Swissôtel Ankara has appointed Murat Ucan as general manager. Ucan has many years of experience within the hospitality industry, starting as part of the opening team of Swissôtel The Bosphorus in 1990. Prior to joining Swissôtel Ankara, Ucan was with Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, where he was responsible for the pre-opening of the brand’s hotel in Istanbul, as well as the opening and managing of their hotel in Ankara.
Spanning two continents, Istanbul is a unique destination. This article provides an overview of the supply and demand factors currently affecting the city and a review of the hotel market performance.
Choice Hotels International, Inc, one of the world's largest hotel companies, announced today that it has expanded its international portfolio by welcoming its first ever property in Turkey. Clarion Hotel & Suites Istanbul Sisli, a newly built hotel, is located between the Levent and Taksim business areas and close to the cultural sightseeing spots in Istanbul.
Defne GEZEN IMHI 2002 has been apppointed Managing Director for DTM Hospitality Management, prior to that Defne Gezen was Vice President Jones Lang Lasalle Hotels Turkey. Defne is a member of RICS and ULI Turkey.
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®), one of the world’s largest hotel companies has announced the signing of Holiday Inn Express® Istanbul – Halkali. The hotel, due to open in 2014, will be the first internationally branded limited service hotel near Istanbul International Airport.
Wyndham Hotel Group, the world’s largest hotel company with approximately 7,500 hotels and part of Wyndham Worldwide Corporation (NYSE: WYN), today announced that it now has 30 properties in Turkey, firmly establishing the Hotel Group as the market leader by number of hotels open and operating in the country.
Intelligent Hospitality, LLC announced today that it has added Dedeman Bostanci in the greater Istanbul area to its globally growing list of hotels that benefit from its cloud-based hotel reporting and analytics tool, HotelIQ Business Intelligence ®. In addition to Dedeman Istanbul, Dedeman Bostanci is the second hotel in Istanbul to reap significant benefits from HotelIQ Business Intelligence ®.
Mehmet Önkal, Managing Partner of BDO Hospitality Consulting has been named as the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, to be presented at the Turkey & Neighbours Hotel Investment Conference (CATHIC). Selected by the CATHIC advisory board, the Lifetime Achievement Award is presented in recognition of the remarkable contribution Mr. Önkal has made to the region's hospitality industry throughout his career.
– DoubleTree by Hilton Izmir – Alsancak today welcomes guests for the first time, marking the upscale brand's debut in Turkey's third most populous city. The 115-room hotel recently underwent a refurbishment programme and boasts a stunning roof top pool and bar, providing views over Izmir's city centre and the Aegean Sea. The 21 storey hotel appeals to both corporate customers and leisure visitors, and incorporates a range of upscale amenities for which DoubleTree by Hilton is known around the world. Each guest at the hotel will be greeted with a signature DoubleTree by Hilton warm chocolate cookie upon check-in, and the welcoming atmosphere will continue throughout their stay, courtesy of the DoubleTree by Hilton CARE service culture.
When it opens on 1st September this year, Raffles Istanbul will be the perfect embodiment of the 'new' face of Istanbul: cutting-edge, eclectic and energetic. The hotel is at the heart of the Zorlu Center, a new hub for fashion, food and the arts on the European shore in Beşiktaş - overlooking the Bosphorus, the Princess Islands and the historic peninsula. This is a next-generation bazaar, where fashion, performance and art converge. Like those of its stylish sister, Le Royal Monceau – Raffles Paris, the sleek modern interiors at Raffles Istanbul will be embellished with an impressive collection of artwork, specially commissioned from local artists, a mix of paintings, sculpture, photography and video installations. These will all come together under the common influence of Turkish culture and heritage, giving the hotel a strong sense of place.
Marriott International continues its rapid growth in Eastern Europe with the opening of the Istanbul Marriott Hotel Sisli, taking the company's total number of properties to seven in Istanbul and eleven in Turkey overall. From its rooftop heliport and stunning views to impeccably furnished guestrooms and sophisticated event space, this five-star hotel is a first-class addition to Istanbul's skyline.
When it opens this summer, Raffles Istanbul will be the perfect embodiment of the 'new' face of Istanbul: cutting-edge, eclectic and energetic. The hotel is at the heart of the Zorlu Center, a new hub for fashion, food and the arts on the European shore in Beşiktaş - overlooking the Bosphorus, the Princess Islands and the historic peninsula. This is a next-generation bazaar, where fashion, performance and art converge. Like those of its stylish sister, Le Royal Monceau, Raffles Paris, the sleek modern interiors at Raffles Istanbul will be embellished with an impressive collection of artwork, specially commissioned from local artists, a mix of paintings, sculpture, photography and video installations. These will all come together under the common influence of Turkish culture and heritage, giving the hotel a strong sense of place. And as in Paris, Raffles Istanbul will have an Art Concierge, to steer clients through the city's exciting new art scene which, over the last few years, has shifted from heavily traditional to a reinvigorated one, energetically celebrating its new generation of artists. The Istanbul Museum of Modern Art, Turkey's first private museum to stage modern and contemporary art exhibitions, was founded in 2004 on the shores of the Bosphorus, and in 2012 the contemporary art space SALT opened. Last year a number of Istanbul art galleries attended Frieze London, as well as Art Basel in Basel and Hong Kong.
The Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, one of the largest and most dynamic hotel companies worldwide, announces the Park Inn by Radisson Izmir in Turkey. The property featuring 137 guest rooms is scheduled to open in Q4 2015. It brings Carlson Rezidor’s portfolio in Turkey to 12 hotels and 2,000 rooms in operation and under development.
Committed to the continued global expansion of its flagship Wyndham Hotels and Resorts® brand, Wyndham Hotel Group, the world's largest hotel company with approximately 7,490 hotels and part of Wyndham Worldwide Corporation (NYSE: WYN), today announced the signing of the Wyndham Ankara in Turkey, the company's first Wyndham® hotel in Turkey's capital city. The Wyndham Ankara, owned by ÖZ İNŞAAT SANAYİ VE TİCARET A.Ş, will join three Wyndham hotels open in Turkey since 2012, including the upscale Wyndham Istanbul Kalamis Marina and Wyndham Istanbul Petek in the cosmopolitan city of Istanbul as well as the five-star, 219-room Wyndham Izmir Özdilek in Izmir. The agreement supports Wyndham Hotel Group's aggressive global expansion of the Wyndham brand, which currently consists of 170 hotels throughout the world, 30 of which are situated throughout Europe and the Middle East. In 2013, the brand was introduced to both Germany and Austria through a strategic partnership with Grand City Hotels, which saw 60 hotels signed under the Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, TRYP by Wyndham® and Days Inn® brands. Earlier this week, the company also announced the addition of the Wyndham New Yorker Hotel in New York City, the brand's largest hotel with 1,083 guestrooms. "The Wyndham Hotels and Resorts brand is expanding rapidly across the globe and the signing of Wyndham Ankara is testament to that growth," said Rui Barros, Wyndham Hotel Group's senior vice president and managing director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. "It is a key part of our strategy to maintain this growth for our flagship brand while providing travellers with first- rate accommodation in key destinations." Anticipated to open this summer, the 138-room Wyndham Ankara has undergone extensive renovations to align its offerings with the upper-upscale Wyndham Hotels and Resorts brand, including an upgrade to the lobby and ballroom, as well as guestroom enhancements to be completed later this year. The hotel features extensive meeting space including a ballroom, terrace and meeting rooms, two restaurants and spa and fitness facilities. Guests staying at the hotel who are members of Wyndham Rewards®, the free-to-join guest loyalty programme of Wyndham Hotels and Resorts and parent company Wyndham Hotel Group, can earn valuable points during their stay. Points may be redeemed for a wide variety of reward options including free hotel stays, air travel, gift cards for leading retailers and restaurants and more. Information is available at www.wyndhamrewards.com.
Turkey's hospitality industry leaders will gather here in June for the Turkey and Neighbours Hotel Investment Conference (CATHIC) to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing Turkey's burgeoning tourism and hospitality industries.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. [NYSE: HOT] has signed an agreement with Cevahir Yapi Sanayi Turizm ve Ticaret A.S. to open a new Sheraton hotel in Istanbul. Set to open next year, Sheraton Istanbul Atasehir will reinforce the global growth of the Sheraton brand as it remains on track to open its 500th hotel by 2015.
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®), one of the world’s largest hotel companies, is making significant inroads in Turkey with the signing of three Holiday Inn® hotels– Holiday Inn Ankara Çukurambar, Holiday Inn Istanbul Tuzla Bay and Holiday Inn Istanbul Kadikoy.
yoo Hotels has opened its first yoo2 property in Istanbul –'The only city in the world that encompasses both Asia and Europe, Istanbul also straddles the ancient and modern worlds'. Travel and Leisure Magazine
Hilton Istanbul Bomonti Hotel & Conference Center, Istanbul's largest hotel, today welcomes guests for the first time. With 829 guest rooms and suites, as well as 12,000 square meters of event space, the hotel builds on Hilton's legacy of almost 60 years in Turkey, extending its world renowned service to travelers in one of Istanbul's most thriving neighborhoods.
İstanbul, because of its shortage in bed capacity and ever growing demand, both in leisure and business, will boom further with the start of megaprojects such as Kanal Istanbul. This undertaking will create an artificial sea-level waterway to minimize shipping traffic on the Istanbul strait.