ANKARA - Following are the highlights from today's Turkish daily VATAN. The Anadolu Agency is not responsible of opinions expressed or the context of the editorials and does not vouch for their accuracy.
Currently Istanbul has mostly 3-4 star hotels that operate with a total of 5,154 bed capacity in the Anatolian side. This amount will be doubled in the next two years through 18 new five-star hotels that are already under construction. These new hotels will add 5,010 more beds to the bed capacity of Anatolian side of the Turkish metropolis.
Istanbul has become a popular tourist destination in the recent years, which resulted in an increase in investments in hotels in the Anatolian side. Istanbul Marriott Hotel Asia, Agaoglu Palace, the Green Park Pendik and By O Tell are among the new hotel projects that are under way in Istanbul.
"These mostly five star hotels will make great contributions to the region", said Levent Erdogan, a member of administrative board of Touristic Hotels & Investors Association (TUROB). He added that this would clear the image that "Anatolian side lacks good hotels".
Levent Erdogan said many good hotels have been constructed in Kadikoy district of Istanbul in the last 4-5 years and continued, "existing hotels have adequate customers. However, they mostly serve the domestic market. The new five-star hotels will bring in different customers."
Erdogan said the cost of one-night accommodation at 3-4 star hotels in Anatolian side varies between 50-150 euro.
-MARRIOTT HOTEL ASIA-
Marriott Hotel Asia, which will be inaugurated in July 2007, will be the first 5-star hotel of the Anatolian side of Istanbul. The hotel that is built in Kozyatagi district will be operated by Marriott International Hotels & Resorts.
Istanbul Marriott Hotel Asia will operate with its 238 beds, 600-people ball room, 3 swimming pools, restaurants and fitness & spa facilities.
Marriott International already serves under Ritz Carlton and Renaissance Hotels in Istanbul.
The name of these 18 hotels and the number of their beds are as follows:
Name Bed capacity
Marriott Hotel Asia 494
By O Tell 246
Agaoglu Palace 688
Bilgili Business Hotel 164
The Green Park Pendik 908
Mir Club Country 501
Sile Ozdil Hotel 350
Altunizade Princess 352
Kuttim Hotel 427
Marmara Egitim Koyu
(Marmara Education Village) 258
Kumbara Hotel 218
Masi Hotel 80
Sakli Hotel 80
Sahil Resort Hotel 56
Agaoglu My Village 64
Camkar Hotel 56
Tuzla Yelken Ozel Tesisi 24
Yusuf Izzettin Efendi Palace 653