A Timeless Experience in the Heart of the City

Interview: Gülay Yıldırım Kavak

Located in the heart of Istanbul’s historic fabric, Ramada by Wyndham Istanbul Old City offers its guests the opportunity to experience the city at their own pace – combining modern comfort, excellent transport links, as well as gastronomy and wellness experiences. Providing easy access to key landmarks across the Historic Peninsula, the hotel blends international brand standards with Istanbul’s signature hospitality.

We spoke with Abdullah Şancı, General Manager of Ramada by Wyndham Istanbul Old City, about current dynamics in Istanbul tourism, evolving guest expectations, the hotel’s service philosophy, and its targets for the upcoming period.

Mr. Şancı, could you briefly introduce yourself?

Today, I serve as General Manager at Ramada by Wyndham Istanbul Old City. I have been working in various sectors of the tourism industry for about 25 years, gaining hands-on experience across every stage of the field. My career began right at the front desk, and during my first ten years in the profession, I learned the core operational dynamics directly on the ground.

In the following years, alongside roles in sales and marketing, revenue management, and general management, I took an active role in hotel investment consultancy, new openings, operational restructuring, and budget planning processes. As a result, I gained comprehensive experience across all stages, from hotel investment to strategic management.

“For me, success begins with a clear goal; however, the greatest strength in achieving that goal lies in people.”

For me, success begins with a clear goal; however, the greatest strength in achieving that goal lies in people. That is why I place high value on the training, development, and personal commitment of my team. I believe that sustainable success is always built on a strong team aligned around a shared objective. This philosophy forms the foundation of my decisions and leadership style.

How is 2026 shaping up for Ramada by Wyndham Istanbul Old City? How do you assess your hotel’s performance in terms of demand, guest dynamics, and market developments since the start of the year?

Compared to previous years, 2026 has been a more cautious period for the industry. Geopolitical developments in our region particularly affected dynamics in the Middle East to a certain extent. However, at Ramada by Wyndham Istanbul Old City, we managed this process in a balanced and successful manner thanks to long-standing contracts in the South American and Spanish markets, our healthcare tourism partnerships, and our strong presence across online booking channels.

This scenario once again highlights the importance of building a robust structure across diverse source markets rather than relying on a single one. Rapidly adapting to changing market conditions and properly diversifying distribution channels have become essential elements of sustainable success.

Could you briefly present Ramada by Wyndham Istanbul Old City? What are the key features and privileges you offer to your guests?

Ramada by Wyndham Istanbul Old City is located at the heart of Istanbul’s historic peninsula, right at one of the city’s major public transport hubs. With tram and bus stops right at our doorstep and metro connections within walking distance, our guests can easily reach historic and tourist sites, business centers, and shopping districts.

“Our goal is to give our guests an unforgettable experience in Istanbul.”

With 108 rooms, a SPA & Wellness area, a meeting room, and the Marmara Lounge Bar, we offer our guests a comfortable and fully equipped city hotel experience. Guests staying at our hotel also enjoy easy access to the international coffee experience of Starbucks and selected delicacies of regional Turkish cuisine.

Comfortable accommodations, a commitment to high service quality, and our major location advantage are among the main reasons guests choose our hotel.

Which guest segments stand out most at your hotel? What changes have you observed this year regarding international demand, geographic distribution, and travel motives?

Our guest portfolio consists predominantly of individual travelers visiting Istanbul for cultural and city tourism. In addition, guests traveling for healthcare tourism as well as group bookings account for a significant share.

In the international market, guests from South America and Spain particularly stand out. Thanks to strong partnerships established in these markets over many years, we maintain a stable and sustainable guest profile. Furthermore, we pursue a balanced sales strategy to mitigate risks and continue growing in different markets.

Today, city hotel guests look not only for a central location, but also for comfort, gastronomy, and a personalized service experience. In which areas are you investing to enhance the guest experience?

Guest expectations are evolving continuously. Today, it is no longer just about the accommodation itself—the overall experience plays a crucial role. We continuously refine all our services in line with this perspective.

“We aim to further elevate international guest satisfaction.”

In our SPA area, we offer guests a place to relax and recharge, while they can enjoy a premium coffee experience at Starbucks within the premises. The historic Emirhan Restaurant, located in our building, serves around 30 different traditional Turkish dishes daily. In the evening, guests can spend a pleasant time at the Marmara Lounge Bar with grill specialties, snacks, and signature drinks.

Our goal is not merely to send off satisfied guests, but to give them an unforgettable experience in Istanbul.

As a city hotel in Istanbul’s historic district, how is demand developing beyond cultural tourism in business travel, group stays, and conferences?

Cultural tourism represents a major segment of our guest portfolio. In addition, we are a preferred hotel for business travel, group stays, tour groups, smaller meetings, and group dining.

We believe that demand in these segments will continue to grow in the coming period, driven by our central location, international brand recognition, and service quality. We see particularly high growth potential in group events and corporate partnerships.

In your view, which key themes should Istanbul tourism focus on to reach an even stronger position in the coming period? What are your expectations and goals for the remainder of the year and the 2027 season?

Turkey, and Istanbul in particular, remain among the world’s most prominent tourism destinations today. I am convinced that this success will be carried even further through economic stability, a secure environment, and continuous international promotion efforts.

We are also advancing toward the 2027 season with a solid preparation process and are close to finalizing the majority of our contracts. Our goal is to expand our existing markets by continuously improving our service quality, enter new markets, and elevate international guest satisfaction even further.

We are by no means aiming solely for high occupancy rates. Our focus rests on driving sustainable success, delivering first-class service quality, and advancing Wyndham’s high standards year after year.