Oya Narin

President, TTYD

Opening Speaker
‘Opening Adress’
Tuesday, 28 January 2020, 09:15-09:25

Ms Oya Narin is the President of the Turkish Tourism Investors Association. Born in Istanbul, she went to Saint Michel French High School and graduated from Hotel Ecolieré Lausanne in Switzerland. After completing her studies, Ms Narin worked in numerous hotels in Switzerland and the USA. From 1986 onwards, she undertook different duties such as Board Member, Vice-Chair of the Board and Chair of the Board at Narin Tekstil A.Ş. and Martı Otel İşletmeleri A.Ş. Ms Oya Narin is currently the President of TTYD.

Paul Pisani

Senior Vice President Development, Corinthia Hotels

Panellist
‘New Tourism Investment Trends’
Tuesday, 28 January 2020, 11:40- 12:30

As a member of the founding and owning family, Paul has spent his full career with Corinthia Hotels, joining the company straight from University in 1990. He rose through the ranks being promoted within a relatively short time to Group Marketing Manager, a position which he held for a 5-year period in the early 1990s. In the mid-1990s, Paul undertook intensive operations exposure which culminated with a move to Turkey where he was Regional Director for Operations and Development overseeing 5 Corinthia branded hotels, representing the Company on a daily basis in the relationships with the various Turkish Hotel Owners, while at the same time seeking to expand the brand in and around Turkey.
In 1998, he returned back to Malta where he took a full-time Development role in the capacity of Director of Business Development, spearheading the Company's expansion drive in EMEA. In late 2006, he became Vice President Development and then, in 2010, Senior Vice President Development, responsible for world-wide development for the Corinthia brand. Paul also sits on a number of Corinthia related boards.

Luca Bandecchi

Vice Chairman, Topaz Consultancy

Panellist
‘What Do Investors Want?
Wednesday, 29 January 2020, 11:05-11:55

Luca Bandecchi leads Topaz Consultancy, an Asset Management Company that provides comprehensive services in the Tourism and Hospitality industry including Food & Beverage and is part of SBK Holding LLC, the Holding Company of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. With its headquarters in the United Arab Emirates, SBK Holding has a range of companies that serve a broad cross-section of industries not only in the Gulf region but also globally.

Luca Bandecchi also covers the role of Vice Chairman of the SBK Hospitality Committee who is responsible for the four Hotels in the UAE that are operated by Fairmont Hotels & Resorts under Management Agreement.

Previously Bandecchi has leaded the creation of the Paramount Hotels & Resorts brand, which was launched in April 2012 on behalf of an international group of investors. His primary role was to head up the translation of the brand form the movie industry into hospitality, ensuring full integration and success in all concerned areas and define the operational strategy and development approach to guarantee success in the launch of the brand.

Bandecchi has covered senior positions to develop hospitality brands for other international companies like Salvatore Ferragamo and Giorgio Armani in Europe and the Middle East. Born and educated in Italy, Bandecchi graduated from International School of Business Sciences in Florence, then studied Hotel Management at Cornell University in Ithaca, USA.

Sayeli Uysal Ayaydın

Manager, HBA

Panellist
‘New Trends in Hotel Design – Build to Last: The Major Trends in Hospitality Construction and Design’
Tuesday, 28 January 2020, 17:00-17:45

Sayeli Uysal Ayaydin, Director of HBA International. After 22 years in the Hospitality Industry at Senior Management level, Sayeli’s innate design sense and attention to detail has created some of the most celebrated properties in the world. Project experience includes, Hotels, Country Clubs, Multi use Developments and Luxury Residences. Sayeli and her team has won several International acclaimed awards.

CID Awards 2010 Designer of the Year Award,
Hospitality Design Awards New York 2010 Best Public Spaces and Best Spa Award,
IHMRS New York 2011, Gold Key Finalist for Best Resort Design

Michael A. Johnston

CEO & Co-Founder , DIT

Panellist
‘What Do Investors Want?
Wednesday, 29 January 2020, 11:05-11:55

Michael is helping change the way people work, live and travel as Chief Executive Officer and Partner of DIT, a premier collaborative workspace and hospitality business in Europe. Michael is also a Senior Advisor, Co-Creator and first round investor in June Homes, a home sharing company, which recently closed its Series A at a $93 mln valuation, led by Softbank Ventures. Additionally, Michael is a Partner in Las Brisas Hotel Group, a family owned hotel investment and development company based in Southern California.

Prior to his entrepreneurial endeavors, Michael was CEO for Regional Hotel Chain, a leading investment and development company in Russia that he expanded from 3 to 9 hotels and ultimately sold at a 22x EBITDA valuation. As Head of Private Equity and Director of Global Strategy for KPMG and Deloitte, Michael consulted leading global private equity firms on M&A, CDD, PMI, change management, and operational improvements.

Michael was also an Investor Director at SigmaBleyzer, a top 5 PE firm in the CIS with over $500 million in committed capital and served on the board of the Four Seasons Lion Palace. Michael has an MBA from Thunderbird, School of Global Management and received a B.S. from the University of Southern California.

Daniel von Barloewen

Regional Senior Director of Mixed- Use Development , Europe Marriott International

Panellist
‘New Tourism Investment Trends’
Tuesday, 28 January 2020, 11:30- 12:30

Daniel von Barloewen is the Regional Senior Director, Europe of Mixed-Use Development for Marriott International. He is responsible for the development of branded residences throughout Europe, Russia and the CIS. With 14 out of its 30 brands available for branded residences, Marriott International has a global market share in excess of 27% of all hotel branded residences, more than its next 4 competitors combined.

Before joining Marriott in January 2018, Daniel spent 11 years at Savills, where he set up and ran the International Development Consultancy Department. A development surveyor by background, Daniel has particular expertise in market research, feasibility studies, financial appraisals, valuation, development consultancy, design consultancy, and marketing & sales consultancy.

Daniel is also a Major in the British Army Reserve, and has served in Afghanistan. He speaks 4 languages. He holds a Bachelors Degree from the University of Durham and a Masters Degree from CASS Business School.

Chauvin Jacques-Olivier

FAUCHON HOSPITALITY CEO

Panellist
‘New Trends in the Lodging Industry and its Brands’
Tuesday, 28 January 2020, 15:30-16:05

Jacques-Olivier Chauvin is an expert on luxury, with a 25-year career spanning both the hotel and retail industries. After graduating from Paris’ HEC School of Management, Mr. Chauvin was appointed Deputy Managing Director of the legendary Taillevent Restaurant in Paris, at a time when the company was diversifying to become a true gastronomic brand focusing on global expansion including a growing wine division. From there, he made a move to the iconic Louis Vuitton brand, supervising the opening of the first flagship store on the Champs-Élysées and gaining incredible knowledge in the luxury retail sector, which is still one of his true passions today. Chauvin saw many commonalities between retail and hospitality, as both possess the ultimate goal of exceeding the needs of the discerning customer. Not long thereafter, Relais & Châteaux invited him to assume management of sales and marketing for the brand, which he did for three years before being appointed General Manager. After a decade, however, Mr. Chauvin sought greater challenges and decided to take over as Vice President Europe of Van Cleef & Arpels, an exciting new opportunity which enabled him to become involved in the luxury jewelry industry while developing the European network. After a few years, it was time for his career to take an entrepreneurial turn as he was approached with several development proposals in the field of luxury food and hospitality. In 2016, he joined the FAUCHON board to support the opening of the brand’s first hotel, and was later named President of FAUCHON Hospitality in January of 2018.

Simon Allison

Founding President, Hoftel

Panellist
‘What Do Investors Want?
Wednesday, 29 January 2020, 11:05-11:55

Simon is the founding chairman of HOFTEL, the leading global association for hotel real estate investors who pay management or franchise fees to, or get rents from, the brands, with members’ portfolios now around US$ 100 billion. Members and subscribers include significant investors worldwide such as Katara, Union Investment, ADIA, Blackstone, Credit Suisse, Schroders, Canyon Equity, CapMan, CTF Development, Swire Properties, Sun Hung Kai Properties SC Capital, Frasers’ Hospitality Trust, Aldar, Dubai Properties and Harilela Hotels. We also have domestic players like Starboard Hotels in the UK, HR Group in Germany, Er Yatirim in Turkey and Boutique Group in Thailand; and Lionstone Development in the USA. HOFTEL holds meetings for its members annually in Europe, the Middle East and Asia as well as publishing a quarterly Hotel Owners Journal.

Simon has widespread hotel industry experience, having been Chief Development Officer at Onyx Hospitality in Thailand from 2009 – 2013 and, prior to that, Chief Financial Officer of both luxury operator Six Senses and of US$ 500 mm hotel ownership company Hospitality Europe. Before that he worked for ten years in the corporate finance division of JP Morgan in London, coming to head up their global hotel industry coverage.

Simon has an MA in Modern History from Christ Church, Oxford

Zeynep Fadıllıoğlu

Founder, ZF Design

Panellist
‘New Trends in Hotel Design – Build to Last: The Major Trends in Hospitality Construction and Design’
Tuesday, 28 January 2020, 17:00-17:45

Zeynep Fadıllıoğlu (b. 1955, İstanbul - Turkey). Following her graduation from the English High School for Girls in İstanbul, Turkey, Ms. Fadıllıoğlu has earned her degree in computer sciences in Sussex University before continuing her education in Computer Programming and system Analysis in the Control Data Institute. She, then, graduated from the Department of History of Art and Design at the Inchbald School of Design. Ms. Fadıllıoğlu jumpstarted her active career as she designed her spouse's, Mr. Metin Fadıllıoğlu, iconinc restaurants and clubs, working with contemporary designers and traditional craftspeople throughout design and production. Then, in 1995, she founded the design and architecture office, where she still works as the design lead and manager. Ms. Fadıllıoğlu taught design management and culture at Bilgi University for 14 years. In 2002, she was elected the Designer of the Year by Andrew Martin Design Awards, not to mention the Andrew Martin Design Review to which she attends with her projects for the last 17 years. Also, in 2005 she received the Design & Decoration Awards Modern Designer of the Year award. It was with her design for Chintamani, London that Ms. Fadıllıoğlu's faculties to transform local cultures to universal design was recognized at a global scale. Her Sakirin Mosque Project graduated her to global media attention as the first woman mosque designer, which won her the Aga Han Architecture Award in 2010. The very same year she was also awarded with the Visionary Award by the WIFTS Foundation International and in 2013 she promoted and launched for sale her collection at the 2013’te Paris Maison & Objets Fair. In 2019, she attended the Design Shanghai Forum by Design Shangai as a VIP speaker.

