Starwood Hotels & Resorts has announced the debut of the first Le Méridien hotel in Turkey with the opening of the Le Méridien Istanbul Etiler, owned by Makyol Construction Industry Tourism and Trading Co. Inc. and designed by leading Turkish architect Emre Arolat.

“Le Méridien has undergone a comprehensive brand relaunch in the past six years since it was acquired by Starwood,” said Eva Ziegler, Global Brand Leader, Le Méridien and W Hotels Worldwide. “In this new era for Le Méridien, we are proud to celebrate Le Méridien brand’s best portfolio ever with the grand opening of the flagship Le Méridien Istanbul Etiler, which marks the first new build Le Méridien to open in a primary European city.”

Adnan Çebi, Makyol’s Chairman says, We are extremely excited to be expanding Makyol’s tourism portfolio with an internationally renowned hotel group such as Starwood Hotels & Resorts and to bring the contemporary Le Méridien brand to Turkey. With the brand’s artistic cosmopolitan touch, we believe Le Méridien Istanbul Etiler will bring a fresh flavour to the city, perfectly suited to the rich and sophisticated cultural blend of East and West.




Set to become a landmark in the city, the 34-storey hotel features iconic architecture and a dedicated curated art programme showcasing Turkish contemporary artists, reflecting Istanbul’s inspiring and culturally diverse atmosphere. Designed by award-winning Turkish architect Emre Arolat, the hotel features three distinct, vertically-stacked blocks inspired by the neighbouring buildings in Etiler. The building gradually becomes transparent as it rises towards the sky, providing guests with impressive views of the Bosphorus and a new perspective of Istanbul. The hotel’s interiors were designed by renowned Turkish designer Sinan Kafadar of Istanbul-based Metex.

The hotel provides a comprehensive contemporary lifestyle experience, featuring 259 guest rooms, including 21 long-stay residence suites all with floor-to-ceiling windows providing inspiring views of the Bosphorus and the city. Featuring a timeless chic design, all guest rooms are outfitted with Le Méridien Bed® and amenities such as a docking station, rainforest shower and a separate bathtub. Le Méridien Istanbul Etilers signature spa offers visitors a new perspective inspired by European spa traditions and features eight treatment rooms, a Turkish Hammam, an indoor pool, an outdoor heated pool, and a state-of-the art fitness centre.

Le Méridien’s UNLOCK ART” programme features an artist-designed key card collection that offers access to both the guestroom and affiliated contemporary cultural centres. In Istanbul, guests can enjoy access to Istanbul Modern, the hotel’s UNLOCK ART” partner, using keycards designed by :mentalKLINIK a contemporary artist duo from Istanbul and recently appointed as the latest LM100″ members. Selected by Jérôme Sans, Le Méridien’s Cultural Curator since 2006, LM100 is a group of international innovators chosen from the worlds of art, architecture and cuisine who use their creativity to develop original, interactive programs that transform the Le Méridien guest experience.

The hotel offers the newly developed Le Méridien Hub experience which re-interprets the traditional lobby into a social gathering place for creative people to converse, debate, and exchange. Dining facilities include an all-day restaurant, Latitude Bar serving illy coffee and other refreshments, and a rooftop bar with spectacular 360-degree views of the city. Le Méridien Istanbul Etiler also features over 2,000m² of meeting space, including a 766m² ballroom and nine individual rooms.

Acquired by Starwood in November 2005, Le Méridien has undergone a full brand relaunch to transform into a contemporary, design-led lifestyle brand that seeks to provide a new perspective through a curated approach to culture. The opening of Le Méridien Istanbul Etiler is a milestone for the brand’s transformation as it continues to attract a growing audience of creative, world-travelling guests.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts currently operates six hotels throughout Turkey, including three in Istanbul – W Istanbul, Sheraton Istanbul Maslak Hotel and Sheraton Istanbul Atakoy Hotel, as well as Sheraton Ankara Hotel & Convention Centre, Sheraton Cesme Hotel Resort & Spa, and The Lugal, a Luxury Collection hotel. The company is set to open three new hotels in Turkey in the next few years: Sheraton Adana Hotel, Sheraton Bursa Hotel, and Aloft Bursa.

www.starwoodhotels.com