Istanbul’s Galataport is targeting 2020 cruise season

The long awaited rebuilding and redevelopment of Istanbul’s Galataport cruise ship terminal is targeting a March 2020 opening, in time for the summer cruise season.

The new hi tech cruise terminal will boast a 980 m long pier capable of handling all grades of cruise vessels, and with sufficient capacity to simultaneously berth up to three of the largest cruise vessels, and around 15,000 passengers a day.

The broader Galataport development will extend along a full 1.2 km of the historic coastline and cruise passengers included, is expected to handle 7 million tourists a year, of which 1.5 million will be from cruise ships.

The project includes the restoration of a number of existing historic quayside buildings, some of which are being converted into a 177-room luxury hotel, and the creation further inland of a new 14,000 sqm “Tophane Square”. Hosting the Istanbul Modern Museum and Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University Painting and Sculpture Museum within its premises, Turkey’s best practices in contemporary arts, Galataport Project will become the new arts and culture center of İstanbul. The public and open spaces throughout the port area will also be used for open air exhibitions and installations.

Also Bilgili Group, which runs the project with Dogus Holding, announced that it will be redeveloping New York’s Gucci building, which it purchased last year for $135 million as a Mandarin Oriental luxury hotel.

Bespoke travel expert Illusthrone will provide tailor-made daily tour packages specially being prepared for cruise guests of Istanbul, Turkey. Beyond luxury chauffeured service, all kind of transfers, meet & greet, private guidance, security, shopping assistance, private, sightseeing and private tours will be some of the services that cruise guests can easily reach.

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IDEF 2019, 14th International Defence Industry Fair has begun in Istanbul, Turkey

IDEF 2019, 14th International Defence Industry Fair is taking place between April 30 – May 3, 2019 at TÜYAP Fair and Congress Center, Istanbul, Turkey. IDEF 2019 hosts 1.061 participant companies and their representatives, 150 delegations and 550 delegation members active in the defense field from 70 countries and 3 international organizations.

As Illusthrone is a luxury chauffeured service, security, guidance and destination management provider for IDEF exhibitors, some well-known participant companies of IDEF 2019 are Airbus, Aselsan, General Electric, Havelsan, Honeywell, Lockheed Martin, Michelin, Panasonic, Roketsan and Samsung.

The Lockheed Martin F-35
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Is Cristiano Ronaldo the new owner of world’s most expensive car Bugatti La Voiture Noire ?

Italian football club Juventus (la Vecchia Signora) superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is rumoured to be the new owner of the one-off Bugatti La Voiture Noire, reportedly world’s most expensive car ever built.

Reports suggest Ronaldo has spent $19 million on the unique Bugatti which was first presented to the world at the Geneva Motor Show 2019.

The French luxury company built only one of the prototype supercar. Based on the Chiron and built as a nod to the Type 57 SC Atlantic of the 1930s, Bugatti La Voiture Noire is a tribute to the 110th. anniversary of the founding of the company.

Bugatti La Voiture Noire

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Anadolu Efes becomes the second Turkish team of Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four 2019.

Anadolu Efes defeated Barcelona 80 – 71 in Istanbul, Turkey to win the series 3-2, didn’t let them to play Final Four at home in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain and becomes the last team to advance to Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four for the first time since 2000. The team will face with another Turkish basketball team Fenerbahce Beko in the semifinal. CSKA Moscow and Real Madrid are the other two semifinalists.

After the last game of Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs, Illusthrone came to an end for the hospitality services of EuroLeague teams and guests in 2018-2019 season. We will be glad to be at EuroLeague’s service in the upcoming season.

Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four
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The Sichuan Airlines of China opens direct Chengdu-Istanbul flight

The Sichuan Airlines completed its inaugural direct flight to Istanbul, Turkey from Chengdu, China.

The Istanbul Airport performed a watergate ceremony for the flight, the first time for the airport to do so on a foreign flight, after it landed with 279 passengers aboard.

Cui Wei, Consul General of China in Istanbul, welcomed the flight along with airport officials.

In a press release, the Sichuan Airlines, which is operating more than 220 domestic routes and 56 international & regional routes, pledges efforts to promote trade and tourism between China and Turkey.

We are happy to be able to serve our Chinese guests with Illusthrone’s Chinese speaking professional guides during their visit to Turkey.

Sichuan Airlines Aircraft at Istanbul Airport


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Top wedding destination of 2019: Bodrum, Turkey

One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, beautiful Aegean peninsula Bodrum (ancient Halicarnassus) has been assessed as top wedding destination of 2019 by The Times of India which is the third-largest newspaper in India.

The popular heavenly town was highly recommended with the informations as follows: “For those looking for tradition with exquisite architectural beauty, Bodrum is where you should be headed. Also known as the St. Tropez of Turkey, Bodrum is a popular choice for destination weddings, especially if you are looking for a peaceful milieu on your special day. Great hotels, beautiful beaches, dependable infrastructure – all add on to make Bodrum a real wedding paradise. Beach clubs are also great to explore for weddings and pre-wedding events. The best months to host your wedding in Turkey are from April to October.”

