It’s easy to forget, having escaped the confines of London to explore cities as rich in history and culture as Paris, Rome or Istanbul, that these are also global players in the worlds of finance and commerce. It is, of course, natural to allow your eyes to slide past the anonymous office blocks in search of the next monument, statue or tourist attraction. After all, who really wants to be reminded of their bulging inbox and looming deadlines when they’re on holiday?

Paradoxically, one industry that is keenly aware of these city’s business potential is hospitality. Tourist travel is, in most parts of the world, seasonal – so what props up a five-star establishment when the kids are back in school and the cover has been pulled over the outdoor pool? Conferences, events, meetings and the lucrative restaurant and room spend that comes with them. And should you be able to tap into both the business and pleasure markets? Then you’re on to a real winner.

And yet it still comes as a surprise when I pitch up at the Conrad Istanbul Bosphorus in early November – having transferred during an unseasonably heavy downpour from an almost conspicuously quiet five-star hotel just down the road – to find the lobby buzzing with both families in just-off-the-plane athleisure and the smartly dressed briefcase-carrying set. They are, I’m informed, running at almost full occupancy thanks to three separate conferences taking place at the hotel that week. (We are later mistaken, twice, as delegates from the Lipton tea company.)

A (literal) landmark on the Istanbul hotel scene since 1992 – its futuristic wavelike architecture was designed to maximise the Bosphorus views afforded by its hilltop position – the Conrad is remarkably successful at being all things to all people. Head in one direction and you’ll find a set of outdoor tennis courts, a swimming pool and a serene underground spa. Head in the other, and you’ll find yourself in the hotel’s extensive business suite with its 34 meeting rooms and a ballroom that can seat 750.

It’s a savvy way of mitigating for what, on paper, doesn’t exactly look like a prime location. Located between the neighbourhoods of Beşiktaş and Yildiz, Istanbul’s notoriously bad traffic and limited public transport system means you are, on a good day, around a 35-minute drive from the main sights of the Old Town, without the benefit of being able to boast a riverside location like many of the city’s other luxury hotels.

In reality, however, what the Conrad Istanbul Bosphorus does offer visitors on its doorstep is the lively nightlife of Beşiktaş (think of it as the Soho of Istanbul), the trendy bars and restaurants of Akaretler (Shoreditch) and the vast green space of Yildiz Park (Hyde Park). For sightseers, the easily navigable bus system stops right outside the hotel and, should you find yourself with an afternoon spare post-meeting, the breathtaking Dolmabahçe Palace is moments away.

The other advantage of not squeezing onto the banks of the Bosphorus is the much greater footprint the Conrad boasts over its rivals. It is, for example, the only luxury hotel in the city to boast the aforementioned tennis courts, while its list of amenities also includes a second, indoor pool, a high-tech gym, private car park and an executive lounge. Among its 553 rooms are two glorious, light-filled presidential suites with vast terraces for hosting cocktail parties and private dining rooms for up to seven guests. It comes as no surprise that these were the rooms of choice when Barack Obama and Madonna came to stay.

My own Bosphorus Suite was an elegant, neutrally decorated two-room affair with gorgeous picture windows from which to take in the panoramic 14^th-floor views. A living room, equipped with widescreen television and a large desk, was easily transformed into a second sleeping area (although the Conrad Istanbul Bosphorus offers plenty of room categories designed with families in mind, should you be travelling with children).

And while my suite didn’t offer any private outdoor space of its own (a surprising rarity among the city’s luxury hotels), it was just seconds from the Summit Bar & Terrace – widely regarded as one of the best rooftop restaurants in Istanbul. Arrive in the early evening for golden hour cocktails before settling down to a feast of sushi, sashimi and steak accompanied by live music and the twinkling lights of boats gently chugging up and down the Bosphorus Strait. For something a little more local, head to Manzara, the Conrad’s all-day restaurant serving up traditional Turkish fare alongside international dishes, or pick up a famously powerful Turkish coffee from the Monet Lounge in the lobby. Insider tip: it’s open until 1am if you’re burning the midnight business oil (or have let client drinks in Beşiktaş go on a little too long).

What defines a good hotel is usually highly dependent on your reason for staying there. It’s why the hospitality industry sustains everything from motorway-adjacent Travelodges to The Ritz, and perceived wisdom may be to find your niche and stay there. But, in mastering the tightrope walk that is appealing to both business and pleasure, the Conrad Istanbul Bosphorus is proof that, if you can combine great amenities, clever design and a team that knows its many and varied markets inside out, mass appeal can not only be a way to survive, but to thrive.

Rooms from £124 per night, visit hilton.com.