Renown for her designs that defy the boundaries of time, Zeynep Fadıllıoğlu, with her multidisciplinary team of 35, continues her career project-designing for hotels, shops and mosques on domestic as well as international platforms.

Tavit Köletavitoğlu

President of Atlas Construction

Moderator
‘Planning for the Future: Projects of Turkish Government on Tourism’
Wednesday, 29 January 2020, 09:15-09:55

(b. 1951, Malatya - Turkey) Following his studies in the METU Department of City and Regional Planning (1973), Mr. Köletavitoğlu served high-level or top managerial duties in both public (Ministries of Transportation, Rural Affairs and Tourism as well as the Tourism Bank and Ankara Metropolitan Municipality) and private sectors (Taşçı, Umursan, Transtürk, Net, Yapı Kredi Group Companies) until he founded the Atlas Proje ve Arazi Geliştirme ve Yönetim Şirketi (Atlas Project and Land Development Company) in 1997, of which he still chairs, providing consultancy services and/or actual managerial services in such fields as strategic management, real estate investments, tourism, transportaiton and project development.

Mr. Köletavitoğlu has also been involved in many professional as well as socio-cultural-based civil society organizations (ŞPO, ULI Turkey, ICC, TESEV, TÜSES, HISTORY FOUNDATION, TAÇ FOUNDATION, etc.) as a (founding) member and/or served managerial functions. Mr. Köletavitoğlu's career also involves other functions such as the Chair of the Executive Board, Chair of the Board and Chair of the High Advisory Council of the TYD (Turkish Tourism Investors' Association), the Chair of the Tourism Specialization Commission for the 8th 5-year Development Plan by the SPO (State Planning Organization) and the Chair of the TOBB (Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey) Tourism Council (2000-2001).

In 2001, he was awarded with 'the Gold Man of the Year' by the audiences of the magazine 'Para Dergisi.' Having published in a variety of journals and newspapers on issues such as urban transportaiton, planning and tourism, Mr. Köletavitoğlu is a father of two and speaks English.

Ali Güreli

Vice President of TTYD

Moderator
'The Impact of Art, Culture and Museums on Tourism Investments'
Tuesday, 28 January 2020, 17:30 - 18:20

Ali Güreli graduated from the Faculty of Business Administration at METU (Middle East Technical University). He is the Founder and Chairman of Contemporary Istanbul, under whose leadership the fair has become one of Istanbul’s most prestigious art events. Considered the foremost art fair of the region, Contemporary Istanbul has continuously expanded its strong global position and improved the international standing of both Turkish collectors and artists since 2005. Preceding Contemporary Istanbul, Ali Güreli founded and was the Chairman of the first contemporary art fair in Turkey “Art Istanbul” from 2001 to 2005. The founding partner of Istanbul Lütfi Kırdar International Convention and Exhibition Center (ICEC), Güreli was its Vice-chairman from 1993 to 2002 and played a key role in its management board. One of the founders of TÜROB (Hotel Association of Turkey), Güreli served as the President of the association from 1994 to 2001 and was the Board Member of The Marmara Hotels group from 1989 to 2002. Currently the Chairman of the Board of The Sofa Hotels & Resorts, Board Member of The Turkish Tourism Investors Association (TYD) and Vice President of Entertainment and Cultural Services Committee of the Service Exporters Association (HIB) Güreli is also Executive Committee Member The Tourism Development and Education Foundation (TUGEV) . Ali Güreli has a great passion to enhance the position of Istanbul as a cultural and intellectual hub where multiple dynamics embracing the Middle East and Europe converge. His entrepreneurial energy and enthusiasm spread across a wide array of projects to encounter new opportunities and development possibilities.

Thomas Emanuel

Europe Director at STR

Speaker
'Beyond Expectations: Strategic look into Global Tourism Data'
Tuesday, 28 January 2020 10:45-11:05

Thomas Emanuel is a Director at STR. He is based in London, and leads a team focused on driving business with Industry Partners.

He has spent his entire career in the hotel industry, beginning in 2000 with Miki Travel, before joining Hyatt Hotel & Resorts, where he gained experience in corporate sales at both the worldwide sales office and at property level. Thomas then led the corporate sales function for Hazlitt’s Hotels, a group of independent boutique hotels in London.

In 2006, Thomas joined the Deloitte HotelBenchmark team, where he was responsible for creating and leading the department’s business development function. He held this role until the formation of STR in March 2008, and has since focused on overseeing STR’s rapid expansion outside North America. Throughout his time with STR, Thomas has gained a wealth of experience working with hotels, investors, developers, consultants, banks, governments, destination management companies and many others.

Thomas has been a guest lecturer at Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne, and been invited and participated in the OECD's high level meetings on tourism policies.

Travelling extensively, Thomas has worked in over 45 countries across 6 continents and regularly speaks at major hospitality conferences around the world. He is also frequently interviewed for his insights on the hotel industry by news outlets including CNN, Bloomberg, CNBC, as well as various tourism and hospitality publications.

Alexi Khajavi

Questex, Managing Director EMEA

Moderator
‘New Tourism Investment Trends’
Tuesday, 28 January 2020, 11:40- 12:30

Alexi Khajavi is Managing Director of the EMEA region and Chairs the Hospitality & Travel Group for Questex LLC, a global business intelligence company that informs and connects buyers and sellers across five key sectors; hospitality, travel, healthcare, wellness and technology. Alexi is responsible for the overall management and development of the company’s global hospitality and destination communications properties and events including the International Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF) Summit Series, Destination Develop and Destination Development Investment Services, HOTEC and other destination and hotel investment events in the UK, Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Khajavi, who brings more than 20 years of travel, hospitality and marketing and sales experience to his position, joined Questex in 2014 as senior managing director of Destination Develop, a new digital media platform covering global tourism industry investment opportunities at the destination level, and Destination Develop Investment Services, an in-house agency that develops marketing and matchmaking campaigns and services for destinations and private-sector businesses in tourism looking for investment.

Prior to joining Questex, Khajavi was senior vice president, global strategy, for MercuryCSC, a creative agency specializing in the travel industry where he helped

designed global marketing campaigns for hotel companies, tourism boards and active lifestyle brands. Prior to MercuryCSC, he was one of the founding team members of the travel consortium Nature Group based in Costa Rica and helped lead the airline and hospitality portfolio to be awarded the fastest growing travel company in Central America between 2003 and 2010.

Alexis Delaroff

Accor, COO New East

Speaker
'Brands & Trends'
Tuesday, 28 January 2020, 12:30- 13:00

A graduate of Technological University in Saint-Denis, Alexis Delaroff began his professional career in one of the largest privately owned hotels in Paris, before joining Queens Moat Houses where he held several General Manager’s positions in France and Europe, managing hotels under various international brands.

He opened the first Holiday Inn in Moscow in 1998 before moving to Accor in 2002 as Opening General Manager of the Novotel Moscow Centre.

In 2006 he was appointed as Director of Operations of the office of Accor in Russia & the CIS and then its COO. Under his leadership Accor Russia & CIS has grown from 3 hotels in 2006 to 67 operating hotels in 2019 (more than 11,900 rooms). Currently, the company’s portfolio also has about 50 projects that will be opened in the region within the next few years.

In 2018 Alexis Delaroff has been given the new responsibilities – he is heading a newly created New East Europe region of Accor (Russia, the CIS, Georgia, Ukraine, Turkey and Israel) with 122 operating hotels (more than 23 980 rooms).

Ahmet Akbalık

ÖZAK Global, Chairman of the Board

Panellist
‘Mega Projects of Turkey on Stage’
Tuesday, 28 January 2020, 14:00- 14:45

Ahmet Akbalık, (b. İstanbul - Turkey, 1971) started his career in 1985, in Özak Tekstil (Özak Textiles); a family business. Then, in 1991 he founded Özak Tekstil ve Konfeksiyon San. ve Tic. A.Ş. followed by Özak GYO (Özak Real Estate Investment Trust) and Özak Enerji (Özak Energy) in 2008 and 2009, respectively. Finally, in 2009, Mr. Akbalık united all companies under one roof; Özak Global Holding A.Ş. Presently the Deputy Director of TİM (Turkish Exporters' Assembly) and a Member of the Board at both GYODER (Association of Real Estate and Real Estate Companies) and MİAD (Business Association of Malatya), Mr. Akbalık has served many functions throughout his professional career in many civil society organizations such as the Deputy Chairman of TİM, Deputy Chairman of IHKİB (İstanbul Apparel Exporters’ Association), Member of the Board and Member of the Executive Board of DEİK (Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey and the Member of the Board of BETUYAB (Belek Tourism Investors Association). Ahmet Akbalık still pursues his career as the Deputy Chairman of the Board at Özak Tekstil as well as the Founding Partner and Chairman of the Board of Özak GYO, Özak Global Holding and all affiliates. Also the Honorary Consul General of Macedonia in Antalya, Mr. Akbalık is married and a father of three.

Maribel Rodriguez

SVP Membership & Commercial, WTTC

Moderator
'WTTC Special Session: Investment Ecosystem Required for Investors in Emerging Markets'
Tuesday, 28 January 2020, 14:45-15:25

Maribel Rodriguez joined WTTC 2014. She has built an extensive network within the Travel and Tourism industry public and private sector, accumulating over 20 years of sales, marketing, communication and commercial experience in Europe and Latinoamerica in airline and hospitality industry. Executive Commercial Director and Board Member for Travelodge Hotels Spain from 2008 to 2014. Prior she spent 11 years in the aviation industry, gaining extensive experience in all aspects of commercial aviation managing among others the introduction of low cost airline operations into the Southern European market for: Virgin Express, Go-Fly, EasyJet and Ryanair. She also worked for British Airways for Spain, Portugal and France. Executive MBA at ICADE Business School , Degree in Industrial Psychology from University of Salamanca and hold a Senior Executive Program for Travel & Tourism at IESE & JSF. She speaks fluent English , Portuguese and good level of French and Dutch.

