder of the Turkish Republic, the Atatürk Museum, exhibits photographs of the leader as well as some of his personnel belongings. The Selcuk Yasar Art Museum is a private museum on Cumhuriyet Boulevard with a collection of 20th century Turkish art. Wander in the bazaar, sip drinks and dine at the pleasant waterfront restaurants.

What to do While in Izmir see the sights, the Archaeological Museum near Konak Square, which houses a superb collection of antiques including the statues of Poseidon, and Demeter that in ancient times stood in the agora. Neighboring the Archaeological Museum, the collection of the Ethnography Museum contains folkloric artifacts among which are fine collections of Bergama

48 | MeeTurkey | February 2017

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What to see Agora ¡¡ Asansor Pergamum – Bergama ¡¡ Ephesus – Selcuk Milet - Dydima ¡¡ Virgin Mary Clock Tower ¡¡ Alacati Kemeralti ¡¡ Seferhisar Kadifekale ¡¡ Cesme

FOTOĞRAF SERGİSİ PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION:

ROGER BALLEN RETROSPEKTİF RETROSPECTIVE 28 ARALIK DECEMBER 2016 İŞBİRLİĞİYLE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

Dolanan Teller Twirling Wires, 2001

4 HAZİRAN JUNE 2017

İSTANBUL MODERN SANAT MÜZESİ ISTANBUL MUSEUM OF MODERN ART www.istanbulmodern.org info@istanbulmodern.org

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