The ICCA Category D Workshop Held In Istanbul

The ICCA Category D International Client/Supplier Workshop draw outstanding participation by fifteen of the world's leading Convention & Visitors Bureaus to Istanbul. The ICCA Category D International Client/Supplier Workshop took place at Hilton Istanbul from June 15 – 18, 2006.

Organized since 1983, for the first time in history attendance to ICCA Category D Workshop in Istanbul was finalized 6 weeks before the event .The convention and visitors bureaus that attended the workshop represents the following cities; Brussels, Edinburgh, Geneva, Glasgow, Göteburg, Melbourne, Paris, Sydney, Tampere, The Hague, Toronto, Lisbon, Valencia, Vancouver and as the host city ICVB represented Istanbul. Clients that attended the workshop with the invitation of convention and visitor bureaus were representing conventions from 500 to 15,000 delegates. The dates of conventions vary between 2008 and 2017.

The workshop started with a welcome reception which took place at the Hilton Hotel's Terrace hosted by Hilton Management Team. Then the participants depart for the boat tour and dinner on the Bosphorus Princess Boat sponsored by Plan Tours and catering by Divan Hotels.

Prof. Dr. Eric Forssberg, the Chairman of the steering committee of the International Mineral Processing Congress, which will be held in Istanbul in September 2006, attended the workshop by the invitation of ICVB.

On the second day, the workshop session started at Hilton Hotel Sadirvan Room. The clients visited the bureaus stands in alphabetical order and the bureaus promoted their cities and checked the possibilities of hosting events in their cities. After the workshop session, the participants visited Istanbul Convention & Exhibition Center (ICEC) and watched the presentation of the venue. The presentation is followed by the lunch at the Borsa Restaurant of ICEC. After lunch, guests took an Old City panoramic bus tour and a visit to Haghia Sophia and Grand Bazaar. Clients and suppliers enjoyed the dinner with delicious meals and show hosted by Kervansaray Resturant & Night Club.

On the third day, after client and supplier forums and de-briefing, participants had their lunch at the Konyali Restaurant within the Gardens of Topkapi Palace and visited the Topkapi Palace Museum. In the afternoon, the participants enjoyed the optional programs. The Ritz-Carlton Istanbul's Laveda Spa hosted the participants for a relaxing session with Turkish Bath, sauna, steam bath and traditional Turkish Massage.

For the dinner, the guests crossed to the Asian Side of Istanbul which gave them the chance to experience the breathtaking view of the Bosphorus and had the dinner at Eftalya Balik Restaurant at Beylerbeyi. Mrs. Pat Soen, the ICCA representative and all participants thanked ICVB for the successful program and ICVB General Manager Handan Boyce thanked ICCA for giving Istanbul the chance to host this important workshop and participating bureaus for coming and inviting their clients.

ICVB would like to thank to all of its supporting members; Decar Rent A Car, Divan Hotels, Gemini Tourism, Hilton Istanbul, Istanbul Convention and Exhibition Center, Kervansaray Restaurant and Night Club, Plan Tours, Teamcon Congress Services Worldwide, The Ritz-Carlton Istanbul and VIP Tourism and also Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry Istanbul Directorate, Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace Museum Managements for their support and contribution to host ICCA Category D Workshop in Istanbul with great success.

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