Tag Archives: Turkiye

Turkish Airlines (TK) and Riyadh Air (RX) have agreed a Strategic Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding to offer a comprehensive range of benefits for guests traveling between the Kingdom, Türkiye and points beyond their Riyadh and Istanbul hubs, as well as lay the ground for deeper future collaborations. Guest of both airlines will be able to take full advantage of each carrier’s worldwide network through a comprehensive interline and codeshare agreement that will allow customers to seamlessly connect between and combine sectors operated by either Riyadh Air or Turkish Airlines. Turkish Airlines Chief Investment & Technology Officer Levent Konukcu and Riyadh Air CEO, Tony Douglas, signed the agreement at a ceremony on the sidelines of the ICAO Air Services Negotiation Event (ICAN 2023)  held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The intention of both carriers is that benefits will be made available to guests as soon as possible after Riyadh Air launches operations in mid-2025 and is subject to regulatory approvals by relevant authorities. The close cooperation will allow members of each carrier’s loyalty program to earn points or credits when traveling on codeshare services operated by the other, with both airlines also exploring opportunities to develop a broader loyalty agreement covering both global networks. In addition to offering a comprehensive range of guest benefits, the MoU also commits Riyadh Air and Turkish Airlines to work together to explore and implement broader synergies and efficiencies across the value chain, touching areas such as aviation related services, cargo and digital development. Turkish Airlines Chief Investment & Technology Officer, Levent Konukcu stated: “We are happy to start our relationship with Riyadh Air, a promising new player in the aviation industry. This Memorandum of Understanding is …

Marriott International, Inc. reinforced its long-term commitment to Türkiye with the announcement of 13 deal signings comprising over 2,000 rooms.  The signings are expected to further enhance the company’s footprint in the country where it currently has a portfolio of 48 properties and nearly 8,000 rooms across 21 brands. “As one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in the world, Türkiye continues to provide the company with opportunities to further diversify its portfolio across primary, secondary, and tertiary markets in the country,” said Marriott International Chief Development Officer – Europe, Middle East & Africa Jerome Briet. “These deal signings are a testament to the trust owners and franchisees have in Marriott International and the strong demand for our captivating portfolio of brands in the Turkish market.” The projects announced by Marriott International include the introduction of Fairfield Inn by Marriott in Türkiye with the signing of the 192-room Fairfield by Marriott Istanbul Yenibosna. Plans for the property include an effortlessly relaxed and efficient hotel design paired with a contemporary aesthetic.  The project will be a part of a mixed-use development in the Yenibosna district, which will also feature the 90-room Residence Inn by Marriott Istanbul Yenibosna.  Both properties are projected to open in 2025. Residence Inn by Marriott continues to meet demand for longer-stay accommodation in the country.  The company also signed Residence Inn by Marriott Istanbul Piyalepasa, which will form part of Piyalepaşa Istanbul, a 450,000sqm mixed-use development in downtown Istanbul.  Plans for the development also include the Courtyard by Marriott Istanbul Piyalepasa.  Both properties combined will offer 329 rooms when they open in 2026. Following the recent debut of Marriott Executive Apartments in Türkiye with Marriott Executive Apartments …

It was announced that DoubleTree by Hilton Sanliurfa (Türkiye) is slated to open this year. With a history spanning over 12,000 years, the city of Sanliurfa in Türkiye is a must-visit destination. DoubleTree by Hilton Sanliurfa is the perfect base for exploring the rich history – located just a short drive from the centre with its many historical buildings, parks, and museums. Elsewhere, the Neolothic archaeological heritage site and ruins of Göbekli Tepe are only a short car journey away from the hotel. After a day of exploration, guests can indulge in a relaxing treatment, including a traditional Turkish bath in the property’s dedicated spa or they may prefer to opt for a refreshing dip in the indoor pool. The 190-room hotel is certified eco-friendly and offers DoubleTree by Hilton’s award-winning friendly and reliable hospitality.