Barış Tansever

Founding Partner, Sunset Grill & Bar

Panellist
‘Gastronomy: Creative New Economy in Tourism’
Wednesday, 29 January 2020, 14:35-15:15

Born in Istanbul in 1967, Barış Tansever graduated with a BA degree from the Faculty of Business Administration at Boğaziçi University. Before opening Sunset Grill&Bar in 1994, he managed BURC Restaurant, founded by the Boğaziçi University Alumni Association serving the Boğaziçi University community and their guests between 1992-1994.

Mr. Tansever is very active in the Restaurant & Entertainment industry, he has been assumed many active roles in the sector, he was the founder president of TURYID (Tourism Investors and Operators Association) between 2003 and 2011, where now he is the chairman of the TURYID Advisory Board. Between 2005-2009, he was member and tourism sector representative in ITO board. Barış Tansever, who still continues to his work on behalf of the sector, is a member of the Board of Directors at BUVAK (Boğaziçi University Foundation) and also is an active member of the Board of Trustees of BUVAK.

Erol Tabanca

Founder of OMM Museum

Panellist
‘The Impact of Art, Culture and Museums on Tourism Investments’
Tuesday, 28 January 2020, 17:45-18:30

Erol Tabanca graduated from Ankara State Academy of Engineering and Architecture, Department of Architecture.

Having more than 35 years of experience as an architect and a contractor, chairman of the board Tabanca also works as the lead architect of the company in conceptual design projects in addition to senior management activities of Polimeks Holding.

He is also currently a board member of the Istanbul Modern Arts Museum, a board of trustees of the BAKSI Culture and Art Foundation, an executive council member of the Turkey – Russia Business Council of the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey (DEİK) and an advisory board member of the Contemporary İstanbul.

Erol Tabanca is also an art enthusiast, collector and the founder of OMM - Odunpazarı Modern Museum, which was opened in September 2019 in Eskişehir.

Hüsamettin Koçan

Founder of Baksı Museum

Panellist
‘The Impact of Art, Culture and Museums on Tourism Investments’
Tuesday, 28 January 2020, 17:45-18:30

Hüsamettin Koçan was born in 1946 in Bayburt. He was a faculty member at Marmara University Institute of Fine Arts for several years, where he served as the dean of the faculty from 1997 to 2005. He completed his research on Turkish Folk Paintings in 1980.

He was one of the founders of the UNESCO AIAP - International Association of Plastic Arts, and was the chairman of the Association between 1990-1995. He also founded the Istanbul Art Fair in 1991 and the Youth Action in 1994.

In 2005, he brought Baksı Culture and Arts Foundation to life, followed by the establishment of Baksı Museum in July 2010, which won the European Museum of the Year Award (EMYA) by European Council in 2014. He was awarded with Honor Award by Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) in the same year.

He has initiated various projects such as “Sanat Tır” and “Sanat Çadır”, aiming at disseminating art and culture in off-center areas.

Granted more than 35 awards, including Salzburg Honor Prize and Asia Art Biennial Painting Big Prize, Koçan has opened 45 solo exhibitions and participated in many national and international exhibitions.

Mehmet Nane

CEO, Pegasus Airlines

Moderator
‘Future of Air Transportation’
Wednesday, 29 January 2020, 11:55-12:40

Mehmet T. Nane became CEO of Pegasus Airlines in March 2016. Before that he served as CEO of CarrefourSA between 2013-2016, CEO of Teknosa between 2005-2013, and Vice Chairman of the Board of Teknosa between 2000 and 2005.

After holding various managerial positions at the Türkiye Emlak Bankası, Demirbank and Demir Invest, Mehmet T. Nane joined the Sabancı Group where he held roles including Vice President of the Strategic Planning and Project Development Department, Director of the Retail Group and General Secretary of Sabancı Holding between 2002 and 2005.

Mehmet T.Nane graduated from Boğaziçi University, department of International Relations, in Istanbul, in 1990. In 1993, Mehmet T. Nane received a full scholarship for his graduate degree from the Department of International Banking and Finance at Heriot Watt University in Scotland. He also completed the Harvard Business School Executive Management Program in 2013.

Between 2013-2015 Mehmet T. Nane served as Chairman of FAPRA (Asia Pacific Retailers Federation). He also currently holds the following positions: Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Turkish Federation of Shopping Centers and Retailers (TAMPF); The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) Retail Council President and board member of the TOBB GS1 Turkey Foundation; Chairman of the Board of the SEV Health and Education Foundation; Chairman of the Association of the Harvard Business School Turkish Alumni Association; Chairman of the Board of the Turkish Private Aviation Enterprises Association (TÖSHİD); and member of the Board of Governors of the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Moreover, he is the Founder Member of Yanındayız Association and Woman in Technology Association (WTECH) and joined the PWN Equality Ambassadors as a part of the Manifesto of Gender Equality Supporting CEOs by PWN Istanbul.

Melih Fereli

Founding Director of ARTER

Panellist
‘The Impact of Art, Culture and Museums on Tourism Investments’
Tuesday, 28 January 2020, 17:45-18:30

Melih Fereli attended the Istanbul High School for Boys until 1965, and completed his secondary education as an AFS fellow at Waynesboro Area High School in Pennsylvania State, USA, in 1966. He studied engineering in the undergraduate department of Robert College (now Boğaziçi University) and graduated in 1970. In 1971, he completed an MSc in Fluid Mechanics at Virginia Tech, USA. From 1973 to 1985, he worked at Lucas Industries in the UK. In addition to performing as a tenor member of the London Philharmonia Chorus, he also served on its executive board between 1985 and 1992, returning to Turkey in 1993 when he became director general of the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV). He continued in the post until 2001.

Between 2002 and 2005, Fereli worked as a freelance arts manager, before becoming culture and arts consultant at Vehbi Koç Foundation (VKV) in 2005. He was founding director of Arter when it opened in 2010. He curated Erdem Helvacıoğlu’s exhibition “Freedom to the Black” and Sarkis’ “Interpretation of Cage/Ryoanji”, organized by Arter. While still serving as Founding Director and Board Member of Arter, Fereli is also a member of faculty at Istanbul Technical University, Dr. Erol Üçer Center for Advanced Studies in Music. He is also a member of the TEGV Board of Trustees.

In 1998, Fereli received an OBE (Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) for his services to Turkish-British cultural relations

Saurabh Chawla

Chief Development Officer, Louvre Hotels Group

Panellist
‘New Trends in the Lodging Industry and its Brands’
Tuesday, 28 January 2020, 15:30-16:10

Saurabh heads the development for Groupe du Louvre, the holding company of Louvre Hotels Group, as the Chief Development Officer, overseeing the group’s ambitious development strategy world-wide.

In this capacity Saurabh has been instrumental in numerous acquisitions, mergers, strategic partnerships, and thus deriving significant growth (and EBITDA) each year for the group.

In addition to his Development role, Saurabh is also responsible for all of the Group International businesses, outside of Europe.

Prior to joining Groupe du Louvre, Saurabh was a partner with HVS’s London office, where he advised numerous owners and funds on maximising their investments in hotels.

Zafer A. Yavan

Founder and President, ZAY Strateji Public Affairs Consultancy

Speaker
‘Tourism Transformation in Turkey’
Wednesday, 29 January 2020, 09:55-10:05

Expertise: Policy Simulation, Political Risk Analysis, Government Relations, Crises Management, Civil Society, European Affairs, Macro-econometrics.

Zafer A. Yavan, before having founded ZAY Strateji Public Affairs Consultancy in 2017, served as the secretary general and the board member of TÜSİAD, and as the Capital (Ankara) representative of TÜSİAD in 2009-2016 and 2000-2008 respectively. Before, he has served in the State Planning Organization, Prime Ministry of Turkey, as an economist, department head and director for 14 years in various parts of the institution.

Both at TÜSİAD and in government he took major responsibilities at various junctures of Turkey’s economic and political development; among those, 1989 financial sector liberalization, 1994 Financial Crises, 1999-2000 and 2001 macro adjustment programs, 2001 and 2004 EU-TR membership negotiations, 2007 Turkey’s Constitutional Reform and numerous negotiations throughout 2000’s between the government and the business organizations.

Yavan, throughout his career, developed strengths in transforming his mathematical, statistical and econometric infrastructure into the political and economic risk analysis. Yavan has extensive experience and expertise on negotiation and crisis management. Yavan, also taught Forecasting and Open Economy Macroeconomics at METU and Ankara University respectively for some 10 years.

Yavan is the author of various academic studies on macroeconomics, econometrics, time-series forecasting and social policy fields.

Yavan studied, economics, statistics, operational research and received bachelor’s degree from Middle East Technical University (METU) Ankara, Master of Science degree from Salford University, Manchester UK and completed various macro modelling certificate programs at UPENN, USA.

Mustafa Sani Şener

Group CEO, TAV Airports

Panellist
‘Future of Air Transportation’
Wednesday, 29 January 2020, 11:55-12:40

Mustafa Sani Sener was appointed member of Board of Directors, President and CEO of TAV Airports in 1997. Under the leadership of Mr. Sener, TAV had huge growth financially and operationally. In the year 2000 the passenger number of TAV Airports was only 10 million, in 2018 it reached to 152 million annually. TAV is now in seven countries and operating 14 airports, the service companies which were established during this growth are giving services in 90 airports in 28 countries.

Mr. Sener, graduated from Karadeniz Technical University (KTU) Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in 1977, Şener earned his Master’s degree (M. Phil) in fluid mechanics in 1979 from University of Sussex in the UK. He has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate in engineering from KTU for “his invaluable contributions to the development of Turkish engineering at the international level”, as well as an Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration from the New Hampshire University “for his accomplishments in project and risk management throughout his tenure at TAV”. Prior to his career at TAV Airports, Şener served in various positions, from project manager to general manager, in national and international projects.

He attended the executive education program on the management of complex systems at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He gave a lecture in Harvard Business School MBA Program on TAV Airports Case Study by HBS.

Mustafa Sani Şener is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Airports Council International (ACI World) and was elected the President of Foreign Economic Relations Board’s Turkish-French Business Council in 2012. In 2016, Şener was awarded the Legion d'honneur by the President of the Republic of France François Hollande, due to his contributions to the relations between Turkey and France and he was given the High Honour of Service by the Georgian state. In 2019 he was honored with Medal of Merit for Macedonia Republic for the improvement of business and commercial relations in Macedonia and Turkey.

