He integrated sea, sports, and winter tourism

Creating a strong synergy in the industry with the business models implemented in its hotels in Antalya and Kayseri, Şahinler Holding has significantly increased both occupancy rates and employment over four years by integrating sea, sports, and winter tourism in its four Megasaray-branded hotels and the DAS 3917 facility. Şahinler Holding Board and Executive Committee Member Deniz Şahin stated that they empower the tourism sector with Megasaray Club Belek, Megasaray Westbeach Antalya, and Megasaray Resort Side in Antalya; and Megasaray Mount Erciyes and DAS 3917 brands in Kayseri. Şahin also expressed that they are progressing confidently in the industry with the goal of making these destinations visitable year-round rather than seasonally.

A 32-Year Success Story

Deniz Şahin mentioned that Şahinler Holding, which has investments in various sectors in Turkey and Germany, as well as in France, Bulgaria, Egypt, and Jordan, entered the tourism sector in 1992. "We made our first hotel investment in Belek, one of Antalya's most well-known holiday resorts. With its architecture in harmony with nature and its well-maintained garden featuring hundreds of different types of trees, including the region's characteristic stone pines, Megasaray Club Belek offers our guests comfort and tranquility at the same time. Our Megasaray Westbeach hotel is located on the world-famous Konyaaltı Beach, one of the most beautiful locations in Antalya. In this city hotel, we combined mountain and sea views. Our investment in the Side Titreyengöl region, Megasaray Resort Side, offers an unforgettable holiday opportunity that combines peace, nature, and entertainment," he said.

Quality Personnel

Highlighting the significant benefits these operations have provided in preserving the employment of skilled labor, which is one of the most critical issues in the tourism sector, Deniz Şahin said: “When a staff member does not work for 6 months and then returns for the new season, their work efficiency is quite low. To overcome this issue, many facilities in our sector hire personnel from Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Ukraine with the needed qualifications. As Megasaray Hotels, we invested in Kayseri to retain our quality staff, and we were very successful. We train our team members at our hotels in Antalya and then move them to Kayseri. During the high season, we also benefit from our Kayseri staff at our hotels in Antalya. Looking at the 4-year period, we have increased both our occupancy rates and the number of staff employed. By providing job opportunities for 12 months and offering good working environments, we have shown our industry that the problem of skilled labor shortages can be resolved.”

'First High Altitude Tennis Camp Center'

Emphasizing that they managed to extend the 6-8 month season to 12 months at Megasaray Club Belek through investments in sports tourism, Deniz Şahin stated that the football fields, tennis courts, and canoeing activities along the river at this facility received great interest. Şahin said, “Our facility in the Belek tourism center of Antalya has 62 tennis courts. The tournaments we organize on these courts attract interest both domestically and internationally. As we increased the number of tennis courts, our occupancy rates also increased. As we increased the number of camps in football and canoeing, our guest average rose. Now, we are building 12 courts on Mount Erciyes. We are preparing to hold the tournaments and Megasaray Tennis Academy training programs that we conduct in Belek during the winter months in Erciyes during the summer months. The ski season in Erciyes lasts an average of 4 months. We are excited to extend the tourism season to 12 months in Kayseri with tennis organizations in the spring and summer months,” he explained.

Pioneer of the All-Inclusive System

Deniz Şahin noted that Turkey has successfully implemented the all-inclusive system, which has been a subject of criticism in various sectors of the tourism industry, and has become a global leader in this area. He mentioned that Megasaray's facilities in Antalya have established this system, making the brand a role model in the sector. Deniz Şahin said, “When we look around the world, all-inclusive holidays are applied in countries like Egypt and Tunisia. However, when compared in terms of price and benefits, Turkey is far ahead of these countries. I believe we can advance even further. When we compare the room and breakfast prices in destinations like Dubai, Greece, and Spain, except for a few exceptions, the services we provide to our guests are truly top-notch. Turkey is a leader among the countries that best implement the all-inclusive system. The all-inclusive system is gaining popularity as it offers comfort, convenience, and ease of budget planning with predetermined prices for vacation costs.”

'Our Investments Added Value to Erciyes'

Deniz Şahin mentioned that they have made two separate hotel investments in Erciyes, a popular ski resort in Kayseri, one of Anatolia’s ancient cities with a 6,000-year-old historical heritage. “Our Megasaray Mount Erciyes Hotel stands out with its location near the longest and best ski slopes. It is an ideal destination for families, offering a unique skiing experience on the snow-covered slopes. Our DAS 3917 hotel, with 72 rooms and 5 mountain houses providing A-plus service, brings together gourmet flavors, art, and music at the summit of Erciyes. The hotel hosts art events, renowned artists, and world-famous DJs at various times. By offering gourmet flavors of world cuisine with an extraordinary dining concept, it promises a unique ski holiday experience. This hotel, which offers an unforgettable holiday experience, provides services such as a Turkish bath, sauna, indoor swimming pool, massage salon, fitness center, 3 meeting rooms, a ballroom, and a mini club for our little guests,” he said.

'We Are Increasing the Number of Tourists with Market Diversity'

Şahinler Holding Board and Executive Committee Member Deniz Şahin stated that while the majority of guests at Megasaray Hotels were primarily from Germany and Russia, they have been negatively affected by wars and geopolitical tensions in recent years. However, he highlighted that the positive impacts of efforts to diversify markets have become notably evident this year. Şahin said, “In recent months, we have become very strong in the Balkan and Baltic countries. We are receiving significant demand from Poland in our search for alternative markets. Our marketing activities in the UK are positively reflecting on our accommodation performance. We have doubled the number of guests coming from the UK. We also expect a slight decrease in the number of tourists coming from Russia,” he said.