Hilton is on its way to introduce Bo Vue Hotel in Bodrum, its part of the Curio Collection by Hilton and one of the first to open by April this year. Situated along the Aegean Coast, The Bo Vue Hotel Bodrum, Curio Collection by Hilton is home to 1.2 kilometres of private white sandy beach and 102 stylish, modern rooms, complete with glittering sea views. Guests can enjoy a range of world-class dining options, including delicious Mediterranean and Aegean cuisine at Bo Giorno, Turkish feasts at Delmanzo or sumptuous seafood at Bacalao. Those looking to unwind won’t be short of options – indulge in a relaxing treatment at the ‘Spa Soul’ or take a refreshing dip in either the indoor or outdoor pool. For travellers looking for a little more adventure – the hotel is ideally located for local exploration – just a short drive away from the popular town of Yalikavak and a 40-minute drive to Bodrum Castle and the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus – one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Welcoming guests from April 2023.

Hotelbeds has recently announced strong demand for Türkiye. In the last 4 weeks, the volume of bookings has doubled compared to the same period in 2019, bringing more than one million international visitors to the country in 2022. To celebrate this success and to reinforce the company’s commitment to Türkiye, Hotelbeds CEO Nicolas Huss – accompanied by CCO Carlos Muñoz, Commercial Director Jorge Cortés and Regional Sourcing Director Jaime Amengual – visited the country at the beginning of June. During their stay, they were able to organise key strategic meetings with the Turkish Minister of Tourism and Culture and the leaders of the TGA (Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency), as well as with the Hotel Association of Türkiye (TÜROB) and several hotel partners. Hotelbeds CEO Nicolas Huss said: “It was a great honor to be received by the Minister of Tourism and Culture, Mr. Mehmet Nuri Ersoy and the TGA. We are very grateful for the opportunity to speak about our full commitment to the development of the destination and our plans for growth in the coming years. It was great to discuss the future of sustainability in travel as we explored different ways of collaboration. “We are also really pleased with the meeting we had with Ms. Müberra Eresin, President of TÜROB, and her team, where we were able to talk about Hotelbeds’ plans in Türkiye as we continue to grow together. At another meeting with AKTOB President Erkan Yağcı and his team, we were able to exchange valuable information about Antalya’s trends in tourism.” Nicolas accepted the invitation of AKTOB President Erkan Yağcı to be the keynote speaker at the 12th Resort Tourism Congress in Antalya in …

Stella Stays announces expansion into Turkiye, launching two towers in prime locations in Istanbul, Turkiye. Stella Stays Istanbul Etiler Tower and Stella Stays Istanbul Galata Tower will welcome guests from June and July 2022 respectively, offering tech-enabled, designer apartments with spacious living space, full kitchens and dedicated workspaces to both travellers and long-term residents. The launches in Istanbul mark the company’s first move into European markets, as part of an aggressive global expansion plan, after launching in Saudi Arabia in early June 2022. Stella Stays is actively exploring further opportunities in Turkey, as well as top destinations in Europe and globally. Mohannad Zikra, Co-founder and CEO of Stella Stays, said: “We are very excited about our expansion into Istanbul as it is one of the most visited cities in the world with north of 13 million annual visitors. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkiye projected about 45 million tourists and $35 billion in revenue for 2022 – a sharp recovery from the pandemic impact, with the majority of visitors coming from Europe. Istanbul is renowned for its rich culture, history, impressive architecture, a modern skyline and delightful shopping experience, which contribute to its popularity. Istanbul is also the gateway between Europe and Asia with a buzzing residential and hospitality real estate sector. These are the attributes that make Istanbul a perfect destination for Stella Stay’s global expansion. We plan to continue developing Stella Stays’s portfolio in Turkiye’s top cities and the surrounding regions.” Stella Stays enters global markets through master leases or profit-sharing agreements with real estate developers and property owners. The company uses proprietary algorithms that identify, evaluate, and select the most desirable properties around the world, …