Starwood Debuts New Le Meridien Istanbul Etiler

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced the debut of the first Le Meridien hotel in Turkey with the opening of the highly anticipated Le Meridien Istanbul Etiler. Owned by Makyol Construction Industry Tourism and Trading Co. Inc. and designed by leading Turkish architect Emre Arolat, the hotel is situated in Istanbul’s most exclusive neighbourhood and overlooks the Bosphorus with panoramic views over two continents.

“We are delighted to partner with Makyol as we introduce Starwood’s Le Meridien brand to Turkey”, comments Roeland Vos, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa, and Middle East “Istanbul continues to evolve as a metropolitan centre of culture, design and cuisine, making it an ideal match for our Le Meridien brand. This flagship hotel will enable us to showcase Le Meridien’s contemporary lifestyle and sophisticated origins in one of the world’s most remarkable destinations.”

“Le Meridien has undergone a comprehensive brand relaunch in the past six years since it was acquired by Starwood,” said Eva Ziegler, Global Brand Leader, Le Meridien and W Hotels Worldwide. “In this new era for Le Meridien, we are proud to celebrate Le Meridien brand’s best portfolio ever with the grand opening of the flagship Le Meridien Istanbul Etiler, which marks the first new build Le Meridien to open in a primary European city.”

Adnan Cebi, Makyol’s Chairman says, “We are extremely excited to be expanding Makyol’s tourism portfolio with an internationally renowned hotel group such as Starwood Hotels & Resorts and to bring the contemporary Le Meridien brand to Turkey. With the brand’s artistic cosmopolitan touch, we believe Le Meridien Istanbul Etiler will bring a fresh flavour to the city, perfectly suited to the rich and sophisticated cultural blend of East and West.”

Set to become a landmark in the city, the 34-storey hotel features iconic architecture and a dedicated curated art programme showcasing Turkish contemporary artists, reflecting Istanbul’s inspiring and culturally diverse atmosphere. Designed by award-winning Turkish architect Emre Arolat, the hotel features three distinct, vertically-stacked blocks inspired by the neighbouring buildings in Etiler. The building gradually becomes transparent as it rises towards the sky, providing guests with impressive views of the Bosphorus and a new perspective of Istanbul. The hotel’s interiors were designed by renowned Turkish designer Sinan Kafadar of Istanbul-based Metex.

The hotel provides a comprehensive contemporary lifestyle experience, featuring 259 guest rooms, including 21 long-stay residence suites all with floor-to-ceiling windows providing inspiring views of the Bosphorus and the city. Featuring a timeless chic design, all guest rooms are outfitted with Le Meridien Bed(R) and amenities such as a docking station, rainforest shower and a separate bathtub. Le Meridien Istanbul Etiler’s signature spa offers visitors a new perspective inspired by European spa traditions and features eight treatment rooms, a Turkish Hammam, an indoor pool, an outdoor heated pool, and a state-of-the art fitness centre.

Le Meridien’s UNLOCK ART(TM) programme features an artist-designed key card collection that offers access to both the guestroom and affiliated contemporary cultural centres. In Istanbul, guests can enjoy access to Istanbul Modern, the hotel’s UNLOCK ART(TM) partner, using keycards designed by :mentalKLINIK — a contemporary artist duo from Istanbul and recently appointed as the latest LM100(TM) members. Selected by Jerome Sans, Le Meridien’s Cultural Curator since 2006, LM100 is a group of international innovators chosen from the worlds of art, architecture and cuisine who use their creativity to develop original, interactive programs that transform the Le Meridien guest experience.

The hotel offers the newly developed Le Meridien Hub experience which re-interprets the traditional lobby into a social gathering place for creative people to converse, debate, and exchange. Dining facilities include an all-day restaurant, Latitude Bar serving illy coffee and other refreshments, and a rooftop bar with spectacular 360-degree views of the city. Le Meridien Istanbul Etiler also features over 2,000 square metres of meeting space, including a 766-square metre ballroom and nine individual rooms.

Acquired by Starwood in November 2005, Le Meridien has undergone a full brand relaunch to transform into a contemporary, design-led lifestyle brand that seeks to provide a new perspective through a curated approach to culture. The opening of Le Meridien Istanbul Etiler is a milestone for the brand’s transformation as it continues to attract a growing audience of creative, world-travelling guests.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts currently operates six hotels throughout Turkey, including three in Istanbul — W Istanbul, Sheraton Istanbul Maslak Hotel and Sheraton Istanbul Atakoy Hotel, as well as Sheraton Ankara Hotel & Convention Centre, Sheraton Cesme Hotel Resort & Spa, and The Lugal, a Luxury Collection hotel. The company is set to open three new hotels in Turkey in the next few years: Sheraton Adana Hotel, Sheraton Bursa Hotel, and Aloft Bursa.

SOURCE: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

Author: istanbul

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