Slightly OT: Meet the Turkish Airlines Hotel
Jun 26, 2014, 12:36 am
#1
Moderator, Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles & Accor ALL
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: BRU
Programs: TK*G, Accor ALL Platinum
Posts: 7,624
Slightly OT: Meet the Turkish Airlines Hotel
On hurriyetdailynews:
Ugh, 7*, right 
Turkey’s flagship carrier Turkish Airlines (THY) is renovating two waterfront Ottoman houses to establish a seven-star hotel along the Bosphorus to host its most distinguished passengers as part of efforts to consolidate Istanbul’s position as a flight hub.
The luxury hotel located at Istanbul’s tourist attraction spot Ortaköy is planned to serve VIP customers when it is completed next year.
Do&Co, a catering company, 50 percent of which is owned by THY, rented Fehime Sultan Yalısı and
Hatice Sultan Yalısı – two waterfront houses, called “yalı” in Turkish – for 25 years in return for 125 million Turkish Liras....
The luxury hotel located at Istanbul’s tourist attraction spot Ortaköy is planned to serve VIP customers when it is completed next year.
Do&Co, a catering company, 50 percent of which is owned by THY, rented Fehime Sultan Yalısı and
Hatice Sultan Yalısı – two waterfront houses, called “yalı” in Turkish – for 25 years in return for 125 million Turkish Liras....
Jun 27, 2014, 5:30 am
#2
Join Date: May 2000
Location: HFA
Posts: 1,715
Shuly
Jun 27, 2014, 5:32 am
#3
Join Date: May 2000
Location: HFA
Posts: 1,715
And quoting from the article:
This is something I would LOVE to experience.
Shuly
Customers who stay in the "sultan rooms," which will have all of the privileges of King Suites, will be transported to their hotels by boat from the airport.
Shuly
Jun 29, 2014, 6:04 am
#6
Join Date: Feb 2011
Programs: TK E+
Posts: 602
Would be amazing not have to wait two hours at the airport just to be send to a crappy 2-star hotel and have to wait another 2 hours for check-in. The last couple of times I have missed my onward connection at IST and have to stay until the next day, I have simply dropped the lousy TK hotel offering, taken a taxi to my favorite hotel and claimed the cost from my travel insurance.
Jun 29, 2014, 6:06 am
#7
Join Date: Feb 2011
Programs: TK E+
Posts: 602
I don't want to be judgmental, but Turks do not have what it takes to operate a "7 star hotel" (whatever that is). They might be able to build that hard product, but I highly doubt they are able to train the staff to the level needed for that kind of establishment.
Jul 11, 2014, 1:18 am
#8
Suspended
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Monaco
Posts: 317
Hubris may be a problem, and difficulty to deal with mistakes / criticism.
But just the idea of such a special transit hotel via boat-shuttle on the Bosphorus is already worth much praise, IMO.
Last edited by LuxuryRogue; Jul 13, 2014 at 4:19 am Reason: added examples
Jul 13, 2014, 12:14 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
http://www.amanresorts.com/amanruya/home.aspx
http://www.fourseasons.com/bosphorus/