Tansel Tercan, PhD
Tansel Tercan was born in Istanbul in 1968 and graduated from 50th Year Tahran High School. During his youth, he was actively involved in sports and built a professional career as a volleyball player for 16 years, competing in various teams in the Istanbul First League. While continuing his sports career, he simultaneously completed his studies at Anadolu University, graduating from the Department of Business Administration and establishing a strong academic foundation in business management.
In 1995, Tercan decided to transition from his professional sports career to the tourism and hospitality industry. He began his career in the field of finance, which had been his area of academic specialization. Thanks to his strategic vision, leadership capabilities, and sectoral expertise, he quickly assumed significant responsibilities within senior management positions in the hospitality industry.
Between 2003 and 2025, he served as General Manager within Rixos Hotels, one of the leading international hotel brands in the hospitality sector. Throughout more than twenty-two years in this role, he led numerous successful initiatives in international hotel management, strategic growth, operational excellence, and sustainable tourism, contributing significantly to the institutional performance and brand value of the properties under his leadership.
As of 2026, he continues his professional career as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Dedeman Hotels & Resorts International, one of Türkiye’s most established and largest domestic hotel chains, founded in 1966. In this position, he leads the group’s operational management, strategic growth initiatives, and the continuous enhancement of service quality in line with international standards.
Alongside his professional achievements, Tercan has placed strong emphasis on academic development. In 2014, he completed his Master’s degree at Akdeniz University. He later continued his studies at United Campus of Malta in the Department of Business Administration, specializing in Sales Management and Marketing Strategies, where he obtained his bachelor’s degree. After completing his studies, he was appointed as a professor in the same field at the institution.
Continuing his academic pursuits, Tercan earned his PhD in Tourism from L. N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University in 2021, further strengthening his academic credentials in the field of tourism.
Combining extensive executive leadership experience with academic expertise, Tansel Tercan continues to contribute to the international tourism and hospitality industry through his work in strategic management, sales and marketing strategies, tourism investments, and sustainable tourism. He is widely recognized for his visionary leadership within the global hospitality sector.
Nurfer Tercan, PhD
Born in Eskişehir in the year 1972, Nurfer Tercan graduated from the Eskişehir Anatolian High School. Having started her professional education with the enrollment at the Tourism and Hospitality Department in Boğaziçi University, she worked as a Sales and Marketing Manager in the touristic sector until 2015. In 2010, she changed her focus from a professional carrer to the academic life. She continued her studies of Sales and Marketing at the Business Administration Faculty in the United Campus of Malta where she also received her Bachelor’s degree. After completing her education at UCM, she was appointed as a Professor in the field of Marketing Processes and Strategies within UCM. She successfully accomplished her education under the sociology specialization at the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. Based on the decision of the State Evaluation Commision, she succeeded in defending her candidate’s dissertaion and has been awarded with the title of a Candidate of Sociological Science. The subject of her thesis was dedicated to academic and pedagogical researches. She completed her PhD in Philosophy and Political Science at Al Farabi Kazakh National University in 2023.