TBM Staff - Mumbai Turkey hosted one of the largest MICE groups from India in November 2022, welcoming around 1000 participants. Thomas Cook (India) Limited was the official travel partner for the MICE group from India. This 6-day trip covered Turkey’s two most popular and exotic cities Istanbul and Antalya, where the guests were hosted for three days each.
After arrival in Istanbul, 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; and the delegates also enjoyed vintage car rides.
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.
Commenting on this trip, Meera Charnalia, Sr. Vice President and Head, MICE, Thomas Cook (India) Limited said, “Post reopening of borders and easing of protocols, Turkey 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 program 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). 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. Turkey offers distinctive appeal, with its unique position at the confluence of both Asian and European culture-history. Turkey also offers exceptional experiences for MICE travellers such as hot air ballooning in Cappadocia and extensive gastronomy, in addition to its impressive MICE infrastructure.”
“Managing a group of almost 1000 delegates can be challenging and I’m delighted with the seamless execution by our MICE team. This would not have been possible without the Turkey Tourism Board in India, and we are truly appreciative of their amazing support”, she further added.
As international travel picked up post-pandemic, Turkey 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 strategizing growth.
