The GlobeMeets B2B Networking Event 2025 successfully took place at Rixos Tersane Istanbul, gathering a diverse international community of airlines, national tourism boards, destination management companies (DMCs), and travel professionals. The event once again confirmed Istanbul’s position as a leading hub for global tourism and business travel.

Hosted under the theme of “Building Bridges in Global Tourism,” this year’s edition offered a dynamic platform for forging partnerships, exploring emerging travel trends, and expanding cooperation between international stakeholders. Over the course of two days, hundreds of meetings and negotiations took place, paving the way for new collaborations across continents.

The opening ceremony was attended by distinguished guests including Adil Karaismailoğlu, Chairman of the Parliamentary Commission on Public Works, Development, Transport and Tourism; Firuz Bağlıkaya, Chairman of the Board of TÜRSAB; Server Aydın, Chief Commercial Officer of iGA Istanbul Airport; as well as foreign missions, consuls, and TÜRSAB board members. Their participation underscored the event’s importance as a key meeting point for both the Turkish and international travel industries.

In his remarks, GlobeMeets Chairman Hüseyin Kurt emphasized the global appeal and continued growth of the event:

“Today we are realizing a dream: Istanbul has become a hub for tourism and business travel. The event grew 20 percent compared to last year, and demand was so high that all tables were fully booked months ago. Our mission is not just growth, but creating real value by connecting the right services with the right providers.”

Representing more than 60 countries, GlobeMeets 2025 featured strong participation across all sectors of the travel industry. Nearly 20 international airlines were represented, including Air Arabia, Air Europa, Air France, KM Malta, KLM, ANA, Air Astana, Asiana Airlines, Emirates, EgyptAir, flydubai, Gulf Air, Korean Air, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, and Saudia Airlines.

The event also welcomed 11 national tourism boards, among them Azerbaijan, Cuba, Discover Qatar, Korea Tourism Organization, Lucerne, Nepal, Malaysia, and Malta. More than 200 DMCs and tour operators engaged with buyers, service providers, and airline representatives, highlighting the event’s role as a truly comprehensive networking platform.

Beyond business meetings, the two-day program offered valuable insights into evolving travel patterns, digital transformation in tourism, and the increasing role of sustainability in destination management. Participants noted the exceptional organization and the productive business atmosphere that has become the hallmark of GlobeMeets.

With its proven success and expanding global reach, GlobeMeets continues to strengthen Istanbul’s standing as a key bridge between East and West — a city where global partnerships take root and future travel trends are shaped.

Organizers have already announced that the next edition of GlobeMeets will be held on 10–11 September 2026, once again in Istanbul, promising an even broader international presence and new opportunities for collaboration across the global tourism and aviation sectors