Organized under the auspices of the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, hosted by Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, and in cooperation with İZFAŞ and TÜRSAB, at Fuar İzmir. TTI IzmirThe 19th International Tourism Trade Fair and Congress (TTI İzmir) was visited by a total of 12,527 people, including 11,505 domestic visitors from 59 provinces of Türkiye and 1,022 foreign visitors from 64 countries in Europe, the Balkans, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. The fair, which brought together ministries, governorships, chambers of commerce, travel agencies, tour operators, hotels, accommodation facilities, airlines, and tourism technology companies, saw the signing of numerous cooperation agreements, while cities also had the opportunity to promote their tourism assets. This year, TTI İzmir, with Green Destinations as its Sustainability Partner and BookingAgora as its Vision Partner, and sponsored by Turkish Airlines for transportation, became a platform where new strategies in the sector were highlighted through its structure supporting international buyer meetings, panels, events, investment and trade connections. A total of 381 participants, including 139 foreigners, took part in the fair, and participants shared their evaluations.

"A movement started again this year."

Orhan Belge, President of the Çeşme Tourist Hoteliers Association, stated that the fair showed a remarkable vibrancy this year, especially compared to recent years, saying, “As someone who has followed TTI İzmir since its inception, I have seen a very clear surge this year. Stand layouts, visitor profiles, and meeting intensity have increased significantly. Tourism is a sector based on human contact. Nothing can replace face-to-face interaction. This year, this warmth was felt again. A fair is essential in İzmir; a much bigger fair awaits us in its 20th year.”

"Professional meetings have come to the forefront this year."

Aydın Tokbaş, President of SKAL İzmir and General Manager of İzmir Palas-Kilim Hotels, stated that there was a high volume of professional activity, especially in the first two days of the three-day fair, saying, “I have been in the tourism industry for 30 years. I am very happy to be at TTI İzmir. The most significant difference this year was the quality of the meetings. Agencies, hotels, tour operators; everyone was focused on concrete business connections. As SKAL İzmir, we added a special touch to the fair with the Tourism Stars Award Ceremony we organized within the scope of the fair. The pulse of İzmir tourism beats at this fair. There is no other İzmir, there is no other fair. As tourism opinion leaders, I will contribute even more to the development of İzmir tourism and this fair, both as an association member, as a hotelier, and as an individual. In 2026, a much more ambitious atmosphere awaits us, with even more participation and professional visitors.”

“International airline and hotel representatives have recognized the potential of Izmir.”

Murat Kahraman, Co-Founder of BookingAgora, which participated in the fair this year as a vision partner, emphasized that one of the most productive meetings of the year took place. Kahraman stated, “We hosted approximately 40 airlines and more than 40 hotels and destination management offices in Izmir. As a result of the meetings held during the fair, many international brands expressed their astonishment at Izmir's potential and requested to plan promotional trips to our country. Many said, 'We will definitely come back stronger next year, we didn't know Izmir was like this.' This feedback shows that our collaborations are progressing in the right direction. We have also started working to further expand our vision partnership with TTI Izmir next year, especially in the 20th year of the fair. We are holding discussions to bring even bigger brands to Izmir and we will continue to support the process with all our strength next year.”

“The Aegean region is a rising center for hotel investments; this fair is critical for us.”

Wyndham Hotels-Resorts Turkey Brand Development Director Özlem Şahin also stated that their booth was one of the busiest points of the fair, saying, “We have 128 hotels in Türkiye. Wyndham's growth in Türkiye is very valuable to us. Therefore, we consider it important to be at TTI İzmir both to support our hotels and to increase the visibility of our brand. This is our third year and we plan to continue participating in the fair in the coming years. In addition, our expectation from the TTI İzmir Fair is not only operational contact but also meeting with investors, which is very valuable for us. We believe that the capacity of hotel investors at the fair is quite high. The increasing investment potential in the Aegean Region in recent years makes it important to directly communicate with investors who are really keen on this field. Therefore, we are participating in the fair with a two-way approach, both to represent our existing hotels and to establish connections for new investments. Overall, we had a very productive fair. We would very much like to see other brands here in the coming years; because competition is good and it makes the fair better. We had a large booth this year and we will continue to do so in the coming years.” We plan to further develop the area,” he said.