In the voting carried out by Thomson Extel among national and international finance corporations, he was chosen first in the category of “The Best CEO” in Turkey in 2010, 2011, 2014, 2015 and 2016, and third in the European Transport Sector in 2014.

Görgün Taner

General Director, Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV)

Panellist
‘The Impact of Art, Culture and Museums on Tourism Investments’
Tuesday, 28 January 2020, 17:45-18:30

Mr. Görgün Taner (b. 1959) is the General Director of the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV). A graduate of Boğaziçi University’s Department of History, Taner has been working at the Foundation since 1983 and has served as Assistant Director and Program Coordinator for Foreign Relations (1987-1994) and Director of the International Istanbul Jazz Festival (1994-2002) before being appointed as General Director in 2002.

He was the Chair of the European Cultural Foundation (based in Amsterdam) for 5 years between 2013-2018. He is also currently a board member of the Istanbul Modern Museum, and a member of the international advisory board of HEC Montréal business school’s International Arts Management Master of Management programme. Since 2014, he also serves as a member of the Advisory Committee of German- Turkish Youth Bridge. He is a member of Advisory Board, Allianz Turkey since 2015.

Previously, he served as the President of the European Jazz Festivals Association between 1998 and 2002, and as a member of the Advisory Board of the Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency. He was the commissioner of Turkey during the Cultural Season of Turkey in France, between July 2009 and March 2010.

Between September 2010 and May 2011, he was the Art Consultant of the Amsterdam Municipality.

He was awarded by the French government with the legion of honour (Chevalier dans l’ordre national de la Legion d’Honneur) in 2011, and with membership to the French Ministry of Culture’s Order of Arts and Letters in 2014. He also received the Officer’s Cross of Merit, Superior Service to the Republic of Poland in 2014.

Gökhan Avcıoğlu

Principal and founder of GAD, Global Architectural Development

Panellist
‘New Trends in Hotel Design – Built to Last: The Major Trends in Hospitality Construction and Design’
Tuesday, 28 January 2020, 17:00-17:45

Gokhan Avcioglu was born in Ankara, Turkey in 1961. Gokhan Avcioglu completed his education in KSU/BA in Architecture. He is the principal and founder of GAD in Istanbul, established in 1994. Among his projects are office buildings, public spaces, commercial spaces and residences in Istanbul, Bodrum, New Jersey, Washington DC, Virginia and Connecticut. Among his most recent award winning projects are Media City, AKH KNDU Villas, KUUM Hotel and Residences, Pınar Logistics Centre, Fish Market and Trump Cadde. A number of his projects have been short-listed for the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, including two projects in Kadikoy Park, completed in 1998 and 2004, Yalova Elyaf completed in 2001, and Esma Sultan completed in 2005. Recent awards include 2017 WAFX Smart City Prize, 2017 The American Architecture Prize, 2017 AR Future Projects Awards, Jeu d’Esprit Prize, 2015 Green Good Design, 2014 German Iconic Awards ... Gokhan Avcioglu has been recognized by a number of different publications, including Wallpaper, Surface, City Magazine, NY Times, The New York Post, Transforming Cities - Urban Interventions in Public Cities, Braun Malls and Department stores, Archtekturfuehrer Istanbul, Gestalten Lets go out, Monocle, Architectural Digest, Architectural Record, plus design books such as World Houses Now, Urban Houses and Cafes, Restaurants and Bars, Atlas of Contemporary Architecture, Modern Interiors - Cool Restaurants in Istanbul. Gokhan has also been featured in TV programs, including BBC Channel 4.Since 2001, Mr. Avcioglu has been conducting studios and seminars at the Ecole Speciale d'Architecture in Paris, Yildiz Technical University and Istanbul Technical University.

Gokhan Avcioglu is a member of RIBA, AIA New York Chapter, Chamber of Architects Turkey.

Naile Göçen Çukurova

Vice Chair Of The Board

Moderator
‘Sustainability: Today or Tomorrow?
Wednesday, 29 January 2020, 16:30-17:20

Graduated from İstanbul Technical University Faculty of Engineering and Architecture. Following her graduation, she joined the Post-Graduate program of Dortmund University in Germany and received the title of Master of Architecture. She started her business life at GÖÇAY Group as the Manager of the Finance Department. She is also a Founding Member of GÖÇTUR TUR.YAT. TİC. A.Ş. which was founded in 1987. Apart from being a Board Member, she also undertook the duties of General Director and Chair of the Executive Board of the company. Additionally she has undertook the duties of Business Coordinator, Investment Coordinator, Financial and Administrative Affairs Coordinator. In 2008, the SEGEM Selçuk Women's Training and Development Center was established and operated with her as the project partner within the scope of a Grant Project wherein 1600 women were provided psychological and legal counseling services and employed within the Tourism sector. Naile Göçen speaks German and English and is also one of the founding members of KUŞADASI TOURISM AND PROMOTION FOUNDATION, wherein she works as a volunteer for the promotion of Kuşadası region and overcoming its existing problems.

She also serves as Board Member of KODER and Chair of TÜSİAD Tourism Working Group.

She is married with two children.

Emre Arolat

Founding Partner and Lead Designer at EAA Architects

Panellist
‘New Trends in Hotel Design – Built to Last: The Major Trends in Hospitality Construction and Design’
Tuesday, 28 January 2020, 17:00-17:45

After graduating from Istanbul MSFAU-Mimar Sinan Fine Art University, he worked at Metcalf and

Associates Architectural Office, Washington D.C. He received his Master of Architecture degree from the same university. From 1987 to 2004, he worked as a design partner at Arolat Architects design studio, managed by his parents Neşet and Şaziment Arolat since 1961.

Emre Arolat continues his practice in EAA-Emre Arolat Architecture that he founded in 2004 with Gonca Paşolar. EAA has grown to become an office with over 50 employees, based in New York, London and Istanbul.

His work has been recognized by Aga Khan Award for Architecture, RIBA International Prize for Architecture and Mies Van der Rohe Award among many national and international awards. Emre Arolat has led design studios at various universities including the Yale School of Architecture, the Cooper Union, the Pratt Institute, MSFAU, YTU and IBU.

In 2013, Emre Arolat became a member of RIBA and was awarded a professorship by the International Academy of Architecture in recognition of his great achievements in the development of contemporary architecture in May 2015. Emre Arolat has been elected as an Honorary Fellow of the American Institute of Architects for his exceptional work and significant contributions to architecture and society on an international level in 2019. Emre Arolat was appointed to the Master Jury of the 2016 Aga Khan Awards for Architecture where he has been serving as a member of the Steering Committee for the AKAA since 2017. Emre Arolat has participated in numerous events as a keynote speaker organized by academic and cultural organizations.

Ömer Tosun

TTYD Member of The Board, Indigo Group President

Moderator
‘New Trends in the Lodging Industry and its Brands’
Tuesday, 28 January 2020, 15:30-16:05

Ömer Tosun was born in 1956 in Ürgüp, Nevşehir. He completed his primary and secondary education in Ürgüp. Due to financial difficulties, he started his career before completing his high school education. After working in various managerial positions at Emlak Bank and some private banks, he founded a carpet store called Indigo Gallery. Afterwards, he established Matiana Travel, Cappadocia Balloon, Museum Hotel, Lil’a Restaurant, Boutique Style Travel, Indigo Geothermal and Indigo Agriculture enterprises. Currently the Chair of the Board of Indigo Group, Ömer Tosun is also the Vice Chair of DEİK Turkish-Brazilian Business Council, Board Member of Cappadocia Tourism Infrastructure Service Union and Board Member of

Turkish Tourism Investors Association. The Honorary Consul in Brazil since 2013, Mr. Ömer Tosun was awarded the Brazilian Order of Rio Branco in 2018. Tosun is married and has two children. He speaks English and French.

Kasım Zoto

Member of the Board, TÜROB

Panellist
‘Gastronomy: Creative New Economy in Tourism’
Wednesday, 29 January 2020, 14:35-15:15

Serving as the CEO and the Chair of Armada Uluslararası Otelcilik ve İşletmecilik A.Ş. since 1994, Kasım Zoto was born 1950 in İstanbul. He went to Tarhan College in İstanbul between 1961-1967. Upon his graduation he received his higher education at İstanbul University, Faculty of Business Management between 1968-1971. Zoto speaks French, English and Greek.

Starting his professional career in the tourism department of Turkish National Youth Organisation (TMGT) in 1966, Mr. Zoto was the director of tourism commission until 1975. Between 1970-1974 he served as board member at Federation Of International Youth Travel Organization, between 2001-2004 as board member at International Hotel&Restaurant Association and from 1996 onwards as board member at Hotel Association of Turkey and also took on other managerial duties. Also a member of Turkish Tourism Investors Association, Kasım Zoto was involved in other social activities such as being the founder and manager of Ahırkapı

Hıdrellez Festivals Association between 1999-2011 and of Civil Initiative for the Historical Center (''the former Eminönü Platform'') since 2003.

Kasım Zoto, whose professional business life started when he became a founding partner of Evren Seyahat in İstanbul between 1975-1981, managed Evretur Seyahat and Capitales Tours, (Paris, France) travel agencies which he founded in 1981 until 1994 from France and Turkey. He also worked as owner and manager of the Kalkan Han Hotel he established in 1981 in Kalkan, Antalya. He founded Armada Uluslararası Otelcilik ve İşletmecilik A.Ş. in 1988. He commenced the services of Armada Hotel, which the mentioned company build in Sultanahmet, Ahırkapı, the historical center of İstanbul, in 1994.

Dr. Rıza Kadılar

Natixis Senior Country Manager and Representative for Turkey

Panellist
‘Mega Trends 2030 for Investors’
Tuesday, 28 January 2020, 14:45- 15:25

Dr. Riza Kadilar is a PhD in Economics. After a BSc degree at METU in Industrial Engineering, he has obtained his MSc degree at Stanford University, and completed his MBA at HEC, Paris and an executive management course on banking at INSEAD. He has various advance level diplomas in executive coaching and mentoring, and has recently attended online programs on leadership in digital age at Columbia Business School and INSEAD.His professional career includes senior level bank management experience in France, UK, Netherlands and Turkey. He is currently the senior country manager and representative of a leading international investment bank in Turkey.

