Turkey has become a prominent global and regional hub for many international companies in managing, production and distribution. Companies that manage operations in tens of countries from their headquarters in Istanbul also employ many top level Turkish senior executives.

Coca Cola, for example, manages its operations in 90 countries throughout Eurasia and Africa from its Istanbul headquarters. Turkey is a strong country due to its dynamic economy and young population and also serves as a central air transportation hub accommodating numerous carriers.

Another powerful company Pepsi Co’s Istanbul head office has been acting as a regional center for 14 countries – Israel, Greece, Cyprus, Serbia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Romania, Bulgaria and Moldova – since 2008. Turkey is the center of the company’s southeastern European region, while the four other European centers of the beverage and snacks giant are in based in England, France, Spain and Russia.

Microsoft’s Middle East and Africa office in Istanbul is the software company’s center for operations in 79 countries.
Ala Faramawy, a vice president at Microsoft International responsible for business development in the region, said Istanbul is close to crucial regional business centers. “Besides, the business opportunities Istanbul offers, its potential in social development, information and communication technologies, its educated workforce and its infrastructure supporting foreign employees are important,” he said.

Intel, another IT giant, has been managing its operations in 64 countries in the Middle East and Africa from Turkey since 2004, while U.S.-based software firm Adobe also maintains an office in Istanbul that is responsible for its Mediterranean operations.

MasterCard directs operations in 10 countries from its Turkey office, while rival Visa manages its Israel and Romania operations from Turkey.

Istanbul is becoming one of the top cities on the Planet for both business and leisure.

Istanbul has emerged as one of the fastest growing business cities in the world and offer a diverse range of restaurants.

Sunset restaurant in Istanbul, with its magnificent Bosphorus view, ranked first on the list of best Istanbul eating establishments for business people.

Sunset Istanbul is located on the hills of Ulus and has one of the greatest views of Istanbul, overlooking the Bosphorus. The top-rated restaurant has a capacity for 300 diners in summer and 220 in the winter season.

Park Şamdan ranked second on the list.
Park Şamdan is a Nişantaşı classic and has been operating in Istanbul’s Nişantaşı neighborhood since 1982. Park Şamdan has a capacity for 132-persons.

Paper Moon came in third, Paper Moon opened its Istanbul branch since 1997 following Milan and New York. They offer excellent Italian food and service. Papermoon can host 160 guests at one time.

Les Ambassadeurs, which is located inside the Bebek Hotel, ranked fourth on the list. The restaurant has been serving customers at the same location for the past 30 years.

Vogue ranked fifth, the restaurant opened in 1977 and is located inside BJK Plaza in Istanbul’s Akaretler area. Bebek Balıkçısı, a favorite for seafood since it first opened its doors in 1998, ranked sixth.

Another all-time favorite for businesspeople is the Borsa branch in Istinye Park, a fairly new hot-spot for shopping enthusiasts. Borsa’s İstinye Park branch entered the top-10 list at number seven.

Ulus 29, a restaurant located in Istanbul’s Ulus district and overlooking both bridges crossing the Bosphorus, ranked eighth, while Şans in Etiler ranked ninth and Maçka Brasserie in Nişantaşı rounded out the top 10.

The top 10 restaurants were chosen by a 10-person jury that included Kemal Aksel, the founder of the Culinary Arts Academy; Ceyda Aydede, the chairwoman of human-resources firm Global Tanıtım; Burak Başarır, the Turkey regional director for Coca Cola; Osman Dinçbaş, the Turkey managing director for Ernst&Young, and Emin Hitay, the chairman of the board of Hitay Investment Company.

The Mardan Palace hotel’s architecture reflects the distinctive landmarks of Istanbul. The main hotel resembles the Dolmabahçe Palace and bridges across the pool are based on original designs of the Da Vinci Bridge.

Having the Mediterranean’s largest swimming pool, the hotel also boasts the 7,500 square meter “Mardan Spa,” 17 bars and 10 a la carte restaurants that include French, Japanese, Russian, Thai and traditional Turkish cuisine.

The most expensive luxury resort in Europe, Mardan Palace Hotel, was unveiled with a spectacular opening in the Mediterranean city of Antalya. The five-star Mardan palace Hotel, built by Russian businessman Telman Ismailov, was host to world famous artists and Hollywood stars for the opening extravaganza.

Ismailov, from Azerbaijani descent, loves Turkey very much and has realized his 20-year old dream with the $1.4 billion hotel.

Hollywood stars Sharon Stone, Richard Gere, Monica Belucci, Paris Hilton, Seal, Tom Jones and Mariah Carey as well as international and Turkish press attended the official opening.

Mariah Carey performed at the Opening of the Mardan Palace Hotel on Saturday night. The NY Post reports that Mariah was paid $1.5 million for her appearance, which included a short performance Saturday night.

You can see the style of the Ottoman Empire in the hotel and feel the golden age of the empire.

Paris Hilton stopped over in Istanbul after the Hotel party in Antalya, to be a host on “Var Misin Yok Musun” (Deal or No Deal!) presented by Acun Ilıcalı. The Number one TV show in turkey visited by many celebrities such as Adriana Lima, Christina Aguilera and 50 Cent.

After the tv show in Istanbul, Paris headed to the glitz and glamour of the Cannes Film Festival in France, where Paris Hilton was booted off a luxury boat – for getting up to naughtiness with her boyfriend in the bog.

