Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts, a brand in the FRHI Hotels & Resorts (FRHI) portfolio, has entered an agreement with Turkish developer Garanti Koza to manage Swissôtel KozaPark Istanbul, slated to open in 2019 and the first Swissôtel in the country.
“Istanbul is one of the financial capitals of the world, a top destination for global travelers, and a very important market for Swissôtel,” says Lilian Roten, vice president of the Swissôtel brand. “With the addition of a spectacular new hotel in the city and our planned opening in Bodrum later this summer, Turkey offers great potential for our hotel group, and we are delighted for the opportunity to build on our existing presence in the market. This development also strengthens our ongoing relationship with Garanti Koza, our partner on a new Swissôtel being built in Bulgaria’s capital Sofia, and we look forward to bringing our combined experience and expertise to this exciting project.”
Located in the UNESCO World Heritage Site’s Esenyurt district, the 160-room, 450-residence property will be developed in KozaPark, a new mixed-use development that’s home to the world’s largest tennis academy, an approximately 105,000-square-foot biological lagoon, outdoor gardens, the Akbati shopping mall, and several residential towers. The district is located near the Ataturk International Airport.
“We are happy to be partnering with FRHI and their Swissôtel brand on what promises to be a truly amazing hotel,” says Garanti Koza chairman of Şükrü İlkel. “Esenyurt is one of the fastest growing districts of Istanbul and will become an exciting locale in its own right, thus enhancing the overall Istanbul market.”
Amenities will include a ballroom, an indoor and outdoor rooftop pool, spa facility, and a fitness center. The Swissôtel development will join existing FRHI Istanbul properties, including the Swissôtel the Bosphorus, the Raffles Istanbul, and the upcoming Fairmont Quasar, which is scheduled to open in late 2016.
