Istanbul Convention & Visitors Bureau organised 3 days familiarisation trip for representatives of 20 leading national and international corporations of Brazil in cooperation with Wish International Events Management.

Brazilian delegation; the official hosted buyers group of EIBTM 2011 organised by Wisheventos included, executives and editors representing companies and magazines such as; Danone Ltda, Samsung Electronics, Isban Brasil S/A, JP Morgan, BDF NIVEA, IAB, NEC Latin America, Santa Clara Comunicaçao, Banco do Brasil, Sandoz, Wish Report Magazine, GoWhere Luxo Magazine.

During the program, hosted buyers were given the chance to not only see each city’s finest hotels and event venues, but to also get a feel and sense of the unique atmosphere and culture of Istanbul.  The guests had the opportunity of visiting the highlighted venues and sights of Istanbul within the 3 days exclusive program. 

The program started with the presentations of Istanbul Convention & Visitors Bureau and Turkish Airlines at the Networking Breakfast held at the host venue, Grand Hyatt Hotel Istanbul. Turkish Airlines also hosted the group at the “DO&CO Catering” centre and Turkish Technique where the group had chance to experience the Turkish Airlines Comfort Class seats, the menu and the kitchen.

On the second day the group visited the highlighted historic places of Istanbul including the Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace Museum, Hagia Sophia, Spice Market and Grand Bazaar.

The whirling dervishes and dance show at the 1700 year old cistern was among the highlights of the program.

Another highlighted venue of Istanbul, Esma Sultan Pavilion the water side mansion on the shores of the Bosphorus, hosted the group for Sunday brunch with a very rich buffet accompanied by famous Executive Chef Rudolphe Van Lunen.

Ayasofya Hürrem Sultan Hamam, which recently re-opened, hosted the group and offered an unforgettable Turkish bath experience to the guests.

The group expressed their admiration and astonishment with the number of palaces and historic unusual venues in Istanbul. They expressed that every historical and social venue they have visited from the first day of the tour is more amazing and superb than previously visited venue.

The hosted buyers also had the opportunity of listening Lee Cockerell, the person that changed all quality standards of Walt Disney World Resorts over 10 years being it’s President of Operations at the Skype Session held at 1001 Direk Cistern,  a 1700 years old /historic monument.

Feedback from buyers following the trip has been extremely positive and encouraging. Few comments are as below;

“We saw beauty all over, we were educated on your culture and heritage, had so many “WAW” factors… had business moments and quality leisure time. You received 17 high qualified and experienced marketing professionals and got us all involved on your product. As I say “events” is about creating emotional links with positive “emotion leftover”…. You did it well and for a very picky group – meeting planners ;-) CONGRATULATIONS !!!! Elif, thank you for our 6 month of hard working on this program and for educating us on how to use your destination on our programs. Thank you Elif’s team for your “nonstop” caring 24/7 and all exceptions and last minute requests that you handled SMILING. Thanks to all your partners for their support that helped to make this experience unforgettable !! “ Natasha de Caiado Castro

“We are all in love with Istanbul and you +Natasha are responsible for this with your caring and detailed program and approach. I already influenced many people to go there and probably next year will be back” Paola Campanari

“I d' like to thanks this fantastic opportunity to know and live three days in an AMAZING city named Istanbul!!! It's word that I describe this city. Congratulations.....organization, care, attention and hard work were key to success in this trip.” “Tiago Mange

“I must say I was caught by Turkey: warm-hearted people, splendid architecture, art and tapestry, fantastic gastronomy, interesting places for events and a chance of living the history I´d only read in books. Also, a special identity that comes from heterogeneity, besides the singular manifestation of faith showed by the chants of mesquites. All of this become Turkey an attractive destination and a special country, for sure!  Well, it´s hard to stop writing my good impressions. It would be as a book chapter.” Ana Sivieri

“I´d like to thank you and your all Group from Istanbul Convention & Visitors Bureau, for your hospitality. I know that you dedicated many time to preparing the schedule and should to cut some places to visit. I suppose that it was so difficult, because in your City, do you have many opportunities to visit and to do Events. You have a great Destination, Congratulations! Other thing that I felt, is about details that you care during and after of this amazing experience.”  Celso Toshio Saito