Tansel Tercan spoke about his experience of working in the hotel business and about genuine Eastern hospitality.
Tell us a little about yourself. How did your career in the hotel business begin?
I began my career as a finance professional. I believed that this was the fastest way of reaching the goal. And of course, once I entered the hospitality sector, my goal became the position of General Manager. I can say that I have truly been lucky: I have worked in the best hotels in Türkiye. In 1995 the first golf hotel in Türkiye, Gloria Golf Resort, opened, where I worked as financial director. Later, in 2017, the very best golf hotel in Türkiye — Gloria Golf Resort — opened, and I moved to work there. In 2000 a chain of international luxury-class hotels — Rixos Hotels — was established in Türkiye. I have been working in this wonderful chain for 13 years now.
Tell us why you agreed to work in Astana, and what are your impressions of the city?
In all the preceding years I built my career in the hotels of Antalya. But I always had plans to work abroad. I came to Astana 1.5 years ago. I immediately accepted the company’s offer to head Rixos President Astana. I wanted to gain experience of working abroad, thereby carrying out my plans, and, secondly, to become part of a grand exhibition – EXPO-2017 Future Energy. Thirdly, I knew that Astana is an important link in the hugely important Silk Road project – One Belt, One Road. I also associated Astana’s future development with the opening of the international financial centre.
One of the youngest capitals in the world – Astana – today offers the widest variety of opportunities for foreign specialists from all over the world. The diverse and majestic architecture of its buildings and its amazingly beautiful landscapes make this city open and attractive to guests. Foreigners living in Astana, a city that combines so many different styles, traditions and cultures, lead an interesting and eventful life. Astana is a very young city that is growing and developing at the same rapid pace as its economy, attracting international investment and promoting Astana on the international market. And that means great prospects for those wishing to work in Astana.
What are your expectations for the development of your project in 2018?
Although many five-star competitor hotels are represented on the hotel market today, Rixos President Astana occupies a special position thanks to the unique traditions of Turkish hospitality and the world’s best Turkish service, which we invite our guests to experience for themselves. We are constantly working on improving the quality of service, and at present we have begun renovating the rooms, restaurants and halls, so that before long Rixos President Astana will shine in a new way.
Why did you agree to become partners of Kazakhstan Fashion Week Astana? Share your impressions of taking part in the project.
Fashion is a system of signs, a language of signs, symbols and iconography that non-verbally conveys the significance of a person or a society. The Rixos President Astana hotel is a fashionable brand, not only on a local but also on a global scale. One of the best shopping centres in Astana – the unique Khan Shatyr – also belongs to a company of our chain. That is why we became partners of KFW.
By providing a venue for KFW, when during the shows renowned designers present their masterpiece collections, we, as a partner hotel, have the opportunity to show all the participants and guests of the show our vision of hotel hospitality.
Source: eurasianfashionweek.com
Translated from the Russian original.