8 NEWS Turkey Expands
8 NEWS Turkey Expands Presence, Shows Culinary Flair Culture and cuisine headline a rich travel landscape at Turkey’s mega ITB stand Turkey is making a bold statement at ITB Berlin 2017 with the largest stand of the fair that covers 3,079 square meters and 129 exhibitors. Showcasing the cultural diversity of Turkey’s diverse regions, from Marmara to Anatolia and Cappadocia, Turkish tourism marketers are exhibiting traditional handicrafts such as “Cam Sanatı” (glass blower art), “Hattat” (calligraphy art), “Ebru” (water sculpture art), or “Kazaz” (silver wire art), some created live at ITB by local artisans. But among the vibrant stalls at the expansive Turkish stand, culinary themes are a highlight among both the trade and the public, especially the Ganziep: City of Gastronomy booth – the ancient city is located in Turkey’s southeast Anatolia region - where chefs work overtime to produce local delicacies. These include a variety of pistachio-infused sweets, Maraş ice cream that is beaten and served in a cone from a traditional barrel, or typical Çay tea and Turkish mokkas. Turkey’s culinary theme will be extended to the ITB Convention during the ITB Marketing and Destination Workshops Day 3, Gourmet Journeys In The Tourism Market: Culinary Destinations In Turkey (held on March 10, 16:15 - 17:15 in Convention Hall 4.1, Room Regensburg). The session asks: What are the lessons learned from gourmet travel packages in the past and what potential is there to develop culinary tourism in Turkey? Culinary experiences are increasingly a motivator for travel decisions - good food and drink are important components of every holiday. Thus, there is no better time to promote a Turkish cuisine that is one of the world ‘s most diverse. Top Turkish chef Vedat Başaran from the restaurant Nar in Istanbul will also be on hand to discuss the special features of the Ottoman palace kitchen where traditional Turkish recipes were created over many centuries; while Istanbul celebrity chef Mehmet Gürs will also show off some pioneering Turkish fusion cuisine Hall 3.2 / Stand 201 ITB BERLIN NEWS • Friday 10 th March 2017 www.itb-berlin-news.com
NEWS 9 Bees Get €20,000 from Arcotel Hotels Foundation @ ITB Berlin Your Party Invitation Trade visitors should have time for a final networking blast The ARCOTEL Hotels sustainability campaign “Give Bees a Chance” collected a total of €100,000 in donations in 2016, and part of this sum has been presented to the German Foundation for People and the Environment (Stiftung für Mensch und Umwelt) at ITB Berlin. It has been two years that ARCOTEL Hotels and its guests have been saving bees. The sustainability campaign is a pioneering success that is being celebrated at the ARCOTEL Stand at ITB Berlin. The German Foundation for People and the Environment (Stiftung für Mensch und Umwelt) is the recipient of € 20,000 for its initiative “Deutschland summt!” (“Germany is humming!”). The donations are going to support the campaign aimed at preserving bees, an important element of life. The project is asking people to plant bee-friendly plants in green spaces across Germany. The best projects will then be awarded. During the first day of ITB Berlin 2017, Dr Renate Wimmer, owner of the ARCOTEL Group, and Martin Lachout, CEO, presented the sum to the Foundation. The EUR 100,000 collected in the year 2016 will be distributed among bee charities in the ARCOTEL countries Austria, Germany and Croatia. Cheques have already been presented to associations in Croatia and Austria. More will follow Hall 9 / Stand 210 The Grand Finale of the 51 st ITB Berlin will be celebrated on Sunday night March 12, onsite at the Palais am Funkturm, and trade visitors are welcome to join the fun: admission is free for pass and ticket holders. The party promises a wild mix of performances, including the Caribbean merengue, Andalusian flamenco, German- Greek choral music from Polyphonia, and a 45-minute dance show presented by partner country Botswana, as well as the opportunity to dance yourselves and indulge in some last-minute informal networking. Your host for the evening is award-winning German TV presenter Mary Amiri Palais am Funkturm ITB BERLIN NEWS • Friday 10 th March 2017