He is the global president of European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC), chairman of China Institute Turkey, scientific committee member at Institut du Bosphore (Paris), and board member at Hisar Education Foundation (Istanbul). He is the author of five published books on various topics.

Dr. Kadilar is a visiting professor in leading Turkish universities, and has delivered numerous motivational speeches during the last fifteen years in more than thirty countries.

He is married and a proud father.

Ayla Heyfegil

Managing Partner, Servotel Corporation

Panellist
‘Branded Tourism Residences: Trend and Opportunities of Your Home, Branded’
Wednesday, 29 January 2020, 13:50-14:35

Ayla Heyfegil is the vice president and managing partner of Servotel. Founded in 1984 in London, Servotel is a leading boutique consulting firm with an unsurpassed depth of experience, research based know-how and a highly selective client base. The Istanbul office, established in 2003, acts as the know-how partner to investors, developers, hotel companies and financial institutions.

Servotel's operations are handled by high calibre specialists located at both the London Head Office, covering Western Europe and the Americas, and the Istanbul Office, covering Eastern Europe, Africa, Middle East, CIS and Southeast Asia. The company's experience spans the main areas of activity as tourism, recreation, residential real estate and office projects in 43 countries covering feasibilities, appraisals, concept creation, design management, development and coordination, management and marketing advisory services.

Ayla Heyfegil, has experience in developing projects in tourism, residential, mixed use and office functions; providing consulting services in concept development & project definitions, design management & design development coordination and sales & marketing to well-established and recognized projects in Turkey and CIS countries. Mrs.Heyfegil supervised major projects such as; Astoria Kempinski, Bodrum Kempinski, Çubuklu Vadi, Fairmont Bakü, Hilton Astana, İstinye Park, İstanbul Sapphire, Levent Loft, Macka Residence Interior design by Armani Casa, Trump Towers İstanbul, Ulus Savoy, Çiftçi Towers, Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum, and consulted investor groups such as; Akfen Holding, Astaş, Doğan Holding, Çarmıklı - Saruhan, Doğuş Holding, Eczacıbaşı, Fiba Holding, IC Holding, İş Gyo, Sakıp Sabancı Holding, Orjin Group, Özdilek.

Alejandro Zozaya

Executive Chairman, Apple Leisure Group

Panellist
‘Mega Trends 2030 for Investors’
Tuesday, 28 January 2020, 14:45- 15:25

As Executive Chairman of Apple Leisure Group, Zozaya leverages 30 years of industry insight to optimize global synergies between the Group’s fourteen leading travel and hospitality brands.

Prior to launching AMResorts in 2001, Alex held senior positions at Fiesta Americana Hotels & Resorts, where he directed all commercial activities for Latin America's largest hotel consortium. Alex's outstanding contributions to international hotel business have garnered numerous industry accolades, including recognition as “Hotelier of the Year” by Alta Hoteleria, for which he received the distinguished Diamante Award. CNN Expansion magazine ranked Alex among the “100 Most Important and Influential Business People in Mexico”, and on December 2019, the Dominican Republic Hotel and Restaurant Association (ASONAHORES for its acronym in Spanish) recognized him with the “Dominican Tourism Champion” award. Thanks to his thorough understanding of the tourism industry, Alex has held key roles on diverse tourism organisms: in February 2018, he was named Vice President of the Mexican National Council of Tourism Companies (CNET for its acronym in Spanish), main organism representing the tourism private sector in the country. In August 2018, Alex joined the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Executive Committee as Vice Chairman for Latin America and the Caribbean.

In August 29, 2019, after six years as CEO, and 20 participating in the many stages of the company’s trajectory, Alex took over the position of Executive Chairman of Apple Leisure Group, where he continues to play a strategic role in the company’s expansion.

Kaya Demirer

President, TÜRYİD

Panellist
‘Gastronomy: Creative New Economy in Tourism’
Wednesday, 29 January 2020, 14:35-15:15

After graduating from Ankara Koleji and receiving hotel and catering management training in the United Kingdom (University of Surrey 1988-1991), he started his professional life as a hotel manager in Bodrum, Yalıkavak. In 1994, with Karaf Restaurant he had his first experience with restaurant investments and managing in Bodrum, Gümüşlük. After a successful 5 years, he went on investing and managing in Ankara (1998 - Karaf Restaurant), Bodrum Gölköy (2001 - Havana Beach - Karaf) and İstanbul (2002 - NİŞ). He presented to the catering world of İstanbul Reina Niş in 2003, G by Karaf (Reina) in 2004 and Topaz in 2007. In the second half of 2010, he transferred his shares in his company bringing together the brands Topaz, Blue Topaz, Niş and Lipsi and opened the Frankie İstanbul Restaurant on the top floor of Sofa Hotel in 2012.

Demirer also served as Vice Chairman of TURYİD (Turkish Restaurant & Entertainment Association) between 2005 and 2010 and took on the duties of Chairman of TURYİD as of 2011. He is also the Acting Chairman of TAMPF (Turkish Federation of Shopping Centers And Retailers).

Ece Tonbul

Chairperson of The Executive Board, Paloma Hotels

Panellist
‘The Future of Resort Investments’
Wednesday, 29 January 2020, 10:05-10:55

Ece Tonbul is the second generation directors of the Paloma Hotels that represents the hotel investments

of Diana Travel which is a well-established and successful company of Turkish Tourism. Diana Group made its first steps into tourism in 1977 in Kuşadası as a travel agency and entered the hospitality sector in 1986 with Paloma Hotels chain. Today Paloma Hotels owns 9 resort hotels and manages 4+ to 5 star Resort Hotels with 9.000 bed capacity. It has more than 2.500 employees. With 9 hotels under its management, it hosts approximately 150.000 guests around a year.

After studying economics at Basel University, Ece Tonbul had MBA degree in Tourism and Hotel Management from Switzerland Campus of Manchester Metropolitan University.

Prior to her current position, she was the Director of Sales & Marketing of Paloma Hotels for 5 years. She had

been the Managing Director of the group since May 2010, responsible with entire operations, finance, business planning and development. Ece Tonbul has been promoted to chairperson of the executive board of Paloma Hotels in January, 2014. Apart from her active position in Paloma Hotels, she is the Honorary Consul of Belgium in Antalya and Executive Committee Member of Belek Tourism Investors Union (BETUYAB), Executive Committee Member of Association of the Mediterranean Tourism (AKTOB) as well as a Member of Tourism Assembly of Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB).

Murat Tabanlıoğlu

Founding Partner , Tabanlıoğlu Architects

Panellist
‘New Trends in Hotel Design – Built to Last: The Major Trends in Hospitality Construction and Design’
Tuesday, 28 January 2020, 17:00-17:45

(RIBA, Chartered Member, Int’l. Assoc. AIA) studied architecture at Vienna Technical University and graduated in 1992. He founded Tabanlıoğlu Architects in cooperation with Dr. Hayati Tabanlıoğlu in Istanbul in 1990.

Today his award winning practice is developing projects on four continents.

He lectures at universities and various international platforms besides his recent atelier program at Istanbul Bilgi University. In addition to his national and international contributions as a jury member, such as at AIA and WAF, Murat served on the Master Jury for the 2013 Cycle of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture.

Partners received MEA- Middle East Architect’s “Architect of the Year” Award in 2010 and in 2013 and in 2018, they are both selected as the “Architect of the Year” by Big Project ME. In 2018, Middle East Architects Magazine announced Melkan Gürsel - Murat Tabanlıoğlu as 2nd&3rd in the list of most powerful 50 figures who shaped the architecture of the ME.

Along with several prize-winning projects, e.g. RIBA International Awards in 2011 and 2013 respectively for Loft Gardens and Bodrum International Airport, Beyazıt State Library that is finalist for Mies Van Der Rohe Awards in 2017 and finalist for Aga Khan Architecture Awards in 2019, and several others, Murat curates exhibitions and designer of various instalation exhibited in international platforms.

In 2014 he has been granted with the great honor of curating the first Pavilion of Turkey at the 14th International Architecture Exhibition at the Venice Biennale. In 2015, he has been the curator of “Port City Talks. Istanbul. Antwerp.” exhibition at MAS Antwerp, as a major event of Europalia 2015 Turkey. Murat is also invited to create installations that are exhibitied at the London Design Festival; Summerset House and The Victoria & Albert Museum in London in 2015 & 2016. Recently he had exhibitions “Stage_0; Travelogue” in ArchitekturGalerie in Munich in 2017 and in 2018 “Re-composing AKM” in ArchitekturGalerie Berlin. He is the co-designer of “housEmotion” installation exhibite at Interni Milan2018, LDB2018 and Dubai Design Week ...

Dr. Erkin Erimez

Partner, ARGE Consulting

Panellist
‘Sustainability: Today or Tomorrow?
Wednesday, 29 January 2020, 16:30-17:20

Erkin Erimez graduated from Boğaziçi University Electronics Engineering Department in 1986. He got MBA and PhD Degrees in Business Administration from same university.

He started his career as teaching assistant in 1987 at Boğaziçi University. He joined Borusan Holding in 1990. He worked in Borusan Group for 23 years. He had responsibilities on Treasury, Finance, Risk Management, Investment in Foreign Countries, Strategy, Sustainability, Corporate Governance, Government Relations, Corporate Law, Corporate Secretary in Borusan. He was the Liaison Delegate of Borusan in World Business Counsel for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). He joined work streams in WBCSD and participated workshops and work groups in European Commission and European Environmental Agency.

He joined ARGE Consulting in 2013 as partner. His expertise are on: strategy, sustainability, risk management, governance, board processes. He lectures in Boğaziçi University Executive MBA in “Fundamentals of

Corporate Sustainability Strategy”.

He is the board member of UN Global Compact Turkey Network and Turkish Corporate Governance Association.

He is a member of Academic Board of Argüden Governance Academy.

He is a member of Integrated Reporting Turkey Network Executive Committee.

TÜSİAD participates workstreams in TUSİAD.

He is a Six Sigma Black Belt.

He owns Corporate Governance Rating License of CMB of Turkey.

