WHY IT RATES: BlueBay Hotels expands to the Turkish market.-Codie Richards, TravelPulse Associate Editor
BlueBay Hotels, ranked eighth among Spanish hotel companies in terms of international presence and the tenth-largest hotel group by number of hotel rooms, is entering the Turkish market with the opening of two new hotels: Ataturk Palace by Blue Diamond and BlueBay Grand Çelik Palace. They are capable of accommodating 328 guests in a tourism enclave of great natural and historic value: the city of Bursa.
"Our entry into Turkey reinforces our commitment to the MENA region, an area attracting more than 400 million tourists every year where we plan to have 11 hotels by the end of this year", explains Jamal Satli, President of BlueBay Hotels.
The Spanish company continues to forge ahead with its 2017-2020 strategic plan, which sets out the path for the group's internationalization drive and calls for increasing its hotel offering by close to 50-percent, reaching 60 establishments in 30 different destinations and operating more than 50,000 hotel beds.
So far this year, including these two new hotels, BlueBay Hotels has already added thirteen new establishments to its network, reinforcing its presence in markets like Saudi Arabia, with two new hotels, one in Mecca (BlueBay Makkah Grand 5*) and one in Jeddah (BelleVue Al Basmah Resort 3*); Barcelona, with a second establishment (Reding Croma by BlueBay 3*); Tunisia, where it has also consolidated its presence with a second hotel (BlueBay Safira Palms 4*); Mexico, with six new establishments marking the company's entry into the urban and business segment in the country's capital; and the addition of two new destinations to its global offering: Bolivia (Edén by BlueBay, 5*) and now Turkey.
"Turkey is a destination we had been considering for some time and which featured in our growth plans. We are very glad to have found two establishments with a unique location and top-of-the-range services that allow our company to enter a new country", explains Ramón Hernández, CEO of BlueBay Hotels.
About Ataturk Palace by Blue Diamond 5*
Ataturk Palace by Blue Diamond is a five-star establishment located in one of the best areas in Bursa, where guests can benefit from an enclave rich with history. Only 200 meters away from the Ataturk Museum, it offers a 360-degree view of the city of Bursa and its famous Uludag mountain.
Built in 1935, the driving force behind its creation was no less than Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, father and founder of the Republic of Turkey. Its imposing and majestic architecture showcases the genius and vision of Giulio Mongeri, a Turkish architect and leading figure of the First National Architectural Movement. The hotel was fully renovated in 2010, using state-of-the-art technology to preserve its original design features.
Its 23 maximum luxury rooms, including 8 suites, have accommodated leading figures from the realms of culture, aristocracy and international politics, including actresses Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn and Zsa Zsa Gabor; Princess Noor, Empress Farah Diba and Princess Surreyya; and Mr. Atatürk himself. Many of these rooms are now named after them.
Guests at Ataturk Palace by Blue Diamond will be able to enjoy the delights of this enclave rich with history, with top-class service and maximum luxury facilities including a spa, featuring a magnificent thermal pool, a Himalayan salt room with recognized medical benefits, and the best and most innovative treatments available on the market; premium quality culinary establishments such as the Lalezar restaurant and the Gabor Bar; and a butler to welcome guests to their rooms.
About BlueBay Grand Çelik Palace 5*
Located in the city of Bursa's main tourist area, BlueBay Grand Çelik Palace has 141 rooms with a total guest capacity of 282.
Fully renovated in 2009, it is the only hotel establishment that receives thermal waters with healing properties straight from a natural hot spring, and it boasts the city's largest thermal pool. Its facilities also include a spa, sauna, Turkish bath and gym.
The hotel's broad culinary offering includes its Sultana restaurant, Çelik Bar, Vitamin Health Café, and Pool Bar. Its services offering is rounded off with a business center, seven different-sized meeting rooms catering to different customer needs, and two function rooms for celebrations and events capable of accommodating up to 700 people.
Bursa, Turkey's Green Paradise
The city of Bursa lies in a privileged location where forests and parks are the predominant features. With around three million inhabitants, the city was the one-time capital of the Ottoman Empire. It boasts numerous mausoleums of Ottoman sultans, as well as major monuments dating from that period.
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