"The fair was revived this year, it will soar next year."

Engin Ceylan, a partner at CESA Tourism, stated that the fair had gained a more international character this year, saying, “The fair went very well for us. I would like to thank İZFAŞ and TÜRSAB very much. İzmir is not getting the share it deserves from tourism, and as an agency owner from İzmir, we have worked hard to revitalize this fair. We made business connections and invitations for international participation. I think this fair will be where it deserves to be in its 20th year. It became a fair with more industry professionals. We can say that this year is a year of revival for TTI; and I believe that next year the fair will truly flourish.”

"We'll be at the fair next year with a bigger booth."

Recep Ağca, Sales Manager of Six Senses Kocataş Mansion, which participated in the fair from Istanbul, stated that they achieved high returns from the fair as a luxury segment hotel and events brand, saying, “We have a 40-room hotel on the Bosphorus coast in Sarıyer. Although we have a small number of rooms, we are built on a 30-acre plot of land and have very large event spaces and restaurants. I can easily say that this year has been the busiest year compared to previous years. We had very productive meetings with many business partners from both domestic and international markets, and we clearly saw the interest shown in our brand. We will most likely be here again in the coming years; in fact, we plan to do it with a larger stand. On this occasion, we would like to thank all the business partners who organized this event.”

"We are pleased with İzmir's interest in Balkan tourism."

Edip Kurtović, Operations Manager of Anatolia Balkan Tour, based in Bosnia and Herzegovina, stated that the fair was much more productive than expected, saying, “We knew there were many citizens of Balkan origin in İzmir, but we didn't expect such intense professional interest. We had a full schedule of appointments from the very first day. Municipalities and associations requested to develop joint tour packages with us. Next year, we will be here with a much larger delegation from Bosnia and Herzegovina.”

Source: HORECA TREND and TTI Izmir - 19th International Tourism Trade Fair and Congress

One of the most prestigious organizations in Turkish gastronomy Gault & Millau Türkiye 2026 Gastronomy Guide Award Ceremony is being held for the third time this year, hosted by Sözen Group, the Turkish representative, and will take place on December 8, 2025. Ciragan Palace Kempinski IstanbulBringing together industry leaders in the historic and magnificent atmosphere of . This special night, featuring prominent figures from both national and international sectors, will provide a unique platform where ideas, visions, and achievements that will shape the future of gastronomy and hospitality come together.

Distinguished Participants and Awards

This year's gala will be a distinguished gathering place, bringing together Türkiye's leading chefs, hotel and restaurant professionals, investors, hospitality industry leaders, and gastronomic visionaries. The awards presented as part of the Gault&Millau Turkey 2026 Gastronomy Guide will further enhance Türkiye's gastronomic richness on a global scale, while chefs, restaurants, and hotels selected for inclusion in the guide will be honored on a global stage at this prestigious event. Additionally, awards in special categories honoring the year's most notable achievements will be presented, further enhancing the night's value and prestige.

Special Guests and Performances

Gault&Millau Global President Patrick Hayoun will also be attending this special evening. Hayoun's presence further demonstrates Türkiye's importance in the global gastronomy scene and Gault&Millau's confidence in the country.

The most elegant touch to complete the evening's atmosphere will be world-renowned violin virtuoso Pierpaolo Foti. Foti will enrich Çırağan's captivating ambiance with his exquisite musical performance, capturing the spirit of the evening and providing guests with an unforgettable experience.

Sözen Group and the Global Rise of Turkish Gastronomy

Sozen GroupGault&Millau's Turkey representation, which has been successfully maintained since 2023, has brought strong and sustainable momentum to gastronomy tourism by combining the country's culinary heritage with global standards. With its evaluation system that encourages the use of local products and sustainability-focused approaches, its criteria that highlight creative culinary visions, and its fully independent position, the guide elevates the international prestige of Turkish gastronomy every year.

