Welcome from Hasan

Dear Friends and Partners

As we approach the end of another year I am excited to share the journey that has unfolded in 2023 with all of you. This year has been filled with experiences, triumphs, and accomplishments for odsturkey. I am eager to take you through it all.

Broadening Our Horizons; 2023, A Decade of Success

odsturkey reached milestones in 2023 as we experienced expansion and achievement. It undeniably stands out as the year we have had in a decade. We embarked on initiatives that brought delight to guests from, around the world representing various sectors of the travel industry.

Our journey commenced with a celebration in Madrid commemorating the anniversary of Euromic, which is esteemed as the world's premier nonprofit DMC association. I had the privilege of serving on the board for 17 years including four years as President and my current role, as Past President. It would mean a lot to me if you could join in celebrating this milestone by watching the video.

Euromic, the world's oldest DMC association, celebrated its 50th anniversary with 50 Acts of Kindness, aligning with the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. Our euromic family collectively contributed to initiatives such as the Istanbul Half Marathon, crafting toys for earthquake-affected children, fundraising at the m&i Forum in Istanbul, supporting English language education through ODD, and providing free stands to local producers in quake-affected regions.

Another important event, Celebrating the 50th anniversary of SITE, unfolded in New York during the SITE Global Conference, an association solely dedicated to incentive travel on a scale.

In the aftermath of earthquakes in Türkiye we came together in New York during the SITE Global Conference to proudly announce Istanbul as the chosen city for hosting the 2024 Global Conference. This announcement encompassed a mix of emotions—sadness, resilience, happiness, and pride. We extend our gratitude to the SITE Members and SITE Foundation for their donation towards UNICEF's efforts for earthquake victims.

Istanbul, a city that harmoniously blends Western influences will serve as a backdrop, for hosting the 2024 SITE Global Conference. Our global and local team has worked relentlessly to bring this destination to life.

Now you have the opportunity to register for SITE Global Conference here

"I am delighted to share the news that I have been elected as a board member and will assume the role of VP Finance in 2024 for SITE Global."

Recognitions and Achievements; Celebrating Outstanding Accomplishments

I feel incredibly honored to have been acknowledged as one of the Top Ten Influential Meeting Agencies in 2022 by Kongres Magazine. This recognition truly reinforces our unwavering dedication to excellence and innovation.

As a Gold sponsor of the M&I Forum 2023, we had the privilege of hosting esteemed industry leaders in Istanbul, contributing to the success of this dynamic and impactful event. The uniqueness of our partnership with Tekser, our esteemed competitor in the sector, added a layer of professionalism and collaborative spirit to the forum. Despite the competitive nature of our relationship, our collaboration exemplified a shared commitment to excellence and innovation within the industry.

Recognitions and Achievements; Celebrating Outstanding Accomplishments

Global Outreach and Sustainability Initiatives

Our team and I were constantly on the route travelling the globe for Sales and Marketing efforts. From the start of the year, our team has actively engaged in outreach endeavors participating in tradeshows, tourism fairs, and sales calls notably the Hilton Global Advisory Alliance in New York, the SITE Executive Summit in Zimbabwe, M&I Europe Spring - Istanbul, IMEX in Frankfurt, and Las Vegas, ILTM in Cannes, M&I in El Paso, IBTM in Barcelona, Sales Calls in Latin America.

Furthermore, we are thrilled to welcome nine individuals who have joined our team.

Our family is growing... Now, there are more than 25 people in the office. In addition, we have recently set up an odsturkey office in Bodrum led by Batuhan who is in charge of the whole operation in the Aegean Region.

We take pride in prioritizing sustainability. This year we proudly obtained Biosphere certification making us the sole DMC (Destination Management Company) in Türkiye with this recognition. Within the scope of that, we have introduced measures to minimize our impact on the environment such as water bottles that are eco-friendly and touchless QR-coded business cards.

Also, we blended our CSR activities with this approach, and books authored by participants of one of our programs have been printed and distributed to local schools. This initiative aims to promote knowledge sharing among communities while fostering engagement.

Accolades; Recognizing Exceptional Achievements

In 2023 we were elated to secure the World Luxury Travel Award in the category of Best Destination Management Company in Europe.

Additionally, we were honored as a finalist, in the esteemed 'Best Initiatives category at the 2024 ADMEI Awards.

I feel incredibly honored to be recognized as one of the 50 Influential People, in Europe and among the top 100 globally in the Event Industry by Eventex.

Expanding Our Portfolio and Welcoming New Additions

In 2023, we added new outstanding venues to our extensive portfolio of venues, notably, Zorlu PSM's new activity, UNSEEN, which is currently being introduced to its audience who is interested in art, especially theatre. It offers an extraordinary behind-the-scenes experience, including actors and directors.

Celebrating Outstanding Culinary Achievements

In 2023 we celebrated a milestone as the Michelin Guide made its ever selection of restaurants in Türkiye, Istanbul, Izmir, and Bodrum were acknowledged with a total of 111 restaurants making it onto the Michelin Guide List.

As we bid farewell to 2023 I want to express my gratitude to our partners, friends, and the entire odsturkey team for their support and commitment. This year has brought us both challenges and triumphs along with moments. We eagerly look forward to creating memories together in the years ahead.

Wishing you all a holiday season filled with happiness and prosperity!