Argophilia

Αργοφιλία: For the love of the journey.

Türkiye

Starwood to Open a Sheraton Hotel in Samsun

Mihaela Lica Butler

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) signed an agreement with Tanriverdi Mensucat Sanayii A.S. to open a Sheraton Hotel in Samsun, Turkey, in late 2014. This will be the 11th hotel in Turkey owned by Starwood, and the chain’s first in Samsun. Samsun is a major Black Sea port, and an important tourist destination […]

Travel in Europe: Don’t Be Caught Dead Migrating

Phil Butler

Two news bits today concerning Germany’s disposition toward migrants and visitors draw further attention to key Schengen and visa discussion. A report via EurActiv speaks to one side of the German and EU PR aspect, the Roma people being the subject on the one hand. At the other end of Germany’s public relations woes, news that second generation Turks in Germany are headed home suggest the German state is in an exclusivity mood toward some.

Cappadocia Tourism On the Rise

Aleksandr Shatskih

So far this year, tourism to the Cappadocia region of Turkey seems to be booming. For the first three months of 2013 incoming tourists to the region have increased some 35 percent as compared to 2012 numbers.

This Week, The 8th Annual Istanbul International Tulip Festival

Aleksandr Shatskih

It’s a sure sign Spring is on for Turkey, the 6th annual International Tulip Festival started this week in Istanbul. Visitors to the festival will have the awe inspiring view of some 100 million tulips on display in this magical city. Did you know that tulips originated in Turkey and not Holland?

Istanbul Voted European Best Destination

Aleksandr Shatskih

European Best Destination 2013 has named Istanbul, Turkey this year’s people’s choice winner. Istanbul is the fourth city to win the competition, and on the city’s first ever entry into the competition.

Londoners Are Invited to Celebrate Nervuz March 27th

Phil Butler

100 musicians and dancers from 13 different Turkic nations will be in London for a debut concert Nevruz, presented by TURKSOY. In celebration of the coming Spring Vestival (Nervuz) this wonderful event delivers the music, song, dance and amazing costumes of all Central Asia to London’s from all over Central Asia Westminster Central Hall March 27th.

Luxury Fairmont Hotel Set to Open in Istanbul in 2016

Aleksandr Shatskih

Istanbul will have a new 210-room hotel in 2016. Fairmont Quasar will be the first hotel of the luxury Fairmont Hotels & Resorts brand in Istanbul. The project, developed through a joint venture between Viatrans – Meydanbey, will be in Quasar Istanbul complex, a new mixed-use development in the Sisli district that combines commercial, residential […]

Istanbul Sees a Rise in Number of Tourists in 2013

Aleksandr Shatskih

In the first two months of this year, Istanbul got more visitors than in the same period of time in the previous year. However, Antalya had a smaller number of tourists than in 2012.

Turkish Airlines to Boost Crimea Tourism

Aleksandr Shatskih

In news from the II International Black Sea Tourism Forum in Yalta, Simferopol Serhat Fil has offered a cooperation in between local governments and private businesses in the Black Sea region. The Manager of the Turkish Airlines pointed to
“Go Crimea” as one of the regional projects that Turkish Airlines is engaging in with the Crimean Ministry of Resorts and Tourism.

Construction for Istanbul’s Newest Bridge to Start in May

Aleksandr Shatskih

Seven Turkish banks have agreed to provide the necessary funds to build Istanbul’s third bridge. İbrahim Çeçen, chairman of the IC İçtaş company (part of the winning consortium), announced that the banks will provide USD 2.4 billion over 10 years. The construction is slated to start in May according to the news.