Ron Kaufman is one of the world’s leading motivational keynote speakers on the topics of achieving service excellence, increasing customer satisfaction, retaining loyal customers, and building sustainable service cultures. Rated one of the “Top 25 Who’s Hot” speakers by Speaker magazine, Ron presents powerful insights and global best practices from working with clients in every industry and on every continent for more than thirty years. His energetic keynote speeches have inspired millions, frequently earning standing ovations from audiences of all ages. In 2018, GlobalGurus rated Ron the #1 customer service guru in the world. Ron travels worldwide to speak at company meetings, industry conferences, and association events throughout the year.

Ron is author of the New York Times and USA Today bestseller, “Uplifting Service! The Proven Path to Delighting Your Customers, Colleagues and Everyone Else You Meet” and 14 other books on service, business and inspiration. He is the founder of Uplifting Service, a global education and consulting company that enables leaders and organizations to build sustainable cultures that win the hearts and minds of customers, colleagues, and partners.

Istanbul is the most populated city in Turkey (with over 15 million inhabitants in the metropolitan area) and the country’s financial, economic and cultural center. It is a highly cosmopolitan transcontinental city, located on the Bosporus strait, which separates Europe from Asia. Istanbul is considered a major global city and has one of the fastest growing economies in the world, being responsible for over 27% of Turkey’s GDP. It hosts the country’s only stock exchange, Borsa Istanbul, and the headquarters of numerous banks and companies. The city is famous for its production of electronics, vehicles, olive oil, and tobacco and is also an increasingly popular tourist destination, with over 12 million annual visitors. Its architecture is mostly a combination of Byzantine and Ottoman influences, with a few remains of Genoese and Roman styles too. Some of its most important landmarks include the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, the Hagia Sophia, the Topkapı Palace, and the Dolmabahçe Palace. In 2010, Istanbul was named a European Capital of Culture and currently hosts over 70 museums, such as the Istanbul Modern, the Pera Museum, the Istanbul Archaeology Museum, and the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum. The city is also renowned for its many cultural festivals, including the International Istanbul Film Festival, the Istanbul International Music Festival, and the Istanbul International Jazz Festival.

Istanbul as a Conference Destination

Istanbul is a major hub for international conferences, summits, and conventions, including: the International Customer Experience Summit Istanbul and the IDC Retail Executive Summit, two large events focused on developments in customer service; the International Conference on Business, Finance and Marketing and the Marketing Kingdom Istanbul, two conferences focused on marketing and economics; the World Conference on Technology, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship, a major venue for entrepreneurs discussing the impact on technology on their work; the Istanbul International Conference on Business and Economics, one of the largest business conferences in Turkey; and the International Conference on Economics and Social Science, a meeting point for academic scholars, engineers, and industry leaders from all over the world.

Istanbul Food Options for Conference Delegates

There are many fantastic restaurants you can try during your conference in Istanbul, including: Old Istanbul Cuisine (Phone: +90 534 263 98 46), the Sofya Kebab House (Phone: +90 541 658 77 44), the Antakya Restaurant (Phone: +90 212 518 01 17), and the Old Ottoman Cafe & Restaurant (Phone: +90 212 514 55 00), four restaurants famous for their delicious local cuisine; Trattoria La Scarpetta (Phone: +90 212 263 53 53), an excellent Italian restaurant; the Zuma Restaurant (Phone: +90 212 236 22 96), serving delicious traditional Japanese dishes; and the Eleos Restaurant (Phone: +90 212 244 90 90), a Greek locale with an amazing view of the Bosporus Strait.

Istanbul Attractions for Convention Attendees

There are many highly rated tourist attractions you can visit after your conference in Istanbul, Turkey. Some of the most famous ones include: Hagia Sophia, a Byzantine church and museum exhibiting a large number of amazing mosaics; the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, an impressive blue mosque with six minarets built in 1616; the Topkapi Palace, an opulent palace constructed in the 15 th century, home to Sultans for over four centuries; the Grand Bazzar, a historic network of markets selling a large diversity of products; the Taksim Square, a vibrant shopping, dining and nightlife district; and the Galata Tower, a 67 meters tall Byzantine tower overlooking the Bosporus Strait.

Conference Center Venues

Istanbul, Turkey has a large number of great conference centers and facilities, such as:

Haliç Congress Center (Location: Sütlüce Mah. Karaağaç. Cad. Haliç Kongre Merkezi İdari Bina)
Hilton Istanbul Bomonti Hotel & Conference Center (Location: Merkez Mahallesi, Silahşör Cd.)
Hilton Istanbul Bosphorus (Location: Harbiye Mahallesi)
Istanbul Congress Center (Location: Harbiye Mahallesi, Darülbedai Caddesi)
Silence Istanbul Hotel & Convention Center (Location: Brandium A.V. ve Yasam Mer. Atasehir)
WOW Convention Center (Location: Yeşilköy Mahallesi)