Overview

MEP was appointed to design and deliver an eight-day incentive programme across Istanbul, Gallipoli, and Cappadocia for 131 top-performing clients and partners from New Zealand.

The programme combined cultural immersion, historical storytelling, and high-end experiential events across multiple destinations — requiring seamless coordination of land operations, charter flights, and large-scale guest movement throughout.

Client Objective

The client aimed to deliver a premium, high-impact incentive experience that showcased the depth and diversity of Türkiye.

Key priorities included:

• Creating a culturally rich and memorable programme  

• Managing large group logistics across multiple regions  

• Offering flexibility through optional and personalised experiences  

• Maintaining high service standards throughout  

The Challenge

The programme involved multiple layers of complexity.

Managing 130+ guests across three destinations required precise coordination of transportation, accommodation, and daily activities. The inclusion of charter flights between regions added an additional layer of operational pressure, requiring alignment between aviation, ground handling, and on-site teams.

In parallel, the programme needed to deliver both large-scale synchronised experiences and personalised moments — without compromising flow or consistency.

Our Approach

MEP approached the programme with a strong focus on structure, sequencing, and flexibility.

This included:

• Designing a clear movement strategy across cities and venues  

• Building systems to manage large-scale guest flows efficiently  

• Coordinating closely with aviation and ground partners  

• Integrating optional experiences to allow for personalisation  

The objective was to ensure the programme felt seamless from the guest perspective, despite its complexity.

Execution

Execution required continuous coordination across destinations and programme elements.

In Istanbul, large-scale arrival operations were managed alongside cultural touring and optional programming. A Bosphorus cruise event combined dining, entertainment, and structured guest flow in a single evening experience.

The Gallipoli day presented a different type of challenge — combining long-distance logistics with emotionally sensitive and personalised experiences, including individual tribute moments at ANZAC sites.

In Cappadocia, operations included a full programme reset following intercity flights, alongside high-complexity experiences such as coordinating multiple hot air balloon departures in early morning conditions.

The final night was delivered as a large-scale themed gala in a historic caravanserai, requiring full production setup and coordinated execution.

Outcome

The programme was delivered successfully across all key metrics.

• Seamless multi-destination execution for 131 guests  

• High guest satisfaction across all programme elements  

• Strong emotional impact, particularly within the Gallipoli experience  

• Consistent service quality despite operational scale  

Key Takeaways

• Multi-destination programmes require strong structural planning from the outset  

• Emotional storytelling significantly enhances incentive impact  

• Logistics and guest experience must be developed in parallel  

• On-site leadership is critical in high-pressure environments