Seminar Series of the Faculty of Applied Sciences – Fall 2024 – 5. Seminar

Dear Students of the Faculty of Applied Sciences,

You are kindly informed to welcome the Chief Executive Officer of Elite World Hotels, Mr. Orkun Petekçi as the guest speaker of the seminar series.

Date      : Thursday, 28 November 2024

Time      : 14:40-15:30

Place     : AB-1 / Reşat Aytaç Auditorium

Mr. Orkun Petekçi is an accomplished hotel industry professional and a seasoned leader with extensive experience spanning over three decades in hospitality management. Born and raised in Istanbul, he has built a distinguished career, holding a series of progressive leadership roles in renowned international hotel brands.

Currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer of Elite World Hotels since November 2021, Mr. Petekçi is responsible for overseeing the strategic direction, operations, and growth of the hospitality group. His leadership has been instrumental in driving innovation, operational excellence, and customer satisfaction across Elite World’s portfolio of hotels.

Prior to his current role, Mr. Petekçi spent nearly eight years with Accor Hotels, one of the world's leading hotel groups. From 2014 to 2021, he held the position of Vice President of Operations, where he led the company's operational strategy and brand development and managed several hotel brands within the region. Before this, Mr. Petekçi's expertise in hotel management was honed through his work with Novotel Hotels, where he served in multiple capacities, including Brand Manager of Novotel Hotels, General Manager of Novotel and Ibis Istanbul Zeytinburnu, and Resident Manager at Novotel Istanbul Zeytinburnu. His time at Novotel between 2006 and 2014 contributed significantly to his deep understanding of hotel operations and guest services.

Mr. Petekçi’s career in the hospitality industry began in the mid-1990’s. He started as a Front Office Clerk at Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul and progressively moved up through roles at Conrad Istanbul Bosphorus and Hyatt Regency Istanbul. With his foundational expertise in front office operations, he soon advanced to managerial positions, including Front Office Manager at Hyatt Regency Istanbul, where he worked for several years.

Mr. Petekçi's educational background includes an associate’s degree in Tourism and Hotel Industry from Istanbul University, as well as a bachelor's degree in Economics from Anadolu University. His early academic grounding provided a strong foundation for his subsequent career in hotel management.

In the seminar class, Mr. Orkun Petekçi will present on “Who Are You in The Tourism Industry?”