Making its foray into the European side of Istanbul, hotel management company Rotana has opened two new hotels - Centro WestSide and WestSide Arjaan by Rotana - in partnership with Mar Yapı, one of Turkey’s innovative real estate development companies.

Strategically located on the popular Basin Express road in the Güneşli neighbourhood of Istanbul, the economic, cultural and historic capital of Turkey, the contemporary, elegant properties are in close proximity to key landmarks in the city, including Istanbul Atatürk Airport, modern business plazas, major shopping malls and leading exhibition and convention centres.

Münir Özkök, chairman of Mar Yapı, said: “Basin Express has quickly emerged as the newest destination with investors and project managers eyeing it. Mar Yapi has recognised this fact, hence, we have worked on the development of the area to become a destination of its own. With the international and national projects such as Divan, Yoo and Wanda, we caught the attention of investors in a very short time. Rotana, as one of the leading hotel management companies in the Middle East, Africa and Turkey, is a major example of this as they joined Mar Yapi in this project, not only as a management company but as an investor as well, which also marks the company’s first step into the European side. Our trust and confidence in our country have no doubt motivated the foreign investors and Rotana has shown great interest and belief in Turkey through their cooperation with us. We laid out the foundation of this magnificent project with Rotana back in 2016 and we are very proud to see it inaugurated.”

The triangle shaped building of Centro WestSide and WestSide Arjaan by Rotana has a striking appearance and was designed by the award-winning architecture firm Suyabatmaz Demirel. The building itself won the Future Project Award in 2013 at the famous MIPIM Real Estate Exhibition in Cannes, France.

Nasser Al Nowais, chairman of Rotana, said: “We are delighted to open these two new properties, which join our two existing hotels in Istanbul to double Rotana’s Turkish presence and increase our global room count to 16,466. Our smart and stylish Centro brand provides an affordable lifestyle hotel concept, whereas WestSide Arjaan by Rotana offers guests a home away from home with its elegant and comfortable hotel serviced apartments. By opening these properties side-by-side, we are catering to the needs of both business and leisure travellers, whilst servicing the increasing demand for high-quality accommodation in Istanbul. We would like to thank everyone at Mar Yapı for placing their trust and confidence in our abilities to manage these outstanding properties, and look forward to providing a delightful guest experience.”

Offering affordable luxury and effortless comfort, the stylish four-star deluxe hotel, Centro WestSide, features 152 rooms and suites, each catering to the needs of modern-day travellers, from individuals visiting Istanbul on business, to budget-conscious families looking to explore the city from a convenient base. Designed to suit the needs of long-stay visitors, WestSide Arjaan by Rotana offers 153 fully-furnished one and two-bedroom serviced hotel apartments for a cosy living.

Opening a new world of dining, recreation and entertainment in Istanbul, the two connecting hotels boast three outstanding dining outlets, with each offering attractive outdoor seating areas that make the most of the city’s pleasant Mediterranean climate. All-day dining restaurant c.taste offers an extensive menu featuring the best of local and international cuisine, while grab-and-go casual dining concept c.deli and c.mondo, a cosy bar that is big on style and atmosphere, provide a wide choice of dining options to suit every taste and occasion. A 24-hour in-room dining service is also available.

Guests staying at the hotels can benefit from the access to Bodylines Fitness & Wellness Club which includes a modern gym and large indoor swimming pool with stunning city views. A Jacuzzi, sauna, steam and three treatment rooms are also available at Centro WestSide and WestSide Arjaan by Rotana for guests to relax and unwind.

Catering to the needs of business travellers, the hotels feature a business corner, five meeting rooms and a hall, all equipped with the latest audio-visual equipment to suit a wide range of occasions, from board meetings, workshops and seminars to conferences and social gatherings.

With its expanding tourism offering, Turkey has become a destination of choice for travellers from around the world. In the first two months of 2018 alone, the country welcomed 3 million foreign visitors and is projected to receive a record of 40 million tourists and over $30 billion in tourism revenue this year. - TradeArabia News Service