The giants of the tourism and events sector met at ACE of M.I.C.E.

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is hosting the ACE of M.I.C.E. event for the 22nd time this year, bringing together national and international giants of the tourism and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) sectors. The event, organized by Dream Project, will take place on January 4-5 at the Elexus Hotel & Convention.

The "Masters of Events by ACE of M.I.C.E. Awards," considered the "Oscars" of the MICE sector with a trade volume of approximately 14 billion dollars, will be held tomorrow with a magnificent organization. Over 3,500 B2B meetings will take place during the two-day event, significantly contributing to the commercial volume of the TRNC. The event is organized under the auspices of the Northern Cyprus Prime Ministry, the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth, and Environment, and with the support of Elexus Hotel & Convention.

GRAND GALA NIGHT AND AWARDS

The gala night, which will take place tomorrow evening, will reward the best in the tourism and events sectors. A record total of 145 applications were made for the award ceremony, which is organized in 26 different categories. The winners, determined by a jury of 60 members, will receive their awards accompanied by a magnificent red carpet ceremony and a show featuring 500 drones.

Volkan Ataman, a member of the Board of Directors and CEO of Dream Project, emphasized in a press conference that ACE of M.I.C.E. brings the tourism and MICE sectors together at the highest level. Ataman stated, "ACE of M.I.C.E. greatly contributes to the brand value and destination promotion of Turkey and Cyprus. In 2025, we will continue to guide the sector by facilitating the formation of new business connections and networks."

ELEXUS GENERAL MANAGER: OUR EXPECTATIONS FOR 2025 ARE HIGH

Görkem Aydıner, General Manager of Elexus Hotel & Convention, highlighted the importance of the MICE sector for the TRNC in a press conference. Aydıner stated, "The year 2024 was quite productive in terms of both tourism performance and the TRNC economy. In 2025, we aim to surpass these successes. We are happy to host the ACE of M.I.C.E. organization for the third time; the event is of great importance for both destination promotion and collaborations. We are proud to see that the TRNC has become a serious destination in the MICE field."

TRNC TOURISM MINISTER EMPHASIZES DIGITALIZATION

Fikri Ataoğlu, the Minister of Tourism of Northern Cyprus, pointed out the critical role of MICE tourism in the region's economy during a press conference, stating, "Cyprus has a strategic position between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. With its ease of transportation, proximity to Turkey, and developing infrastructure, it has become an attractive MICE destination. We are working on projects that will further strengthen the promotion of the TRNC by utilizing digitalization." Ataoğlu also mentioned that joint efforts with the Turkish Travel Agencies Association (TÜRSAB) will continue.

FUTURE VISION: 2025 AND BEYOND

The ACE of M.I.C.E. event serves as a strong starting point not only for the TRNC but for the entire tourism sector. Among the goals for 2025 is the Istanbul Tourism Fair, which will be held on September 25-26 at the Yenikapı-Avrasya Show and Art Center. This organization, which will bring together 15,000 tourism professionals, aims to develop international collaborations and share sectoral innovations.

With a meeting capacity of 27,410 and a bed capacity of 27,624, Cyprus continues to become an important center in the MICE sector. However, issues such as flight costs and infrastructure deficiencies still await solutions. The TRNC continues on its path with collaborations and innovative projects to increase its international recognition and overcome these disadvantages.