The Millionaire Fair is an exclusive and trend-setting lifestyle fair. Visitors can discover international high-end luxury goods for your home, yacht, jet and you. Unlike any other fair this one stop luxury shopping paradise, will have you maxing out your Black Card.

The lifestyle event was launched in 2002 in Amsterdam by Gijrath Media Group. The Millionaire Fair is the only place where you can find such a broad cross-section of exclusive products and services such as Bentley, Bvlgari and Breitling, Rolex, Remy Martin and Rolls Royce in a luxurious surroundings and yet all under one roof.

Luxury Istanbul with its booming economy seems a perfect host for this trendsetting concept that aims to provide an excellent platform for exclusive luxury brands to display their products and brand philosophy before their regional target audiences and business prospects.

The luxury goods consumption in Istanbul outweighs the rest of Europe, as Istanbul is one of the richest cities in the world.

For 4 days, the Millionaire Fair in Luxury Istanbul will feature the very latest and most exclusive products in the highest category, ranging from swimming pools, diamonds and villas, yachts and gleaming cars.

20.000 elites from Turkey and thousands of them from the region are expected to visit this spectacular event.

Special guest Paris Hilton, the millionaire heiress is invited to open the VIP-night.

The Millionaire Fair Istanbul will take place on October 30 until November 02, 2008 at CNR EXPO Istanbul, Turkey.

For more info visit http://www.millionairefair.com.tr

Dubai Tower-Istanbul will soar above the stunning Bosphorus skyline, to create a new meeting point for business and leisure.

Dubai Towers Istanbul skyscraper project will be built in the district of Levent in Istanbul, Turkey.

It comprises a twin-tower complex which contains extensive office space, residential apartments and penthouses, retail outlets and boutique hotels. When completed in 2010, it will become the tallest pair buildings in Turkey. Tower 1 is expected to reach a height of more than 300m (103 floors) and Tower 2 over 250m (81 floors).

• Corporate Tower
  One of the 2 iconic towers of Dubai Towers-Istanbul will be designed exclusively for the corporate world. The corporate Tower will meet the diverse needs and demands of business corporations and offices through it’s facilities, services and amenities.
• Futuristic offices
  Each floor of the corporate tower will offer the highest standarts of technology advanced features such as fiber-to-desk internet, enabled by structured cabling. These are class A office spaces
• Seamless access
  Smart building technology & design will be employed throughout the tower to ensure a seamless link to the services and facilities of the other Tower, and to common spaces such as the Boulevard, the elevators and parking spaces.
• Residential/ Hotel Tower
  The second tower – the Residential & Hotel Tower will set new standarts of luxury in living and entertaining. The Tower will offer a choice of serviced apartments and unserviced apartments, penthouses and a boutique hotel
• Serviced apartments
  The Residential & Leisure Tower will have 150 elegantly furnished and fuly serviced apartments. Residents of these hotel apartments will enjoy 5 star facilities such as housekeeping, laundry, catering, concierge and valet services. Other amenities will include cable TV, phone, fax and wireless internet connections and access to the health club and spa
• Unserviced apartments
  The main part of the Residential and Hotel Tower will consist of 330 beautifully designed unserviced apartments. Facilities within the tower will include a fully equipped gym, health club and spa, as well as direct access to exclusive parking spaces
• Penthouses
  The Tower’s penthouses will offer stunning views of the amazing Bosphorus skyline. Each of these luxurious and spacious homes will incorporate exclusive features such as an indoor jacuzzi
• Hotel
  The Tower’s five star boutique hotl will nestle between the seviced apartments and the furnished and unfurnished apartments. Managed by an international luxury hotel chain, the elegant hotel will have 200 rooms and suites and will offer the highest standarts of hospitality.

  A diverse range of facilities will cater to the business and leisure needs of the hotel’s guests:
  -Modern health club
  -Fine dining restaurants
  - Conference and meeting rooms
  - State-of-the-art business center

• The Boulevard
  The Boulevard will be a vibrant and welcoming shopping, dining and entertainment area that forms a base to both the Corporate Tower and the Residential & Hotel Tower
• Retail
  The Boulevard’s elegant retail are will be dotted with chic boutiques and designer stores offering international haute couture, accessories, jewellery, parfumes, cosmetics and skincare products
• Dining
  Mood lighting and a spacious and luxurious design will help create the perfect dining ambience in the Boulevard. A choice of fine dining restaurants, charming cafes, fast food restaurants and a food court will ensure that there’s something to whet every appetite.

This is going to be the tallest building in Europe.
Do you think these Towers will be a great addition to the Istanbul skyline?

For more info visit www.dip.ae

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Two sleek towers, supported by a podium base. The towers have 108 luxurious residences in the upper levels, available for sale to investors. The lower levels features 34 exclusive long-stay residences for rental in the first tower and 28 spacious offices in the second tower.

The Complex

Kempinski Residences Astoria Istanbul, opened in November 2007, the ultimate in contemporary luxury, combined with exclusive Kempinski style and service. Located in Esentepe, the heart of Istanbul’s modern business district, this signature property is the address for discerning executives who know the value of making a good impression.

• Full service suites & residences from top luxury over-night accomodation to prestigious home comfort of extended long-term stays.
• Luxury Offices For Rental
• Anantara Spa
• Astoria Shopping Center with over 100 shops and dining options
• Gourmet restaurants, lounges and bars
• In-door Carpark for 800 cars

For more information visit www.kempinski-astoria.com

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