Istanbul beckons

Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey, is rapidly becoming one of the most popular destinations for travellers from the Middle East.

As Turkey continues it negotiations for accession to the European Union, the country has shown a strong increase in its tourism figures.
Foreign tourist arrivals increased substantially between 2002 and 2005, from 12.8 million to 21.2 million, with an expected 21.4 million visitors for 2007, making Turkey a top 10 destination in the world for visiting travellers.
Turkey’s tourism industry generated $2.16 billion in the first quarter of 2007, eight per cent more than the same period last year, according to the Turkish Statistics Institute, which also makes Turkey one of the biggest revenue owners in the world.
In addition to Istanbul’s ancient history and outstanding historic landmarks, in the recent years the city has gained Middle East recognition for its culinary arts, five star luxury hotels, and great shopping.
“Turkey has always been a favourite destination for Middle East travellers,” said  Thierry Bertin, area director of marketing – Middle East, Hyatt International Hotels and Resorts.
“With Istanbul being one of the most popular cities in the world and located just a short distance away from the Middle East, it is the perfect holiday destination for GCC visitors.”
Hyatt Regency Istanbul, located in the heart of the city’s business district is just a short walk from Taksim Square’s shopping and entertainment areas. Perfectly situated for both business and leisure travellers, the hotel is just 20km from Ataturk Airport and five minutes from Istanbul’s historic landmarks, including The Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and Topkapi Palace.
The hotel boasts of 360 rooms including 71 Regency Club rooms with added special amenities, 28 suites, and seven fully furnished luxury apartments.
Hyatt Regency Istanbul also provides exclusive dining options for its guests. Agora Restaurant, famous for its open buffets and delicious local and international cuisine, holds up to 300 guests.
Spazio is the award-winning Italian restaurant of Hyatt Regency Istanbul. With a wide selection of homemade pastas, seafood dishes, and special Italian desserts, the restaurant presents guests with the very best in Italian cooking.
In addition to the great dining and hotel facilities, Hyatt Regency Istanbul also features the Mezzanine Lounge, a perfect place to unwind and taste various selections of flavoured coffees and teas.
Nargile Garden, part of Hyatt Regency Istanbul’s, is where guests can find different flavours of nargile and have delicious snacks. Gazebo, open during the summer months, is the poolside café of the hotel. It offers summer juices, light meals and various types of ice-creams.
For the healthy option, Club Olympus, which is the fitness centre of Hyatt Regency Istanbul, offers guests gym facilities, sauna, Turkish bath, massage therapy and a juice bar. In addition to this, outdoor pool and floodlit tennis court are added sporting facilities for guests to enjoy and keep fit.
With its top hotel facilities available and remarkable location, Hyatt Regency Istanbul remains a top hotel for Middle East travellers.