Istanbul's famous Bosphorus Strait which is famous for its cruise dinner
Turkiye hosted one of the largest MICE groups from India in November 2022, welcoming around 1,000 participants. According to a press statement, Thomas Cook (India) was the official travel partner for the MICE group whose 6-day trip covered Turkiye’s two most popular and exotic cities, Istanbul and Antalya, where the guests were hosted for three days each.
The statement adds that upon arrival in Istanbul, the visitors enjoyed a cruise dinner on the famous Bosphorus Strait. They also experienced a city tour and a Turkish-themed gala dinner conducted in a grand ballroom, where the guests were served exquisite Turkish delicacies followed by other traditional and cultural activities. The Istanbul trip ended with a visit to the Rahmi M Koç Museum, where they learnt about the history of transportation, communication, and other similar industries. As a special activity, the delegates enjoyed vintage car rides, says the statement.
In Antalya, the guests spent the following three days in a five-star luxury hotel, where they experienced first-class hospitality with an all-inclusive stay. Antalya’s visit was focused on organising team building and development activities. The trip concluded with a Sufi Night themed dinner and a performance by a Rajasthani Indo-Western Fusion band, Swaraag.
“Post reopening of borders and easing of protocols, Turkiye is re-emerging strongly as a top MICE destination for our corporates in India. I am delighted that we were quick to deliver with a mega group of almost 1000 delegates for a 6-day programme across Istanbul and Antalya. Our MICE Products Team handpicked vibrant experiences for their team bonding activities, including the high adrenalin rush of canyoning, rafting and ziplining across Europe’s longest (1960 metres) and World’s highest (410 metres),’’ says Meera Charnalia, Senior Vice President and Head, MICE, Thomas Cook (India).
‘‘Exceptional and diverse elements were woven into the tour from vintage car drives, Miniaturk, one of the world’s largest miniature parks and the Rahmi M Koç Museum and an exclusive Bosphorus dinner cruise. Turkiye offers distinctive appeal, with its unique position at the confluence of both Asian and European culture-history. Turkiye also offers exceptional experiences for MICE travellers such as hot air ballooning in Cappadocia and extensive gastronomy, in addition to its impressive MICE infrastructure,” adds Charnalia.
“Managing a group of almost 1,000 delegates can be challenging and I’m delighted with the seamless execution by our MICE team. This would not have been possible without the Turkiye Tourism Board in India, and we are truly appreciative of their amazing support,” she said.
As international travel picked up post-pandemic, Turkiye has been witnessing huge demand from corporates and travel agents, especially after the resumption of direct flights in March 2022 via both domestic and international carriers. Istanbul and Antalya receive big Indian MICE groups, from offsite meetings to social events where companies aim to boost their teams’ morale and develop stronger team bonds while strategising growth, says the statement.
