CONVENTION OF THE WORLD’S LARGEST GROUPING OF TRAVEL JOURNALISTS ORGANISED IN İSTANBUL
The Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) organized its annual convention this morning at the Conrad Hotel in İstanbul. 270 American and Canadian travel communicators and publicists have come to Türkiye for the society’s annual meeting, which includes four days of meetings and touring in İstanbul – with most delegates travelling throughout Türkiye before and/or after the İstanbul gathering. By the convention’s end, most participants visited Cappadocia, the Black Sea Coast, İzmir, Ephesus, Ankara, resorts on the Turkish Aegean shore, and İstanbul.
Founded in 1955, SATW is the world’s largest and most influential group of travel communicators. It has held its annual convention in dozens of countries in North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Australasia. 2024 marks the society’s first convention in Türkiye.
The SATW 2024, an immersive Convention
The SATW 2024 Annual Convention program includes seminars, B2B meetings, panels, a media marketplace to generate collaborative works, and an agenda of pre- and post-tours that is full of experiences that the attendees can showcase in their publications. İstanbul’s most upscale hotels including Conrad, The Peninsula, Çırağan Palace Kempsinki, and Rixos Tersane, were selected as the locations for a range of activities within the convention program. The grand opening ceremony for the convention took place at the Conrad Hotel, with an impressive display of Turkish folk dances to celebrate Türkiye’s rich cultural heritage.
Turkish Destinations Inspiring Narratives
During their time in İstanbul, SATW Convention participants have a chance to discover Türkiye’s timeless metropolis with a range of curated tours designed according to bucket list experiences. The tour programs feature guided sightseeing excursions, immersing travel writers into the natural, cultural, historical, and gastronomic treasures of İstanbul.
While the participants will visit the city’s most appealing historical sites, they are also discovering the city’s niche locales. Istanbul, known for its rich historical heritage, is also a treasure for art, history and architecture enthusiasts.
Türkiye’s unique cuisine, shaped by the many different cultures that İstanbul has hosted over the centuries, is one of the main reasons to visit İstanbul. The SATW tour program includes many culinary experiences in gastrocity, from street foods to fine-dining dishes at Michelin-starred restaurants, accompanied by Turkish wines.
In addition to adventures in İstanbul, the participants will also travel across the country on pre and post tours. Featured highlights include the Turkish Riviera’s pearl Antalya, the Aegean’s magnificent city of İzmir, the Black Sea region, the greenest region of the country, Nevşehir Cappadocia, the Land of Fairy Chimneys, and the Southeastern Anatolia provinces of Gaziantep and Şanlıurfa.
Many participants will trek the ancient Lycian Way between Fethiye and Antalya, and tour the Seven Churches region across İzmir, Manisa, and Denizli. These unique experiences provide a deeper connection to Türkiye’s multifaceted heritage and landscapes including UNESCO sites, sports activities and culinary delights of Türkiye. Participants will also sample authentic local experiences, such as Turkish coffee tasting and preparation, and traditional arts like glassblowing, calligraphy and marbling.