Sustainable luxury
I knew Türkiye had a message for me from the moment my plane touched down. Istanbul Airport (IGA) is a chorus of languages with soaring, vaulted ceilings that bring to mind mosques and street markets. I was there for the 2025 European Meetings & Events Conference—three days of education, exploration and networking in a city that blends old and new, East and West, business and pleasure.
As the fifth-leading tourism destination in the world, Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism sees a comprehensive sustainability strategy as a priority for staying competitive. The mandatory phased program includes targets for protecting the environment with green energy and recycling standards. But it also includes protecting cultural heritage, promoting local traditions and protecting biodiversity, in addition to promoting local gastronomy, labor force development and human rights standards. Compliance requires continuous improvement and annual compliance checks.
Meet and Stay
The gathering at Istanbul Lutfi Kirdar International Convention & Exhibition Center (ICEC) was the first time MPI had met in the city since 2014, and it was a chance for attendees to preview renovations taking place at Hilton Istanbul Bosphorus. The 5-star luxury hotel was the first Hilton built outside the U.S. in 1955 and has long been host to celebrities and business clients. The renovation will include the addition of Turkish baths, a new lobby inspired by Sophia Loren’s sapphire necklace and a Royal Suite.
Also featured was the ultra-luxurious The Peninsula Istanbul, fronting the Bosphorus with four landmark buildings, the opulent Yali Ballroom and the highest service standards.
For more moving history, Belle Epoque-style Pera Palace Hotel was built to accommodate passengers at the terminus of the Orient Express and still features the Agatha Christie Room and an Ataturk Museum Room. Guests have viewed history on the Golden Horn and made history in the gilded event spaces.
As home to one of the original megacities, tourism is a growing part of the Turkish economy. In 2024, travelers—including groups and conventions—brought $61.1 billion in revenue and 62.2 million visitors to the country of 85 million people, a 9% increase from 2023. Many took the time to explore outside the gateway metropolis to Cappadocia and Prince Islands.
The country is a tapestry of seven distinct regions, each offering its own culinary, cultural and even dancing traditions.
Eat and Drink
Turkish coffee dates back to 1540, when Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent made the strong beverage, ground in mortars and brewed in copper ibriks, a staple of the palace. It is usually enjoyed after a meal, and social customs include reading the dregs of the coffee grounds after the liquid has been consumed.
The variety of local dishes, including a vibrant street food scene capped by “Turkish delights”—pastries and sweets with recipes dating back thousands of years—was featured at the closing Rendezvous celebration.
Experience
While almost everywhere I go, I am drawn to the stories of the people I meet, Handan Boyce, founder of the Turkish Meeting Professionals Association chapter and now immediate past president, opened my eyes to the importance of understanding others in the context of a place. “In a world of AI and the hustle of business life, going back to the roots of civilization can help people remember where we are coming from,” Boyce continued.
A conference in a modern facility such as ICEC with a reception in an antique theater or, in the case of the MPI EMEC Opening Reception in the restored Rixos Shipyard, epitomizes the mix of innovative and historic the city lives every day. “You can only predict the future if you know your past,” she said.
Türkiye’s past is a mosaic of Byzantine, Roman and Ottoman influences along with Turks, Arabs, Jews, Scots, Irish and Armenians.
The country’s present includes a feline addition to the mix. In Türkiye, cats are protected by law and welcomed in public places, including some mosques, and were even spotted in the ICEC ballroom. “We love them. They’re part of us, part of our city and they make people’s hearts warmer for a minute,” explained Boyce.
That was a welcome message on a snowy day.
This article appears in the March/April 2025 issue. You can subscribe to the magazine here.