Hüseyin Kadri Samsunlu

Ceo, IGA

Panellist
‘Mega Projects of Turkey on Stage’
Tuesday, 28 January 2020, 14:00-14:45

Kadri Samsunlu has been the Chief Executive Officer of IGA Airport Corporation since September 2017. Samsunlu has been leading IGA Airport Operation as well as IGA Construction since 2018 and completed the integration of superstructure arm of IGA Construction into IGA Airport Operation in the beginning of 2019. Samsunlu aims to ensure that Istanbul Airport, Turkey's vision project will be a leading regional hub.

Samsunlu, having worked as the general manager and the executive committee member of various investment companies in 1995 – 2006, acted as an investment and corporate finance counselor in Romania and Turkey for three years after 2006.

Samsunlu, having been CFO of Akfen Holding from 2009 until 2017, led many processes in this period, ranging from the launch of the first infrastructure Eurobond, to the realization of various PPP (Public-Private Partnerships) projects, finance management in tourism, real estate, energy marine transportation and airport sectors projects and mergers & acquisitions of the Holding Co. Samsunlu also worked as part of the public offering and delisting process of Akfen Holding. Akfen Holding and its subsidiaries received many international awards during his tenure. Samsunlu worked as a member of TAV Airport Holding executive board and audit committee between 2009 and 2012.

Kadri Samsunlu was born on the 17th of December in 1968. He completed his undergraduate studies in Bosphorus University, Department of Economy in 1991. He then finalized his MBA degree in University of Missouri, USA.

A member of the Association of Listed Companies' Executives, Çorum Education Association, Fenerbahçe Sports Club, Missouri Society of CPAs, among other non-governmental organizations, Kadri Samsunlu is married with three kids.

Reşat Bahat

President, OHSAD

(b. 1964, Giresun) Having completed his primary and secondary education in Giresun, Reşat Bahat started, in 1982, the Medical School at İstanbul University. After his graduation from the Academy in 1988, he started working as an Assistant Obstetrician at the İstanbul Training and Research Hospital, then as an expert Obstetrician and Gynecologist in 1993. He works as a Private Operator for Medical and Health Facilities since 1994. Chairman of the Boards of such hospitals as Özel İkitelli Bahat Hastanesi Kadın Doğum Uzmanlığı, Bahat Hastanesi, İkitelli Bahat Hastanesi, BHT CLINIC İstanbul Tema Hastanesi and Özel Gaziosmanpaşa Hastanesi, Bahat also serves as the President of OHSAD (Private Hospitals and Health Facilities Society). Bahat is married with 2 children and his spouse is an anesthesiologist at Bahat Health Group.

Süleyman Çetinsaya

Chairman of the Board, Artaş İnşaat

Panellist
‘Branded Tourism Residences: Trend and Opportunities of Your Home, Branded’
Wednesday, 29 January 2020, 13:50-14:35

Süleyman Çetinsaya (b. 1954 - Kayseri) established Artaş İnşaat in 1977, when he started hotels and residential buildings in Beyazıt and Yeşilköy (İstanbul).

Many international chain hotels built and operated by Artaş İnşaat since 1980s have won many a global quality and service awards. Then, starting 2010, the company has paced up its investments in tourism, building 5-star hotels and residences both in Kayseri and in İstanbul. As of 2020, Artaş İnşaat portfolio includes 6 tourism investments that will also be operated by the company.

One of the leaders of high quality branded residences in early 2000, Artaş İnşaat has delivered a total of 19.500 residences in various parts of İstanbul. 'Avrupa Konutları' the flagship project was awarded the 'Most Trusted Brand' prize in the 2nd European Union Quality Summit.

Artaş İnşaat is also actively involved in the retail sector with 5 shopping malls it has ocnstructed and operates. Furthermore, seasoned in the construction sector, the company also carries out social responsibility projects such as building many schools, healt facilities and mosques for charity.

Süleyman Çetinsaya, the Chairman of the Board of Artaş İnşaat Construction Company awarded by the Speaker's Office of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey with the 'TBMM Medal for Distinguished Services' is married with three children.

Alp Aksoy

Vice President of Hospitality, Diversey

Panellist
‘Sustainibility: Today or Tomorrow?’
Wednesday, 29 January 2020, 17:30-18:20

Alp Aksoy, Vice President of Hospitality at Diversey Africa, Middle East and Turkey, started working in the hospitality industry about 25 years ago.

He globally managed Diversey teams for esteemed brands such as Hilton, Accor, IHG, Kempinski, Wyndham, and Best Western to deliver hygiene solutions for improved guest satisfaction and the safety of guests and staff; while reducing total costs and the impact on the environment.

He has initiated efforts with governments in Egypt, Turkey, Poland, and China to improve the perception of hygiene and food safety in restaurants; stressing that good hygiene is a prerequisite for sustainability in the F&B business, and life itself.

Alp has worked on almost every continent. He has been based in Europe, and lately works from Dubai. He is a true believer that efficiency, quality, and respect - respect for the environment, respect for energy, and the people that make it possible, should be at the center of any sustainable business endeavor that aims for success.

Erden Timur

Ceo, NEF

Panellist
‘Branded Tourism Residences: Trend and Opportunities of Your Home, Branded’
Wednesday, 29 January 2020, 13:50-14:35

Erden Timur, the creator of Foldhome and Foldoffice concepts, was born in Mersin in 1982 and is a CEO. After having completed his secondary education at Tarsus American College, he obtained a degree in Law at Marmara University in 2005 as well as economics education at the London School of Economics thereafter. Erden Timur subsequently started his professional career at Timur Real Estate Development Construction and Investment Joint Stock Company.

Erden Timur introduced new principles that will change the working and production approach of the sector to the real estate sector with the Nef brand that he established in 2010. He established his working approach on ‘Share the grief of others’ at the Nef brand, which was inspired from the Turkish origin of the word ‘Nefes’ (to breathe). He took as a mission the approach that allows the people to have the design as a lifestyle rather than a luxury and broke new ground with his 24 room Foldhome/Foldoffice home concept in Turkey and the world. Nef was the first real estate company to participate in the “100% Design London” fair, which is the most important trade fair in the design sector. Erden Timur, focusing on the expectations and needs of people, is rather distinct nationally and internationally thanks to his 18 discoveries (patented or patent pending).

The projects developed by Erden Timur, who has attended many internationally famous media channels, including Wired with Nef brand, are today applied in Turkey and many other countries throughout the world.

Erden Timur participates in the Urban Vision platform by the voluntary cooperation of NEF and Urban Strategy companies.

Kike Sarasola

Founder & President, Room Mate Group

Keynote Speech
Tuesday, 28 January 2020, 16:05-16:20

Geleceği gören, ezber bozan ve aykırı aykırı karakteri Kike'yi Turizm sektörünün öncülerinden biri haline getirmiştir. Kike için bütün bu süreç 10 yıl kadar önce tasarladığı o meşhur 'Yat, Yıkan, Ye' (Bed, Bath, Breakfast) olarak ifade edilebilecek '3Y' yaklaşımının uygulayıcısı Room Mate Hotels'i yaratmasıyla başlamıştır. Dünyanın önemli şehirlerinin göbeğinde her keseye uygun lüks anlayışından hareketle hayata geçirilen Room Mate Hotels günümüzde 7 farklı ülkede varlık göstermektedir.

2014 yılına gelindiğinde Kike Sarasola evlerimizdeki özgürlük alanımızı otel hizmetleri ve güvenliğiyle birleştiren 'Be Mate' ile çalışmalarını farklı bir aşamaya taşıyarak, sektörüne farklı bir rekabetçi soluk getirmiştir. Meslektaşlarınca esasen reddedilmesine rağmen, geliştirmiş olduğu bu yeni iş modeliyle Kike konaklama sektöründe tüm kuralları alaşağı etmiştir. Kaldı ki 3 sene geçmeden niceleri Kike'nin yolunda yürümeye başlamıştır.

Kike, aralarında 2017 Avrupa Altın Başarı Madalyası ve 2015 yılında İspanya Bakanlar Kurulu'nca verilen Turizm Başarı ödülleri dahil ancak bunlarla da sınırlı olmamak üzere farklı uluslararası ödüllere layık görülmüştür.

Erkan Yağcı

President of AKTOB , Member of the Board Concorde Hotels

Panellist
‘The Future of Resort Investments’
Wednesday, 29 January 2020, 10:05- 10:50

Erkan Yağcı who was born in 1979, graduated from Bilkent University, Department of Tourism and Hotel Management ranking first in his department. He was named the leader person from Turkey by International Institute for Ethics and Quality during his university education. After his undergraduate education, he completed his master of business administration (MBA) at Northeastern University D’Amore-McKim School of Business in Boston, United States of America.

Since 2005 until today, by leading innovations in terms of business administration in accommodation sector within the structure of membership of Board of Directors of Concorde Hotels, he has been actively involved in tourism sector with a different perspective on change. Especially in those years when tourism sector achieved growth shown with double digit figures, he was one of the opinion leaders of contributing to sustainable growth of the sector in the future vision in terms of structure.

Performing his works in non-governmental organizations besides his active works in the sector, Yağcı works as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Mediterranean Touristic Hoteliers Association. He nationally represent tourism sector as Board Member of Turkey Hoteliers Federation (TÜROFED) and Tourism Council Member of The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB).

After various experiences he gained in the field of tourism management besides his active role in national tourism organizations, Yağcı whose interest and global perspective mediate his works in international area of the sector, is Business Council Member of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) which is the largest tourism organization in the public sphere. He is also member of World Tourism and Travel Council (WTTC) which is the world's leading tourism organization in the private sector.

One of the pioneers of the new generation hotel management, Yağcı continued his studies in academic field and completed his doctorate in Department of Tourism at Akdeniz University. In his doctorate studies, he carried out studies relating to level of institutionalization in the accommodation sector, especially in terms of further strengthening of the accommodation sector and prospective future of the sector and relating to what should be done.

He has also been awarded various awards by national and international tourism organizations for works he carried out.

Yağcı who still works at Concorde Hotel, is married and has a child.

