Gattinoni Travel organized the meeting at the Atatürk Cultural Center under the theme "Bringing People Together," attended by approximately 500 sub-agents. The choice of Istanbul for this meeting involved intensive efforts by the Turkish Hoteliers Association (TÜROB).
Support from the Ministry
TÜROB President Müberra Eresin expressed satisfaction at the growing tourism traffic between Türkiye and Italy, stating, "We are delighted to have secured such a significant event for Turkish tourism following extensive efforts with Turkish Airlines. We are expecting a substantial increase in tourism demand from Italy following this event." Eresin, acknowledged the support from various key figures including the Minister of Culture and Tourism, the Chairman of the Turkish Tourism Promotion and Development Agency, and the Chairman of Turkish Airlines among others.
"We will return"
Franco Gattinoni, Chairman of Gattinoni, found inspiration in bringing travel agencies together in Istanbul, a city he described as a perfect embodiment of the 'bridge' concept. Participants stayed in 13 different hotels and had the opportunity to explore Istanbul’s Historic Peninsula, the Bosphorus Tour, and other tourist attractions, experiencing the city’s unique culture and gastronomy. Gattinoni commented on the memorable experiences had by all, and expressed eagerness to return soon.
Gattinoni Travel reaches over a million tourists annually through about 1,500 sub-agencies, and has conducted more than 520 MICE operations and 50,000 travel organizations. In 2023, Gattinoni Travel achieved a turnover of 295 million Euros, marking a 40% growth from the previous year, and reached a contract volume of 1 billion 608 million Euros, a 36% increase.