As it is always enjoyable to create, sometimes better to have a professional hand. For a different and a luxury wedding organization, Illusthrone submit different tailor-made options and unperformed ideas as a wedding planner even in Bodrum as in all Turkey.

Wedding Organization in Bodrum, Turkey



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LVMH Completes the Agreement for Belmond Acquisition

LVMH Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy, which is one of Illusthrone’s valued customers, has completed its acquisition of Belmond Ltd and the luxury hospitality brand’s portfolio of 45 hotels, restaurants, trains, and cruise liner properties. The $3.2 billion transaction was first announced in December 2018 and received approval on February 14th, 2019. The deal ultimately allows the Parisian luxury lifestyle conglomerate to increase its influence in the hospitality industry.

Under the terms of the $3.2 billion enterprise value transaction, Belmond’s shareholders received $25.00 per Class A share in cash. With the completion of the acquisition, Belmond’s Class A common shares will no longer be listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Belmond Hotel Splendido
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Luxury Brands Paid Nearly $100 Million to Be Featured in the Next 007 James Bond Movie

From Heineken to Belvedere, brands are paying big bucks to be associated with James Bond.

Everyone knows that international spy James Bond likes his martinis shaken, not stirred. But Heineken would like you to know he also enjoys an occasional brewski—and the brand is willing to pay a premium for it.

Luxury brands are happily coughing up millions to be featured in the next installment of the James Bond series, the 25th film in the long-running franchise. The French champagne Maison Bollinger reportedly paid a whopping $12.8 million to renew its deal to be the bubbly Bond sips when he’s not killing assassins, wooing voluptuous double agents or saving the world.

Meanwhile, Heineken paid $36 million to be featured in Skyfall. Belvedere, not to be outdone, paid to be Bond’s martini ingredient of choice, and even sold limited-edition 007 bottles for the occasion. No figures have been released on that deal, but Belvedere president Charles Gibb told, it was “the largest global partnership we have done to date.”

Other brands that have struck deals in hopes of becoming synonymous with Bond’s suave demeanor and effortlessly stylish life include Omega and Aston Martin. Altogether, a staggering $96.7 million in deals is estimated to have been brokered for the next installment of the film franchise (which has just confirmed that Daniel Craig will be returning as the eponymous 007).

Of course, this is no new phenomenon. Since the earliest films, Bond has attracted a roster of luxury brands, going from Brioni suits to Tom Ford ensembles or swapping out his Rolex for an Omega.

In fact, Bond is even going green. For the next film, the agent’s famed Aston Martin will be all electric. And while sustainability and eco-conscious design is certainly top of mind these days, the car won’t sacrifice great design for a smaller carbon footprint—the new model will set you back a cool $250,000.

Aston Martin
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New Zealanders and Australians gather for Anzac Day 2019 services

Anzac Day services have begun at Gallipoli, Turkey with large groups of New Zealanders and Australians attending the sacred peninsula.

The service started at 5am with a screening of an excerpt of the Australian wartime film The Telegraph Man.

It was followed closely by an overview of the Anzac battle of April 25, 1915, with reference to the now famous speech from Mustafa Kemal Ataturk (the army commander and founder of modern Turkey) who said the fallen Australasians were now “our sons as well”.

VIP guests of the memorable day has chosen Illusthrone’s tailor-made hospitality services for their special journey.

Prince Charles and Prince Harry in Gallipoli, Turkey 2015
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Boutique cruise line Azamara is returning to Turkey

Boutique cruise line, Azamara Club Cruises, has announced its complete list of 2021 and winter/spring 2022 itineraries.

Committed to its Destination Immersion programming, guests can expect more than 140 overnight stays around the world and deepen their discovery of Eastern Europe with expanded itineraries to the Black Sea and Turkey, including overnights in Istanbul and a chance to explore hidden gems including Antalya and Sinop.

Azamara will spend three overnights in Istanbul, and guests will be able to have one day or half day city tours by Illusthrone besides luxury chauffeured service, city transfers, guidance, shopping assistance and security services.

Highlights include a trip to the ancient Hippodrome; St. Sophia Museum, which originated as a church in 360 AD under Constantine; and Topkapi Palace, a great walled complex hugging the shores of the Bosphorus and Golden Horn and also the residence of the Ottoman Sultans.

Additionally, Azamara will be returning to two of Turkey’s hidden gems, Antalya and Sinop. Nestled on the coast of the Mediterranean, guests going ashore in Antalya will discover the world-famous Greco-Roman amphitheater, Aspendos, one of the world’s most well-preserved theaters, with seating for 15,000 people, which is still being used today.

Kusadasi is another stop at Azamara Club Cruises’ East Europe, Aegean routes. Ephesus and House of Virgin Mary are the unique attractions of the destination.

Illusthrone’s tailor-made hospitality services will make Azamara guests’ journey unforgettable during the visits to Kusadasi and Antalya. The guests will be privileged by exploring Ephesus, House of Virgin Mary and Aspendos with professional team of Illusthrone.

Azamara White Night
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