İzel Levi Çoşkun

TÜSİAD

Panellist
‘Sustainability: Today or Tomorrow?’
Wednesday, 29 January 2020, 16:30-17:20

Dr. Izel Levi Coskun, born in 1973, graduated from Istanbul University, Business Administration and studied MBA at University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign. Dr. Coskun lectured entrepreneurship courses between 2004-2014 at Marmara University where he obtained his PhD with his thesis on “Corporate Sustainability”. His professional life began in 1991 and he gained experience in accounting, audit, tax, consultancy and internal audit. Dr. Coşkun owns Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Capital Markets Board and Public Oversight Accounting and Auditing Standards Authority licenses. He became the Managing Partner of Mazars Denge in 2010. During the last two years he has been working as a Corporate Sustainability Ambassador to spread the sustainability perspective in Mazars and all its stakeholders.

Dr. Izel Levi Coskun harmonized his experience in various sectors with two core values “Sustainability” and “Entrepreneurship”. He has been writing articles about “Sustainability” and “Entrepreneurship” for Harvard Business Review blog and other foremost business mags in Turkey.

Dr. Izel Levi Coskun is a member of Turkish Industry & Business Association (TUSIAD)and at the same time Head of the Steering Committee for TÜSİAD’s entrepreneurship project “These Young People Have the Potential, Union of Chambers of Certified Public Accountants of Turkey, Turkish Internal Auditors’ Association, Turkish Association of Accounting Experts, Endeavor, Keiretsu Forum, Buğday Association for Supporting Ecological Living, Gökçeada Volunteers Association, TAİDER Family Business Association, Turkish Marine Environment Protection Association, Ada Dostları Association and Transparency International Turkey.

Davina Cisier

Director Development Luxury Hotels Europe, Accor

Panellist
‘New Tourism Investment Trends’
Wednesday, 29 January 2020, 11:40-12:30

Davina Cisier is Director Development Luxury for Accor. She joined Accor in July 2016 through the acquisition of FRHI Hotels and Resort. Prior to joining the Development department of FRHI and then Accor, Davina worked in Revenue Management for the Swissôtel Metropole Geneva and Swissôtel Bosphorus Istanbul.

Currently Davina is leading the growth of the Accor Luxury portfolio in Europe, which include the luxury and LifeStyle brands of the Group Accor: Banyan Tree, Raffles, Orient Express, Delano, Fairmont, SLS, So Sofitel, Sofitel, The House of Originals, Mondrian and Hyde . Most recently, she concluded the hotel agreements for the new Sofitel Taksim Istanbul, Fairmont Grand Hotel Geneva as well as the the future Fairmont Golden Prague, the SO/ Sotogrande and the Raffles London.

Davina holds a Bachelor of Science in International Hospitality Management, with a major in Finance, from the Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne in Switzerland.

Levent Nart

Levent Nart / President & CEO, NART Insurance and Reinsurance Brokerage Inc.

Panellist
‘New Tourism Investment Trends’
Wednesday, 29 January 2020, 11:40-12:30

Davina Cisier is Director Development Luxury for Accor. She joined Accor in July 2016 through the acquisition of FRHI Hotels and Resort. Prior to joining the Development department of FRHI and then Accor, Davina worked in Revenue Management for the Swissôtel Metropole Geneva and Swissôtel Bosphorus Istanbul.

Currently Davina is leading the growth of the Accor Luxury portfolio in Europe, which include the luxury and LifeStyle brands of the Group Accor: Banyan Tree, Raffles, Orient Express, Delano, Fairmont, SLS, So Sofitel, Sofitel, The House of Originals, Mondrian and Hyde . Most recently, she concluded the hotel agreements for the new Sofitel Taksim Istanbul, Fairmont Grand Hotel Geneva as well as the the future Fairmont Golden Prague, the SO/ Sotogrande and the Raffles London.

Davina holds a Bachelor of Science in International Hospitality Management, with a major in Finance, from the Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne in Switzerland. Panellist ‘Risk Management in Tourism’ Wednesday, 29 January 2020, 15:30-16:20 Brokerage Inc. NART is one of the Turkey’s leading Insurance Brokers specialising in large risks. He graduated from Ege University and then the University of Cologe, Faculty of Business Administration.

He began his career in 1984 at AXA Colonia Konzern in Germany as a management trainee and became an industrial consultant. From 1987 to 1999, he was the CEO and President of Nordstern UAP, AXA Oyak Insurance Companies in Turkey, In 1999, he established NART, and within 5 years, this company became the largest independet Insurance Broking Service Company in Turkey,

NART Insurance and Reinsurance Brokerage Inc. is providing risk management services for Turkish and international industrial companies in more than 136 countries. Levent NART was President of Turkish Insurance Broker Association (SBD), the Founder Board Member of German & Turkish Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Istanbul, Supervisory Board Member of Turkish Young Businessmen Association of Turkey (TUGIAD) Vice Board Member of Turkish Industrialists Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD) in Turkey.

Levent Nart speaks English, German fluently and basic French. He is married and has two childeren.

Atilla Benli

CEO, Gunes Insurance Turkey

Panellist
‘Risk Management in Tourism’
Wednesday, 29 January 2020, 15:30-16:20

Atilla Benli is the CEO and Board Member of Gunes Insurance in Turkey. He started his career at Garanti Bank as an Auditor, later he was appointed as Foreign Trade and Credits Operations Manager. Atilla did various projects on bank operations in Garanti Insurance as the Director in 2007. Later he joined Cardif as the EVP where he was responsible for the management of finance, collection, HR, claims, general administration and legal affairs and coordination of the partners which were mostly bank and financial institutions until 2010.

Then he joined Groupama Insurance and Groupama Life & Pension companies where he worked until 2012 as CCO responsible from the management and strategy of claims, recovery, network management, logistics, procurement, general administration and legal affairs. Prior to joining Gunes Insurance, Atilla worked for Vakıf Pension as the EVP responsible from sales, finance, HR, claims and operations and after moved to Zurich Insurance as the CCO and Board Member responsible for claims, recovery, logistics, legal affairs and distribution sales channels. He joined Gunes Insurance as the CEO in 2019.

He is Chairman of the Insurance Association of Turkey and Assurance Account also Board Member in TARSIM, TURK P&I Insurance and Council of Europe Pension Rezerv Fund.

Atilla studied Public Administration in Istanbul University and holds a Master’s Degree in Insurance from Marmara University.

Taner Işık

Country Manager of Atradius CyC S.A. de Seguros y Reaseguros for Turkey

Panellist
‘Risk Management in Tourism’
Wednesday, 29 January 2020, 15:30-16:20

Graduated from METU Industrial Eng. Department in 1991. Joined the MT program of Yapı ve Kredi Bankası A.Ş. within the Corporate Banking Credit Marketing Department on the same year.

Until 2001 worked in the Aşirefendi, Bursa and Altunizade Corporate Branches of the bank as Account Manager, Marketing Manager and Branch Manager.

During 2001-2003 worked as the Branch Manager of Altunizade and Marmara Corporate Branches of Koçbank A.Ş. During 2003-2012 worked as Corporate Banking Department Head, Istanbul Corporate Branch Manager, Corporate and Commercial Credits Division Head and finally Commercial Banking Division Head within Akbank TAŞ. Since Feb 2012, is the Country Manager of Atradius CyC S.A. de Seguros y Reaseguros for Turkey. Married with one child.

Selda Susal Saatçi

Communications and Affairs Director, Anadolu Efes Turkey Corporate

Panellist
‘Sustainability: Today or Tomorrow?’
Wednesday, 29 January 2020, 16:30-17:20

Selda Susal Saatçi graduated from the Department of German Language and Literature at Istanbul University in 1995. She completed the Leadership Development Program at Harvard Business School in 2008. Selda Susal Saatçi started her professional career at Turkcell where she worked as Communication and Public Relation Assistant Manager between 1995-1996 and continued to work as Corporate Communication and Public Relations Specialist and Public Relation Manager at Telsim between 1996-2001. Meanwhile, she was a Visiting Lecturer at Istanbul University in 1999-2001. She then worked as Public Relation Manager, Corporate Communication Manager, Mediterranean and North Africa Area Corporate Communication Manager and Corporate Communication Director at DHL Worldwide Express, respectively in 2001-2009; Head of Corporate Communication at Philip Morris between 2009 – 2015. She worked as Strategic Communication Consultant and Advisory Board Member at askbmm Consulting and Founder at LiveGlobalEatLocal/YeatUp between 2015-2019. Selda Susal Saatçi joined Anadolu Efes Turkey in November 2019 and continues to work as Anadolu Efes Turkey Corporate Communications and Affairs Director.

Kaan Kâşif Kavaloğlu

Limak Tourism Group CEO

Kaan Kâşif Kavaloğlu was born on 08.01.197 in İstanbul. After receiving his secondary and tertiary education at the English High School For Boys and Nişantaşı Anatolian High School, he graduated from İstanbul University Faculty of Economics Department of Finance and attended the Master's programmes at İstanbul University in the field of Tourism and Hotel Management and at Marmara University in the field of Sales Management.

Starting his career in hotel management in 1989 as a security officer in the Ramada Hotel, Mr. Kaan Kavaloğlu later on served at the front desk and guest relations department of the same hotel.

He was the Sales and Marketing Director and Hotels Sales Director in Merit International Hotels & Resorts from 1994 until 1998.

He started his duty as Vice Managing Director of Limak International Hotels & Resorts in 1998 and went on to become the General Manager of Limak Atlantis Deluxe Hotel & Resort in 2002, and since 2004 he has served as the General Coordinator for Limak Hotels and the Chair of Limak Holding's Tourism Group.

Oktay Varlıer

Former Chairman of the Board TTYD

Following his graduation from the Department of Finance at the Faculty of Political Sciences in 1965, in 1967 Varlıer completed his post-graduate studies on Economic Development at the Vanderbildt University in the US adn on Econometry at Manchester University in the UK followed by a PhD in the same field in Ankara, in his former school.

Varlıer has many published articles, books and studies.

