Local chain to open hotels in Britain, US

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

Turkey’s Divan Group, a part of Koç Holding, is planning to expand its hotel presence to New York, London, Baku, Budapest and Sarajevo, according to Divan Group Chief Executive Officer Marcos Bekhit.

“We currently have 10 hotels. New York is definitely a location where we want to be. There are already Turkish investors there […] We feel like we have to be there,” said Bekhit. The group is already in talks with Baku, Budapest and Sarajevo.

“Soon we’ll sign an agreement. The economic situation is bad in Hungary. Prices are low,” Bekhit said, adding that the Divan Group was interested in growing in bakery and residence businesses, as well as the hotel sectors.

The Divan Group has signed agreements to build four residences, four domestic hotels, five patisseries and five bakeries in 2012.

Divan Ankara rewarded

Meanwhile, TripAdvisor, a popular travel-planning website, has chosen the Divan Ankara as the Turkish capital’s trendiest hotel and the 11th overall among 25 hotels in a larger global list.

The site, which provides trip planning to over 50 million visitors, organized the 10th annual TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards to honor the world’s most outstanding hotels. Divan Ankara was voted Turkey’s 2012 trendiest and most modern hotel.

Offering 83 elegantly appointed guest rooms, the boutique hotel is located in the exclusive Kavaklidere district.

The hotel features gourmet dining at the Divan Pub and Antrikot Restaurant, meeting facilities and a fully-equipped business center.