Frequently Asked Questions
When is the registration period?
Registration will open 12:00 noon Monday, July 22, Eastern Time
Registration closes at midnight Thursday, August 29, Eastern Time
The deadline to sign up for a pre or post tour is midnight Thursday, August 22, Eastern Time
What is the price to attend the convention?
SATW’s İstanbul convention is priced as follows:
Active: US $1050
Associate: US $1150
Emeritus: US $1150
Guest (sharing room with member): US $1000
What is included in the convention package?
All registrants receive four nights’ accommodation at the Conrad İstanbul Bosphorus, airport transfers on November 11-12 and November 16, meals, tours, professional development sessions, Marketplace and other activities during the core convention.
All personal costs as described under Terms and Conditions are not included.
Are tips included in the convention package?
Tips for maids, bellhops and waiters are at your discretion. Tips for guides and drivers on day tours and pre/post tours are not expected.
What is the cancellation policy?
Members may cancel registration up until Thursday, August 29 without a cancellation penalty. Cancellation between Friday, August 30 through Thursday, September 5 will incur a $300 cancellation fee.
Fees for pre/post tours cannot be refunded once they have been charged.
How to do I get to İstanbul?
Turkish Airlines flies to İstanbul from 17 different US and Canadian Turkish Airlines Gateways. Most flights depart from North America in the afternoon or evening and arrive in İstanbul late the following afternoon (Chicago, Miami, New York-JFK, and Washington DC have additional early morning departures). Most flights to North America depart from İstanbul in the afternoon and arrive the same evening.
Ticket purchase requests will be sent individually by SATW members to the respective Turkish Airlines Sales Offices; the discount is not applicable for codeshare flights on Turkish partners such as United Airlines, Air Canada or Lufthansa. The 50% discount off base price will be valid only for reservations with arrival in Türkiye made through US and Canada Turkish Airlines Gateways. For more information on booking flights with the discount on Turkish Airlines, see your registration confirmation email for a link with further details.
A variety of European and Middle East carriers also serve İstanbul from their hub airports and may offer faster or cheaper flight options from your home airport. Google Flights is one of the easiest ways to compare flights and pricing.
Please DO NOT purchase nonrefundable airfare until you have received confirmation of registration AND any pre/post tours you have requested. The pre/post tour confirmations will contain meeting points and times.
Airport transfers to/from the Conrad İstanbul Bosphorus on November 11-12 and 16 will be scheduled for all attendees arriving/departing on those dates. Allow 45-60 minutes for the transfer.
İstanbul Airport (IST) is the home airport for Turkish Airlines. All pre/post tours will be operating from IST; all airport transfers that are included as part of the convention package will operate from and to IST. The Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW), located on the Asia side and 25+ miles east of the city, is used by the low-cost carrier Pegasus Airlines. No convention ground transfers or flights for pre/post tours will operate from SAW.
Can I use SATW’s discount on Turkish Airlines for business class?
Yes.
Can I come early or stay late to tour Türkiye on my own?
Yes. The discount on Turkish Airlines can be used for flights as early as November 1 (arriving on the 2nd) and to return home as late as November 30.
What are the visa requirements for US and Canadian visitors?
Effective January 2024, no visa is required for US and Canadian visitors to Türkiye for stays up to 90 days.
How long are the pre- and post-convention tour?
Pre/post tours range 3 to 4 nights and most of the tours will involve domestic Türkiye flights (included in the tour cost). Flight times may necessitate an overnight in İstanbul prior to pre-tours or following post-tours.
Can I sign up for both a pre- and post-convention tour?
Yes, but requests for a second tour won’t be confirmed until after all registrants have received their first tour, after registration closes.
Are there any special requirements to be able to participate in a pre or post tour?
All participants on pre and post tours in Türkiye must be prepared for a reasonable amount of walking. Participants are expected to be able to manage the requirements as noted in each tour itinerary.
Is there a discount for two members sharing accommodations on a pre or post tour?
Yes. There is a discount available for two members who share a room. Please contact [email protected] for pricing and booking instructions.
How soon will I know which pre or post tour I have been assigned so that I can book my flights?
We anticipate confirmations for pre and post tours will start to go out the first week of August. Note that tours require a minimum of 5 participants in order to be confirmed; all pre-post tours hold a maximum of 15 guests.
Day tour assignments will be confirmed in September, after registration closes.
Where will the convention take place and what are the facilities?
We will be based at the 553-room Conrad İstanbul Bosphorus: https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/isthcci-conrad-istanbul-bosphorus/. The hotel features two restaurants, indoor and outdoor pools, a spa and fitness room. Internet access is free to all guests. All guest rooms have electrical outlets for US plugs, otherwise a Type F adapter, like the round two-prong European-style plug, is useful, and may be a prerequisite for charging while on pre/post tours.
All daytime events other than tours, including professional development, Marketplace, and our business meetings, will take place at the Conrad, along with our opening night reception. Three evening events will take place at other locations around İstanbul.
Will special hotel rates be available for SATW members before and after the convention in İstanbul?