Having served as an expert and a director on various levels at the State Planning Organization between 1967-1978, Oktay Varlıer worked as the head of the State Statistical Institute between 1978-1980, when, at the same time he also served as the Chairman of the Board of the National Productivity Institute, Chairman of the Board of the Social and Economic Statistics Training Center, member of the Technical Board of the Turkish Statistical Institute and as a tutor at the Department of Economy at the Middle East Technical University (1983-84), General Director and Member of the Board at Nasa İnşaat Sanayii ve Ticaret A.Ş, International Marketing General Director and the Member of the Board at the T.A.F. Gıda Sanayii ve Dış ticaret Pazarlama A.Ş. (1984-1985), as the General Director of Sistaş Siirt Meyan Kökü Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş. under Alarko Group (1986-1987), as the Head of the Tourism Department at the latter company, Alarko, (1987-2007) where he also served as a Member of the Board, Foreign Relations Coordinator and the Deputy Chairman of the Board at Alsim Alarko San.Tes.ve Tic. A.Ş.

Varlıer also served as the Chairman of the Board of the TYD - Turkish Tourism Investors Association (2001-2005).

Hüsnü Akhan

Deputy Chairman, Doğuş Group

Hüsnü AKHAN completed his secondary and high school education at Birecik High School (Şanlıurfa). He is a graduate of Middle East Technical University, Department of Business Administration and received his Master’s degree in Economics from University of Miami (USA). Akhan served at various positions of the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey. He served as Representative at London Office and Assistant General Manager at the Foreign Relations Department of the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey. He joined Doğuş Group in 1994. After serving as the Executive VP responsible for Treasury, Operations and Foreign Relations at Garanti Bank, he was assigned as the General Manager of Körfezbank in 1998. Akhan was a Board Member and CFO of Doğuş Group during 2001-2005, Board Member and CEO of Doğuş Group during 2006-2019. As of July 2019, he has been assigned Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of Doğuş Group. Additionally, he currently serves as the Chairman of the Board for Dogus Real Estate, Dogus Construction, Dogus Data Processing & Technology, Hedef Medya Related Digital Marketing, PIT Istanbul Hotel Management Company, Korfez Aviation, Doğuş Planet Electronics & Informatics Services, Ara Güler Doğuş Art & Museum, and as a board member for TUVTURK, VDF.

Vahap Munyar

Başkan Yardımcısı, TOBB

He was born in Malatya in 1958. He completed his primary, secondary and high school education in Malatya. In 1980, he graduated from the Istanbul Academy of Economics and Commercial Sciences, Journalism and Public Relations College (now Marmara University Faculty of Communication). In 1978, he took the first step to the profession by working in an archive. In 1979 he moved to Anka News Agency’s Istanbul office. In the summer of 1980, he transferred to the National Press Agency (UBA). In 1981 his path crossed with Dünya Newspaper. At the end of the same year, he transferred to Tercüman Newspaper and worked as a reporter for 2.5 years.

In 1984, he started to work for Hürriyet Newspaper’s Economic Service as a reporter. Six months later, in May 1987, he became one of the managing editor of Söz Newspaper which was preparing to publishing at that time. He left Söz at the first day of its was published. He worked for 5 years in Milliyet Newspaper’s Economic Service, which he passed in November of the same year. He returned to Hürriyet in October 1992 as the Deputy Economy Editor.

4-5 years later he became Hürriyet Economy Editor. With this task, he started writing his column. He continued as Hürriyet Economy Editor for 15 years without interruption. In 2007, he left his managerial duty voluntarily and focused only on the column. In addition to the economic articles in the newspaper, he worked as the Editor-in-Chief of Hürriyet between May 2018 and November 2019.

He still continues his column in Dünya Newspaper as well as serves as a General Coordinator in establishment.

He is married to his colleague Emine Munyar. After finishing her music education in the USA, her daughter Sırma is trying to get a place in the market with the pieces she wrote and composed. He is the Vice President of Turkey Journalists Association (TGC) and the founding president of the Media and Communications Council of Turkey Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB). After 3 years of presidency, he continues to serve as Vice President for the council. Darüşşafaka Society Advisory Board Membership, Malatya Education Foundation (MEV) board member, Malatya Businessmen Association (MİAD) Board Member, Gülsan Education and Culture Foundation Board of Trustees member are among the duties he is trying to contribute to for social purposes.

Ramine Behnam

Vice President Development, Minor Hotels

Ramine Behnam is responsible for the Development of Minor Hotels across Europe, Middle East and Africa. With over 15 years of experience in operations, consulting, asset management and development, Ramine and his team drive the company’s organic growth.

His role entails maintaining close Owner relationships while developing a strategic pipeline, formulating and implementing regional growth plans and assessing proposed projects in line with the company’s current portfolio and long term vision. He subsequently looks after commercial and legal negotiations to ensure a mutual accord is established with Owners.

Prior to joining Minor, Ramine was in Development across Middle East and Africa with Starwood Hotels and Marriott International. His career also includes senior advisory roles with JLL Hotels Middle East & Africa, asset management for the M.A. Kharafi Group and operations with Marriott in London.

Erdem Akan

Design Director, Eczacıbaşı Group of Construction Products

Erdem Akan (b. 1973 - İstanbul) considers himself as the 'Unruly Child of Turkish Design.' Following his undergraduate studies in the Mechanical Engineering Department at the Boğaziçi University, Akan completed his graduate studies in 1998 in the Industrial Design Department at Salford University in the UK. Then he graduated from the Design Management Department at Bilgi University in 2001.

Matthew Warner

Business Development Coordinator, Real Estate Division

Matthew has more than 30 years’ experience in International Real Estate.

Astaş Holding has developed some of the most iconic Luxury Lifestyle projects in Turkey, including Maçka Residences Interior Design by Armani Casa; Bellevue Residences Managed by Kempinski; Kempinski Residences Astoria; Mandarin Oriental Bodrum and The Residences at Mandarin Oriental Bodrum. Ongoing projects include Mandarin Oriental Bosphorus, Istanbul; Mandarin Oriental Etiler, Istanbul and The Residences at Mandarin Oriental Etiler, Istanbul.

Matthew is a professional Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors; former Country head of King Sturge, Turkey and former London Board Member of Lambert Smith Hampton

Avi Alkaş

Alkaş Chairman & JLL Turkey Country President

With more than 25 years of industry experience, Avi Alkas is a trailblazer in the commercial real estate market. He is personally responsible for introducing the “mall” concept to Turkey in the late 1980’s and set the terms and standards for retail leasing, shopping center management and concept development in Turkey. Earlier in his career, he initiated and developed projects like Akmerkez, Carousel and the İzmir Outlet Center. In 1997, Avi established his own consulting company (Alkas CS Management) and then went on to develop a whole string of projects including Maxi, Karada Marina, Olivium, Tepe Nautilus, "Optimum,

Armada, KayseriPark, KoruPark, İstinyePark and Kent Meydanı.

In 2008, Avi’s firm was acquired by Jones Lang Lasalle (JLL), a leading American real estate services and investment management firm, and the second largest firm of its kind in the world with total assets in excess of $10billion. Following the merger, Avi Alkas was appointed Chairman of JLL Turkey.

Relying on his broad knowledge of the local retail/real estate market combined with the strong investment base of JLL, Avi went on to leave his imprint on projects like Cevahir, Antares, ViaPort, Ronesans SC Projects, Ozdilek, SankoPark, MalatyaPark, DemirPark, Kozzy, Afium, KentPark, GebzeCenter, Vialand, Zorlu and the Family Mall Erbil.

With numerous accolades to his credit and professional titles of distinction, Avi Alkas is also a member of the ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centers) and a member of its European Advisory Board where he has served as Jury Chair of the esteemed ICSC European Shopping Centre Awards. He was also honoured with the ICSC Distinguished Service Award in 2010 and is a regular faculty member of the ICSC J.T. Riordan School for Professional Development. .

Paul Rosenberg

Senior Director of International Hotel Development at Marriott

Paul Rosenberg is a Senior Director of International Hotel Development at Marriott International based in Zurich, Switzerland. In this role, he is responsible for the development of all Marriott International brands throughout Europe including management and franchise agreements.

Emre Sayın

CEO, Global Ports Holding

Mr. Sayın was appointed CEO of Global Ports Holding in 2016. He started his carrier as Management Expert at Merrill Lynch, Princeton in 1992. In 1993 he joined Unilever and worked at high level positions for seven years at various departments including Marketing and Management of chain stores. Following Unilever he moved to Microsoft where he became Marketing Deputy General Manager, for the following three years. He continued his career as the General Manager of Kodak until 2005. From 2005 to 2007, he worked as Marketing Deputy Director at Evyap. Mr. Sayın worked at high-level positions such as Deputy Director of Retail Sales and Marketing Departments and Deputy General Director of Corporate Services in Turkcell reporting directly to the CEO, for seven years. Prior to joining GPH, he worked as Deputy General Director of Business Development at Vimpelcom, Amsterdam, and Senior Advisor at Verizon, New York in the last three years. Mr. Sayın holds an Industrial Engineering degree at Boğaziçi University and postgraduate degree in System Engineering at Rutgers and Princeton Universities.

Seher Alacacı Arıner

Assistant Resident Representative (Programme)

Seher Alacacı Arıner has been serving as Assistant Resident Representative responsible for the UNDP Program in Turkey since 2017.

She has been engaged in UN system since 2005 in different capacities. Throughout her career in UN, she had managed a series of Programmes that respond directly to social and political reforms in line with EC accession requirements. The main focus of her work had addressed targeted interventions to support national human rights mechanisms and transparent, accountable and efficient judicial systems for better access to justice. As a development practitioner, who started her career in working in South East Anatolia development projects, Arıner has more than 15 years of experience in development work in a variety of capacities, mainly in management, partnership building, resource mobilization, but also including programme and policy design, project implementation, advocacy and research.

She has also strongly engaged with international community representatives and national partners in governments as well as loosely defined networks of non-governmental organizations and human rights advocates. She is also an active contributor of the integrated work of UN on human rights, democratization and SDGs; and focal point for the innovative work of UNDP on SDGs. She was graduated from Bilkent University Department of Political Science and Public Administration and has an MA degree on European Integration, focusing on judicial and political ethics

İlyas Benveniste

Acıbadem Sağlık Group, International Relations Director

He has been with the Acibadem Healthcare Group since 2005 as International Relations Director. He received his degree in Healthcare Management, in Marmara University and his master’s degree in International Healthcare Management, specialized in economy an politics, in Bocconi University / Universita Della Bocconi, Italy. He is married with two children and is fluent both in English and Italian.

Nüket Küçükel

Güven Hospital, Chairman of the Board