Its foundations first laid in 1967, Martı Group started its operations in 1969 with Turkey's first resort hotel, Martı Resort Hotel in the most popular holiday destination in Turkey, Marmaris. Still rendering its services as a four-star hotel, again in Marmaris, Martı La Perla Hotel was incorporated to the group in 1988; and Martı Myra Hotel in 1995 in Kemer, Antalya. Martı Hotel Isletmeleri A.S. was the first company in the Turkish tourism sector that went public with its shares publicly traded at the Istanbul Stock Exchange since 1989. Boasting a high level of recognition in both Turkey and Europe, Martı Group continues its work in line with its goals of strengthening its brand and achieving rapid growth, by building on its 45 years of experience.
Yet another member of the Martı Group, Martı GYO went public in 2010 as the first real estate investment company with a focus on tourism.
In 2011, Martı Group realizes 4 major projects. We are planning to convert a building situated at an extremely strategic location for urban tourism in Istanbul, in the heart of Taksim into a 5-star hotel with a capacity of 300 rooms. With the hotel, which is due to be completed in 2012, we will have made a significant move in the urban tourism segment, which is rapidly developing in many major cities, and particularly in Istanbul. The 300-room hotel will be set up in the 11-storey building with a total area of 22,000 square meters. A momentous milestone within the scope of the growth targets of Martı Group, the hotel shall also boast restaurants and meeting halls. Set to become operational in the 2012 season, our goal is to transform the hotel into one of the most popular hotels in Taksim.
Our investments on the southwestern coastline also continue. Within this scope, we have been allocated the usage rights of the Marmaris Treasury Camp in Icmeler, Marmaris in January 2011. Neighboring the Martı La Perla and Martı Resort hotels, also situated in Marmaris, we will convert this new facility into a 5-star holiday center. As part of our investments in 2011, we have also laid the foundations of a 'culture hotel' on 4 May at the historic site of Aphrodisias in Karacasu, Aydın. Minister of Culture and Tourism Mr. Erturul Günay and Governor of Aydın, Mr. Hüseyin Avni Co also attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the hotel, which will be the first hotel in Aphrodisias. At the facility, projects including a sculpture school and culture park will be realized for the first time in Turkey. Part of a vision that aims to pass the Ancient City of Aphrodisias on to the next generations, the hotel will have strategic importance particularly for culture tourism in Turkey.
Our investment is also fast underway for the 31-room luxury concept Hemitea Boutique Hotel, situated by the popular bay in Orhaniye, Hisarönü, which is renowned for its natural beauty, neighboring the Martı Yacht Club. The hotel will enter into service in late 2011. And the Convention Valley Project, which was started in 2005 in Kuadası, is due to be completed in late 2011. Martı Group builds a five-star hotel within the scope of the project, which includes a diverse set of sections such as a 10,000-person capacity convention center, hotel, social facilities, villas, and safari park, built on an area of 1.1 million square meters of land. The investments are projected to make considerable contributions not only in the growth of the group but also to the efforts aimed at seizing upon Turkey's tourism potential. Focusing on the institutionalization of tourism in Turkey, Martı Group intends to continue its investments to develop the sector in the coming years as well.
In 1997, Martı Group started the first Timeshare practice in Turkey under the title 'Martı Vacation Club.' Martı Vacation Club was also the first Vacation Club that renders its services in the Turkish tourism sector as a five-star facility as an 'Interval International Exchange System' member. Martı Group continues its operations to expand its product range, and engages in cooperation efforts with the foremost tour operators of various countries including the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Russia. Martı Group has adopted as its key goal ensuring the highest possible satisfaction for its customers and earning their loyalty, and also carries out comprehensive efforts in the field of social responsibility in addition to expanding its investments. These include activities focusing on history and the environment such as the provision of the signs of historic areas in Olympos, Phaselis and Demre and the clean-up of ship waste. Martı Group has also won many awards from leading tourism organizations such as the Touristic Hotels & Investors Association (TUROB) and Thomas Cook.
