The prestigious GlobeMeets B2B Networking Event, now among the top business-to-business (B2B) tourism networking events, successfully took place on Sept. 12-13, 2024, in Istanbul. More than 1,000 travel agencies gathered at the event, signing significant agreements for the upcoming 2025 tourism season.
Held at the Rixos Tersane Hotel in Istanbul, the second edition of GlobeMeets B2B Networking Event was attended by travel agencies from 50 countries and all corners of Türkiye. The event laid the foundation for new collaborations, with buyers, destination management companies (DMCs), and key tourism stakeholders engaging in strategic partnerships for the 2025 season.
High-profile opening ceremony
The opening ceremony saw the participation of key figures including Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Nadir Alpaslan, Governor of Istanbul Davut Gul, Mayor of Gaziantep Fatma Sahin, President of Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TURSAB) Firuz Baglikaya, and Deputy General Manager of IGA Digital Services and Commerce Server Aydin. Over 15 consul generals also attended the event.
Global participation from 50 countries
A major highlight of the event was the involvement of travel agencies from 50 countries, as well as representatives from airlines, tourism offices, cruise companies, insurance firms and marketplace partners.
Buyers from 20 different countries and 37 cities across Türkiye had the opportunity to engage with global DMCs, making GlobeMeets a truly international networking hub.
GlobeMeets B2B Networking Event sells out 2 months in advance
GlobeMeets Chairman Huseyin Kurt emphasized the event’s rapid growth compared to the previous year.
“This event has tripled in size and expanded to two days. All exhibitor spaces were sold out two months before the event,” Kurt noted.
In his opening speech, Kurt highlighted the importance of unity within the tourism sector, noting, “This event is the realization of a vision. We are an industry that continues to grow stronger despite challenges, and we remain committed to working together. Our competitive edge and our ability to quickly adapt to global trends will allow us to break boundaries. GlobeMeets brings fresh perspectives to the tourism industry, fostering long-term partnerships and facilitating cultural exchange through new destinations.”
GlobeMeets plays key role in tourism product marketing
TURSAB President Firuz Baglikaya spoke about the event’s significance, stating, “Tourism is the driving force of the economy, and travel agencies are the driving force of tourism.”
He emphasized that GlobeMeets has taken on an essential mission in marketing tourism products in a changing world and assured continued support from TURSAB for similar initiatives.
Deputy General Manager of IGA Digital Services Server Aydin expressed his pride in participating, highlighting the importance of Istanbul Airport as a global meeting point. Mayor Sahin, who attended as a guest, praised Kurt for his visionary leadership and extended an open invitation to visit Gaziantep.
Deputy minister Alpaslan highlights Türkiye’s tourism success
Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Nadir Alpaslan discussed Türkiye’s goal of reaching 60 million tourists by the end of the year and highlighted the promotional efforts of Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA).
He added, “Since President Erdogan declared tourism a strategic sector in 2018, we have worked tirelessly to maximize the benefits Türkiye can gain from tourism. The sector continues to thrive through public-private partnerships, with TGA playing a pivotal role in both crises and opportunities. The Safe Tourism Certification we introduced during the pandemic allowed Türkiye to remain one of the least-affected countries in global tourism.”
Istanbul Governor Davut Gul also expressed his delight at seeing participants from 50 countries gathered in Istanbul, a city known for its security and vibrancy.
The successful GlobeMeets B2B Networking Event concluded with a “networking party” at Fisekhane, one of Istanbul’s leading cultural, arts, and gastronomic venues, on the evening of Sept. 13.
