This month, we get to know BURKON Professional Congress Organizer:
What was your motivation to join ICCA?
Joining ICCA was a natural step in BURKON's international growth journey. For many years, we have been working with scientific societies, universities, and healthcare professionals to deliver international congresses that create lasting academic and professional value.
We see ICCA as much more than a global association. It is a platform where knowledge, collaboration, and innovation come together to shape the future of the meetings industry. Becoming a member allows us to strengthen our international network, exchange best practices with industry leaders, and contribute to the development of global congress destinations.
As a company based in Türkiye, we are also committed to promoting our country's potential as a competitive destination for international meetings. Through ICCA, we hope to build new partnerships, support future congress bids, and play an active role in the global meetings community.
Tell us your story. How did your organisation get started?
BURKON was founded on 1 February 2000 by Hasan Eker, whose passion for the meetings industry began long before the company itself.
After completing his education in tourism, Hasan started his professional career in the congress industry and became the Head of the Congress Department at a congress organisation company. During those years, he gained extensive experience in planning and managing scientific meetings while developing a clear vision of how high-quality congress services should be delivered.
Driven by his ambition to build an organisation based on professionalism, trust, and long-term client relationships, he decided to establish BURKON and pursue his own vision.
Over the past 25 years, BURKON has grown from a small entrepreneurial venture into one of Türkiye's recognised Professional Congress Organisers. We have successfully organised more than 500 scientific congresses and symposiums, supported by a dedicated team of over 48 full-time and 100 part-time professionals.
Although the company has grown significantly, the founding philosophy remains unchanged: to provide reliable, ethical, and high-quality services while creating lasting value for clients, delegates, and the scientific community.
What sets your organisation apart?
At BURKON, we believe that successful congress management is built on the right balance between experienced people and smart technology.
Alongside our highly experienced operations team, we employ an in-house software developer who continuously enhances our proprietary cloud-based congress management system. Rather than relying solely on off-the-shelf solutions, we have invested in developing our own platform, tailored to the real needs of scientific congresses.
Our system enables organising committees to access real-time congress data whenever they need it, providing complete transparency throughout the planning process. At the same time, it streamlines delegate registration, minimises the risk of errors, and ensures a fast, seamless experience for participants.
Technology, however, is only part of what makes us different. We combine digital innovation with personalised service, attention to detail, and over 25 years of experience in scientific meetings. This allows us to deliver efficient, reliable, and client-focused solutions while maintaining the flexibility that every congress requires.
What is your favourite success story from your organisation?
Rather than highlighting a single congress, we believe our greatest success is the trust we have earned over the past 25 years.
Many of the congresses we organise are entrusted to us again and again in subsequent years. We see these long-term partnerships as the strongest measure of success. Every event has its own objectives, and our priority has always been to achieve those goals while creating a positive experience for delegates, organising committees, sponsors, and all other stakeholders.
At BURKON, integrity is at the heart of everything we do. We are proud to have built our reputation on honesty, transparency, and ethical business practices. Every member of our team follows an internal Code of Ethics developed by our founder, ensuring that these values guide every decision we make.
Looking back over more than 500 scientific congresses and symposiums, we are especially proud that our reputation has been built not only on operational excellence but also on the confidence our clients continue to place in us year after year.
"Awards are valuable, but the greatest recognition any Professional Congress Organiser can receive is when clients return year after year. That continued trust is the success story we are most proud of."
Can you name a challenge your organisation is currently facing?
Like many organisations in the international meetings industry, one of our biggest challenges is adapting to an increasingly competitive and rapidly changing global environment.
Associations and delegates now expect more personalised, sustainable, and technology-enabled experiences, while economic fluctuations and geopolitical uncertainties require greater flexibility in planning international events.
We see these challenges as opportunities to innovate. By investing in our people, strengthening international partnerships, and continuously improving our services, we aim to remain a trusted partner for scientific associations around the world.
What can we expect to see from your organisation in the future?
As a new ICCA member, we are eager to establish new partnerships, collaborate with international associations, and increase our involvement in global congresses. We believe Türkiye offers exceptional opportunities for international meetings, and we want to play an active role in showcasing those opportunities to the global community.
At the same time, we will continue investing in technology, sustainability, staff development, and innovative participant experiences. While our company continues to grow, our core philosophy remains unchanged: delivering reliable, ethical, and high-quality congress management that creates lasting value for our clients and delegates alike.