Qincentive DMC Turkey – A personal account of an Istanbul Event featuring The European Indoor Athletics Championship by Tara Ohan
The group was made up of businessmen who shared two common hobbies: a passion for travelling and a love for athletics. In every city they go to, they make sure to attend some sporting events. In March the European Athletics Indoor Championships took place in Istanbul, which constituted the main theme of their vacation.
They stayed at the J.W. Marriott Marmara Sea Hotel, all in single rooms with sea views.
On Day 1, they arrived by the afternoon and went directly to the hotel where they enjoyed a welcome cocktail in a private booth. They then attended the Athletics and spent the night at the hotel
On Day 2, they started the day with a cruise on the Bosphorus on a privatized yacht with cocktails. They sailed along the shores of the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn. The weather was gloomy, but it didn’t prevent them from enjoying every moment in such a unique landscape. They disembarked at the Eminonu Square from which they headed to the Spice Markets and discovered the art of bargaining the Turkish way! They tried various spices and delicacies the Spice Market has to offer, and then headed towards the Grand Bazaar. There they had exclusive access to the rooftops where James Bond Skyfall was filmed. Next stop was Saltbae’s (Nusret) restaurant inside the Grand Bazaar. But the best was yet to come!
In the evening they once again attended the athletics and had a late dinner at Murver. Murver restaurant is located on the rooftop of the Novotel Karakoy, and the chef Mevlut Ozkaya was awarded ‘Best Young Chef in the Michelin Guide 2022’. You must include this restaurant to your list of “must-tries” because the cuisine is a reinvention of traditional Turkish cuisine presented in a modern way.
On Day 3 they went to the Suleymaniye Mosque, an Ottoman imperial mosque located on the Third Hill of Istanbul, Turkey. The mosque was commissioned by Suleiman the Magnificent and designed by the imperial architect Mimar Sinan. An inscription specifies the foundation date as 1550 and the inauguration date as 1557. The mosque offers one of the best-known sights of Istanbul, and from its location on the Third Hill, it commands an extensive view of the city around the Golden Horn. Then they took a pleasant walk, wandering inside the streets of the old town to reach the Basilica Cistern. Once their tour at the Basilica Cistern had finished, they went to the Hurrem Sultan Hamam to be pampered and to relax.
Afterwards, they went to the Marmara Pera Rooftop to enjoy the panoramic view of Istanbul. There, the team leader arranged a surprise for the group, and invited five competing athletes. He introduced each of them to the guests and then they all headed to the 360 Restaurant, a rooftop on the Istiklal Street, for a late lunch. The athletes talked about their experiences while enjoying delicious dishes.
After lunch, they attended the finals of the Championships and then finished their vacation with a dinner at Ali Ocakbasi by the seaside at the Oligark complex. The restaurant offers delicious Turkish kebabs along with mezzes and offers a magnificent view of the Bosphorus where you could see the bridges that connect Europe to Asia.