Yes, the Conrad İstanbul Bosphorus has offered discounted room rates. Pre- or post-convention accommodation rates for single are: €252/night, including 10% VAT, 2% accommodation tax, and daily breakfast. Double rates are: €274.40/night.
Payment for extra room nights (excluding November 12-15) is to be arranged directly between the attendees and the hotel. All rooms are subject to availability.
What will the weather be like?
İstanbul’s typical daytime highs range from the mid to high 50s (F) in November, with overnight lows in the high 40s (F). The month of November averages a total of about 2.5 inches of rainfall.
What is the appropriate dress code?
For SATW convention activities and evening programs and meals we suggest business-casual attire. For our closing night event — location to be revealed — we invite “dress to impress.”
For day tours in İstanbul and elsewhere many of us will visit mosques and other places of worship. For these, long pants or a skirt and covered shoulders are expected; a headscarf is recommended for women. Otherwise, except for religious locations clothing in Türkiye is relaxed.
November is fall in Türkiye and the weather can be unpredictable. Because of this, you should be prepared for sudden changes in weather and temperature, particularly if you’ll be hiking or doing other outdoor activities. Please bring comfortable walking shoes. For the day tours during the core convention and the pre- and post-convention tours we recommend casual attire, but refer to the individual itineraries for specific attire suggestions (hint: layers are a good idea).
Will there be a Dine-Around during this convention?
Dine-Around will take place on Thursday, November 14 and will highlight some of İstanbul’s many fine-dining options.
How long are the half- and full-day tours?
The half-day tours are 3½ to 4½ hours. Most of the full-day tours range 6 to 8 hours.
What is the exchange rate for the Turkish lira?
Since May 2024 the Turkish lira has averaged the following exchange rates:
USD$1.00 = TRY32.50
CAD$1.00 = TRY23.80
For today’s exchange rate, check https://www.forbes.com/advisor/money-transfer/currency-converter/usd-try/.
What is the best way to exchange money in Türkiye?
Almost all shops and restaurants accept credit cards in İstanbul, and US dollars are accepted at many shops inside the Grand Bazaar and Spice Market. Withdrawing Turkish lira at ATMs may add substantial surcharges.
For small transactions and tips you can exchange US dollars at most banks for Turkish lira. But the best exchange rate is usually found at the currency exchange offices in the Grand Bazaar, clustered near the Mahmud Pasha Gate. Compare rates posted on digital signs (or just look for the booth with the longest line!).
What is the free baggage allowance for the Turkish Airlines flights?
Turkish Airlines standard policy on both international and domestic flights allows for one checked bag up to 23 kg (50.7 lbs), one piece of carry-on luggage up to 8 kg (17.6 lbs), and a personal carry-on up to 4 kg (8.8 lbs). For detailed information on Turkish Airlines baggage policies see https://www.turkishairlines.com/en-int/any-questions/free-baggage/.
If I come late to the convention or leave early, can I get a discount?
No. Due to the length of flights, it made no sense to offer a mini-package this year. Registration costs are based on the full four nights, regardless of when the registered participant arrives or departs.
Is my registration transferable?
No.
Why is the guest rate higher when my guest is sharing the hotel room with me?
The fee SATW pays to our hosts is based on attendees, not hotel rooms or other qualifiers. Guests are invited to take part in all “non-official” SATW activities such as touring, receptions and dining which is also part of what makes up the registration fee. Guest, Emeritus and Associate registration fees help reduce the cost for Actives to attend the convention.
Can I bring a friend or family member to stay in the hotel room with me and not register them?
Unless prior arrangements are made, rooms at the Conrad are booked for single occupancy during the core convention; a passport is required for all guests during check-in. Only registered members and their registered accompanying guest are permitted to attend SATW convention events and tours. Registration badges will be required for attendance at all events.
Why do we need sponsors?
Sponsors help offset the cost of registration for our members. Only a limited number of sponsorships are sold and we encourage our members to support our sponsors.
Am I insured?
You are only insured if you purchase a travel insurance. These policies are available from many carriers. SATW strongly recommends that members purchase optional trip insurance covering cancellation, interruption, illness, injury, and baggage loss or damage.
Two of SATW’s longstanding sponsors are Medjet (emergency air medical transportation) and Allianz Global Assistance (trip cancellation/interruption benefits for US residents). Generous discounts for members are available: https://portal.satw.org/portals/memberBenefits
What are the convention hashtags for our social media posts?
#SATWİstanbul
#GoTürkiye
#Goİstanbul
How can I learn more about the destination?
If you are interested in story ideas or discovering more about İstanbul and Türkiye, visit:
https://goturkiye.com/homepage
https://istanbul.goturkiye.com/
https://branding.goturkiye.com/
https://www.youtube.com/c/GoT%C3%BCrkiye
Convention co-chair Ann-Rebecca Laschever of WEILL (Geoffrey Weill Associates, Inc.) represents the Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency and is also available for editorial questions: [email protected].
Updated August 28, 2024