The 2026 edition aims to broaden the scope of Türkiye's diverse gastronomic riches and bring them to the global stage. The Gault&Millau Turkey 2026 Gastronomy Guide covers the cities of Antalya, Aydın, Balıkesir, Çanakkale, Gaziantep, Istanbul, İzmir, Muğla, Nevşehir, and Ankara.

This magnificent gala, taking place at Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul on Monday, December 8, 2025, will bring together the brightest names in the Turkish gastronomy and hospitality sectors under one roof, providing a unique gathering and inspiration for both industry professionals and all stakeholders passionate about gastronomy. In its third year, the Gault&Millau Turkey Gastronomy Guide Awards Ceremony will be an unforgettable evening that further strengthens Türkiye's global culinary vision.

Source: HORECA TREND and Gault&Milleau

Gulfood, for the first time in its history Dubai World Trade Center (Dubai World Trade Centre) in Expo City Dubai Dubai Exhibition Centre (Dubai Exhibition Centre) This expansion redefines the food trade. Visitors will experience 100% more exhibition space, a double access center, and seamless connectivity between the city's most iconic venues.

The global food economy is undergoing a major restructuring. What once defined success no longer guarantees future growth. As 2026 brings rising cross-border tariffs, tighter resource constraints, and evolving regulations around food safety, businesses must embrace new models and build more resilient strategies to scale sustainably.

No activity can prevent this transformation Gulfood 2026It doesn't reflect better than .

In line with its strong growth trajectory, Gulfood 2026 will present massive opportunities for converters and new product innovations, giving exhibitors a first-mover advantage in a mature market at the first major food event of the year.

Leading and new food and beverage (F&B) brands will have ample opportunity to showcase a wider range of products and services on the expanded exhibition floor. With more creative presentation possibilities, first-time exhibitors will find a brand new platform to showcase groundbreaking innovations to a diverse global buyer community in the industry.

A Future-Ready Event

Gulfood's expansion allows for deeper exploration of product categories, innovations, and emerging trends. The event offers a more creative and comprehensive showcase of food and beverage innovations, setting the global agenda for the future of the industry.

Gulfood 2026 will become a system-changing platform, offering significant opportunities for converters and product innovation. New sectors such as Fresh Produce, Startups, Logistics, and Grocery Trade offer unparalleled value by expanding the global food trade and innovation ecosystem.

The event offers direct access to the industry's retail giants. For example, visitors can connect with the heart of the global food trade in the Grocery Trade area, where staples, pantry staples, and high-demand items are highlighted. This Gulfood segment brings together importers, exporters, wholesalers, and distributors, providing a dynamic platform for sourcing, negotiating, and expanding their trade network.

More Opportunities

With an expanded venue comes a more dynamic program of conferences, expert panels, and networking events. This gives visitors the chance to connect with industry pioneers and decision-makers shaping the future of food. From startup pitch sessions to networking with select C-level executives, the transformation of the food and beverage industry will unfold before a global audience.

Expo City Dubai, a special gathering of global CEOs, ministers and visionaries Gulfood World Economy Summit The summit will redefine the food business through strategic insights and international collaboration.

Meanwhile, at the Trade Center Al Multaqua ballroom, a three-day immersive knowledge hub that will spotlight the disruptors, startups, and visionaries driving the digital evolution of the global food industry. Future Food 500 will host.

In the Trade Center Pavilion The area will feature two new features for Gulfood 2026. Gulfood NXT Stage (Future Stage) will be a startup platform where the most promising food and beverage startups will present their innovations to an audience of investors, mentors, and strategic partners. This event is a dedicated networking environment that facilitates connections between investors, venture capitalists, corporate leaders, and the next wave of food industry pioneers. Startup Investor Lounge will be located right next to it.

For more information: https://www.gulfood.com/

Source: HORECA TREND and Gulfood