How The Ritz Carlton Istanbul, the turquoise coast, and a coterie of new luxury brands are putting all eyes on Turkey – starring Meredith Mickelson.
For as long as I can recall, Turkey was never part of the conversation amongst jet setters when planning their summer travel plans across all the grand capitals and resort destinations of Europe…the London’s, Paris’, Rome’s, Milan’s, and St. Tropez’s.
Yet within the last few years, this narrative has started to shift- and shift considerably- thanks in large part to the recent influence and appeal that Turkish luxury brands and travel experiences have started to command with Western travelers (as well as the fact that most luxury venues in Turkey have begun to modernize in real-time with the West).
The Modernist Turkish Luxury Movement
One of the pioneers most disproportionately responsible for Turkey’s modernist luxury movement has been Baran Suzer, the hotelier and visionary behind Istanbu’s Ritz Carlton.
Baran has built his 20-year career by strategically identifying and then assembling licensing deals with some of the most soughtafter international luxury brands- such as Nobu– so that they could have residence in Turkey and carry their prestige to his native market.
Coextensively, Baran also has also made skillful use of his social ties within the international community to bring over a host of the West’s most influential stars to Istanbul- from the well-documented trip of Robert Deniro to annual galas and events attended and publicized over social media by the likes of supermodels such as Candace Swanepoel and Josephine Skriver.
The Ritz Carlton Istanbul As Portrayed By Meredith Mickelson
The latest in the series of international stars to take to social media during her trip to Istanbul is multi-hyphenate supermodel, actress and Gen-Z influencer Meredith Mickelson. Meredith who has five feature films slated for release, enjoyed a rejuvenating stay at the Ritz Carlton Istanbul where she indulged in the Ritz Carlton’s luxury offerings.
At the request of the Ritz’ management, Meredith teamed up with highly lauded Turkish photographer Mehmet Erzincan during her stay to showcase some of the Ritz Carlton Istanbul’s most striking features, including its vertiginous views of the Bosphorus Strait (above) as well as its world-famous Nobu suite (below). As highlighted on her social media during the trip, Meredith expressed her joy in discovering the treasures of Istanbul through little story vignettes documenting her exploration of the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Spice Market, and Basilica Cistern.
Meredith enthusiastically shared: “These treasures of Istanbul are fascinating, the Ritz Carlton is at the heart of the city enabling me to see so much of Istanbul.” At departure, after extending her stay for several days, Meredith stated the trip had sparked a desire for “personal travel time ” and she ”hoped to often return to the Ritz Carlton Istanbul. ”
In keeping with Meredith’s perspective, the Director of Sales & Marketing at the Ritz Carlton Istanbul, Burcin Toros Uyanık, pointed out that most celebrities favor staying at the Ritz Carlton when they come to Istanbul due to its sensitivity for what today’s ultra-luxury and executive business travellers receive at the best hotels of London, New York, Paris and making sure that that continuity of quality experience is extended at the Ritz Istanbul.
Uyanık elaborates, “Our dedication to delivering exceptional service and creating memorable moments for our guests has positioned us as a preferred destination for discerning travelers and celebrities alike. By focusing on exceeding expectations and offering unique amenities and services, we’ve cultivated an atmosphere of exclusivity and refinement that attracts visitors from around the globe.”
The Rise of Bodrum
The Ritz-Carlton and Nobu Istanbul, however, have not been alone in standing up Istanbul on the main luxury travel circuit and attracting visitors from across the globe. The other very significant contributor to Turkey’s luxury renaissance has been, of course, the rise of Bodrum as the Aegean’s St. Tropez. Nestled between verdant forests and punctuated by crystal teal waters with sandy shorelines, Bodrum- which was once the region’s best-kept secret has now exploded into one of the world’s most prominent resort destinations.
The comparison of Bodrum, and more broadly the Turquoise Coast of Turkey – with St. Tropez and the French Riviera is not merely window dressing. Even St. Tropez’s most iconic institutions – including the famed Bagatelle – have now acquired their own venues in Bodrum to host many of the same consumer cohort who visits them at other times during the summer in St. Tropez. Their presence in Bodrum is flanked by some of Turkey’s most notable native hospitality brands- such as Lucca By The Sea from renowned restaurateur Cem Mirap, the ultra-luxe boutique hotel Macakizi, and the wildly popular Birdcage 33 adults-only hotel which have become prime go-to destinations for western travelers on the Turquoise Coast.
Cross Current- Exported Turkish Luxury
At the same time Turkey has been bringing the West to its domain, the reverse cross current has also been in effect – with the boom of Turkey’s native luxury industry simultaneously exporting Turkish luxury to the West. In particular, brands like Vakko (whose stores you can find at the Ritz), Haremlique Istanbul (which has captured enough of a foothold with western consumers to earn its keep at Bal Harbour Shops in Florida), as well as online retailers like Ipekyol (which clad Mereith on the shoot) are now heavily consumed by western consumers.
Ipekyol Group Board Member Mert Ayaydın believes that this is a very favorable time for Turkish brands to expand into Western markets, as the level of transitivity, connectivity and trust in Turkish brands is higher in today’s luxury market. According to Mert, “The global perception of Turkish brands has improved significantly. There is a new appreciation for our quality, updated and innovative designs, which puts us in a good position to compete with Western consumers and capture their attention.”
A Palpable Shift
Due to decades of work from hoteliers like Baran Suzer, fashion trendsetters like Mert Ayaydın, as well as the rise of the Turquoise Coast on the international travel scene (redirecting much of France and Italy’s best traffic), Turkey is finally breaking through the clutter and achieving escape velocity as well as staying power in the eyes of the international luxury community.
The implications are not only exciting from a consumption standpoint, but also from a cultural integration standpoint. From the warm hospitality of its people, to its elegant language, as well as its signature cultural staples (just take the Hamam and Turkish coffee for instance), the influx of more of Turkey’s finest into our day-to-day lives bodes to be quite enriching.
