A natural business center, Istanbul's thriving culture ensures your guests will never know a dull moment. With state-of-the-art conference centers just minutes away from legendary mosques and palaces, you'll know how to perfectly transition from business to bleisure.
Host the perfect business event
Whether you’re planning a small meeting or a large summit, Istanbul has the conference venue to fit your needs. The city is home to several major convention centers, including the Istanbul Lütfi Kırdar Convention Exhibition Center (ICEC), Haliç Congress Center, Istanbul Congress Center, and the CNR Expo. The Haliç Congress Center has the largest auditorium in Istanbul and comes with a stunning view of the Haliç, the waterway also known as the Golden Horn, thanks to its location on the estuary’s banks. During the warmer months, invite your guests for an outdoor cocktail party on the ICEC’s terrace overlooking the Bosphorus. The Radisson Blu Bosphorus Hotel, Istanbul also offers 7 newly renovated meeting rooms plus is conveniently located along the strait, and close to both the city center and major business districts.
Wine and dine
Leb-i Derya in Beyoğlu was one of Istanbul's first rooftop establishments and still remains among the most beloved. Here, you and your guests can indulge in flavorful main dishes like lamb shish paired with plums and a pomegranate molasses or pistachio-crusted salmon with a side of lavender-dill tabouleh and mango cream. If you would rather be on the water than seated high above it, close the deal with the exceptional cuisine and view of the Bosphorus Bridge at Et Cetera on the Bosphorus, where the charcoal grilled meat will be the star of the night. To go all-out on the last evening of your event, take a private boat to Maiden’s Tower, a structure built over 2,500 years ago as a naval watchtower, and later converted into a lighthouse. Today it serves as both a restaurant and a Turkish symbol of love and prosperity.
Tour the old city
Inspire your colleagues to build thriving professional relationships with visits to the historical sites that together formed the hub of the Byzantine Empire. Start at the ancient Hippodrome, the site of many a high-stakes chariot races and political riots, then marvel at the fruits of ancient labor at the Hagia Sophia, originally built by Emperor Constantine the Great. Fast-forward about 10 Centuries by visiting the Ottoman Topkapı Palace, Sultan Ahmet’s Blue Mosque and the Süleymaniye Mosque, before stopping to admire the east-meets-west architecture and decoration at the Dolmabahçe Palace, built in the mid-19th century.
Shop the bazaars
No business or leisure trip is complete without some retail therapy, a practice best carried out at the Grand Bazaar. Located just a short walk from the Blue Mosque area, this sprawling covered market was originally built in 1461 and today spills over 60 streets and 5,000 shops. Follow in the footsteps of countless visitors from centuries past by haggling enthusiastically for exquisite handmade goods, ranging from furniture to leather goods and jewelry. You might even find a priceless antique to take pride of place in your office, as a memento of a truly successful trip.
Stay locally
Now that you know how to conveniently transition from business to bleisure, the only thing missing is the idyllic place to stay in Istanbul. The Radisson Blu Bosphorus Hotel, Istanbul is right by the city's major business district and the center, so you don't have to worry about long travel times to and from your conference or meeting. In fact, the hotel is well equipped with meeting and event facilities ranging from a business center to 7 meeting rooms and an array of audiovisual services to help assist your event. So if you'd like to stay and work all in the same place, we've got you covered!
