Istanbul Bulletin

Spring has at last arrived in Istanbul as usual with warmer weather and sunny days. But this year the commercial and cultural capital of Turkey is being treated to a new vernal phenomenon: tulips.

With the campaign of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, 3 million in 22 different varieties of tulips bloom almost on every main boulevard and throughout the city's main parks and squares, harking back to the days of the Ottoman Empire and the Tulip period. Planted in November, these tulips are waking from their deep winter sleep, pushing up through the ground to greet spring."

The International Istanbul Music Festival to be held between June 8-24, 2006 continues its tradition of hosting some of the world's finest musicians in Istanbul. The theme of the 34th Festival is “Mozart” on the occasion of his 250th Anniversary.

The festival will begin with a concert to be given by Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra in Hagia Irene Museum on June 8th. The orchestra will be conducted by Joseph Wolfe.

Istanbul Music Festival is expecting a distinguished line-up of guests to perform Mozart's works, including Les Arts Florissants, The Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, Basel Chamber Orchestra, Christopher Hogwood, Hélène Grimaud, Hüseyin Sermet, Julian Rachlin, La Petite Bande and Tabea Zimmermann. Festival goers are also promised a series of memorable evenings with the diva of the classical music Cecilia Bartoli and the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra.

One of the most important jazz musicians alive today, Chick Corea will be joined by his chamber orchestra as a guest of this year's festival - both to play Mozart and dedicate his music to the composer. This is the first of the "special projects" adding color to an already colorful festival program and offers classical music and jazz lovers alike a rare chance to enjoy Chick Corea's magnetic stage presence and hallmark live performance.

After Istanbul's election as “2010 European Capital of Culture”, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan organized a press conference in Conrad Istanbul.

The meeting was attended by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor

Kadir Topbas, Governor Muammer Güler, Chairman of Project Advisory Board and Member of Parliament Egemen Bagis, Chairman of Project Executive Board Nuri Çolakoglu and other members of Project Executive Board.

"The nomination of Istanbul as European Capital of Culture in 2010 will contribute to the promotion of Turkey 's rich cultural heritage and we are planning to attract around 10 million tourists to Istanbul in 2010 said Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan.

"Hand in hand, we will carry Istanbul to where it deserves," said Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler during the meeting.

UFTAA, the Universal Federation of Travel Agents' Associations representing over 48,000 individual travel agencies in 97 countries gathered in Istanbul between 27-30 April 2006 for General Assembly.

Administrative board of UFTAA gathered at Holiday Inn Istanbul City Hotel with the organization of Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TÜRSAB).

The Great Hotels Organization announced that it has a new member in Turkey. The Sofa Hotel is a new hotel, which opened on the 15 th March 2006, is located in Istanbul's high class shopping area Nisantasi. The hotel offers 82 luxury guests rooms, including 12 suites that feature 24 hour “Anything, anytime” service, relaxing rain showers, 512 kbps internet access, interactive TV system, complimentary ironing service, DVD players, a private bar and specially designed furniture.

The hotel's restaurant Tuus is managed by Leftbank, the well established restaurant management company from Washington, owned by Sahir Erozan. The Sofa also boasts the Café Sofa, a relaxing café environment located on the first floor, open daily between 07:30am to 01:00am. In the Cafe you can find "Patika Bookstore" rare books collection, daily newspapers and magazines.

The Taylife Spa Detox and Wellness centre at the hotel offers a cardio centre, yoga, relaxation classes, massages, steam room and detoxification, all under the management of health specialist, Taylen Kümeli. Beauty treatments are also available, as well as hydrotherapies, ayurveda, thalassotherapy, balneothreapy, body scrubs, body wraps and Hammam room.

Nisantasi is the art capital of Istanbul and one of the wonderful features of the hotel is Art*8, an art exhibition centre located on the penthouse level. The Art*8 area is designated to exhibit the works of respected local and international contemporary artists against a spectacular backdrop of the city.

Istanbul's second airport Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW) is becoming a magnet for low cost companies. After recent announcements of Condor and Easy Jet starting to fly to SAW, Air

Arabia which is based in Sharjah International Airport , UAE will start flying from Sharjah to Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen twice a week from May 28th.

Air Arabia will fly from Sharjah to Istanbul on Sunday and Thursday. Istanbul – Sharjah flights will take place on Monday and Friday. Fares start from Dh300 (65 euro) for flights to Istanbul, exclusive of taxes and surcharges with similar fares for return trips.

Air Arabia is known as the first and only LCC in the Middle East and North Africa region.

Pakistan International Airlines restarted flights to Istanbul. PIA Turkey Manager Amer Agha said the flights would hopefully increase friendship

and boost tourism between the two countries. Agha also added that they were planning to increase flight schedule which is currently once a week on Tuesdays.

PIA will fly from Islamabad to Istanbul and will continue to Frankfurt. Istanbul – Frankfurt flight will be sold at €84 for one-way. Istanbul and Islamabad flight is €210 for one-way and €350 for round-trip.

Istanbul Cup, one of the 63 tournaments on the Sony Ericsson WTA, will be hosting triumphant players during 20-27th of May.

Russian tennis player Anastasia Myskina and famous tennis player from the United States, Lindsay Davenport will compete at Istanbul Cup.

It was reported that Maria Sharapova of Russia, the queen of the tennis courts, is interested in joining the tournament.