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PRESS KIT
Contents
Page
Welcome Home…
1
Main House Accommodation
4
Palace Suites
6
The Sultan Suite
7
Dining at Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul
9
Dream Banqueting Areas
21
The Award-winning Concierge
22
General Manager
24
The History of Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul
26
Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul Summary
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Çırağan Cad. 32 Beşiktaş
34349 Istanbul Turkey
www.kempinski.com
T +90 212 326 4646
F +90 212 259 66 87
[email protected]
WELCOME HOME...
“If the world was only one country, İstanbul would be its capital.”
-
Napoléon Bonaparte (1769-1821)
Located on the shores of the magnificent Bosphorus, facing the Asian continent and overlooking the
ancient city, Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul offers the glamour of a genuine Ottoman palace in
a city where east meets west, Europe meets Asia and history meets the contemporary. The only
Ottoman imperial palace and hotel on the Bosphorus and the first Turkish member of The Leading
Hotels of the World, Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul is unique in every sense. With its splendid
style, superb location, fascinating view and resort ambiance, including a spacious green garden with
palm trees, it has been an İstanbul classic since its opening in 1990.
With its 313 rooms, including 20 suites in the hotel and 11 suites in the historical palace, it reflects a
harmonious blend of the old and the new, offering every modern convenience for both the leisure
and the business traveller. Guests staying at the palace suites, including the Sultan Suite, one of the
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biggest in Europe, enjoy 24-hour private butler service and absolute privacy, including a private
entrance and a lounge.
Çırağan Palace Kempinski İstanbul offers a rich variety of restaurants as well, all offering a balcony
or a terrace overlooking Bosphorus. The Gazebo Lounge is the spot “to see and to be seen” in the
city, and is renowned for its wide variety of sweet and savoury pastries, home-made truffles,
pralines and chocolates along with freshly brewed coffee and tea options or refreshing coffee
cocktails. The Gazebo Lounge also hosts the city’s most popular afternoon tea every day, with an
unbeatable view and a spacious terrace. The award-winning Tuğra Restaurant & Lounge, located on
the first floor of the historical palace, offers its guests “the ultimate Ottoman dining experience”,
complete with timeless palatal rituals. As the main restaurant of the hotel, Laledan Restaurant is
famous for having the city’s best breakfast and brunch on Sundays. Laledan serves an all-day dining
menu, boasting delicious comfort food and regional specialties, which diners can enjoy from noon
to midnight while overlooking a palm garden. The Bosphorus Grill is a delicious outdoor summer
grill restaurant right on the shores of Bosphorus.
Le Fumoir, with its striking Far Eastern décor, serves premium cognacs, quality malts and a fine
selection of wines and champagnes, as well as enticing cocktails and quality cigars served in
handmade humidors. The summer extension of Le Fumoir, Le Fumoir Pavilion, is one of the rare
venues in town offering “shisha with style” amidst the green garden. Çırağan Bar entertains its
guests with the best of champagne and martini cocktails, cognac, liqueurs and more with a delicious
oriental tapas selection.
At 06:00 and 23:00 hours operating Çırağan Palace Kempinski Spa, managed by Sanitas, the
infinity pool gives a feeling of floating on the Bosphorus and is heated in winter and open all year.
At the authentic Turkish bath/”Hamam”, guests can enjoy a very special, traditional Turkish
massage and bath, only two of the many highlights available for ultimate relaxation.
Being a landmark, Çırağan Palace Kempinski İstanbul is always the host to the most prestigious and
extravagant events, meetings and weddings in the city. With its absolutely romantic and spacious
wedding terrace, and the Çırağan Ballroom overlooking Bosphorus, it is the best wedding venue and
a top choice for romantic honeymoon destinations and anniversaries worldwide. The palace’s 16
function rooms, plus the four at the hotel, provide unparalleled comfort for events of any kind, from
10 to 2000 people.
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Since its opening, Çırağan Palace Kempinski İstanbul has been the only hotel in İstanbul reachable
in three ways (by limousine, yacht or helicopter) and has seen countless eminent figures come
through its doors, including heads of state, royalty, artists and celebrities. Luciano Pavarotti, John F.
Kennedy Jr., Robert De Niro, Donna Karan, Michael Schumacher, Silvio Berlusconi, Bernard
Lacoste, Sophia Loren, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, Kofi Annan, Queen Beatrix of Holland,
Oprah Winfrey, U2 and Madonna are only a few of the many famous guests.
With impeccable service dedicated to excellence and combined with legendary Turkish hospitality,
Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul is always one of the top ranking hotels in the world whenever
rankings are made. Condè Nast Traveller (US) named it to its “2013 Gold List” as one of the
“World’s Best Places to Stay”. Travel + Leisure (US) named it as one of the “World’s Best Hotels
T+L 500”, while Geo Saison (Germany) named it to its “The 100 Best Hotels of Europe” list as the
“Best Luxurious Hotel.” Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul has also proudly received a
Connoisseur Circle Hospitality Award (Germany) as the “Best Grand Hotel”.
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MAIN HOUSE ACCOMMODATIONS
Hotel Rooms and Suites
With 80% of rooms offering a Bosphorus view, rooms facing the Bosphorus or the Yıldız Park,
which was once the hunting forest of the Sultans, are spacious, comfortable and offer a fine
definition of refined luxury. Rooms with a Bosphorus view can see the Asian coast from Europe,
and depending on the wing they are located in they may have a view of the Old City, including the
famous Maiden’s Tower or the Bosphorus Bridge.
Amenities in all rooms include a balcony, a writing desk, a choice of six pillows and an additional
pillow menu, an LCD screen TV, an in-room safe, climate control, a bathtub combined with a
shower and complimentary wireless Internet access. Deluxe and Grand Deluxe rooms have lounge
areas, where one can sit and indulge in an unbeatable Bosphorus view.
Various types of suites have one thing in common: endless views of the city. Depending on their
location, suites see the Bosphorus and the Asian coast either through the palace’s historical arc or a
straight, setback view of the ancient waters, while other suites have a magnificent panoramic view
of the Bosphorus Bridge and the historical peninsula from their balconies. Lale and Vezir Suites
have spacious living rooms, perfect for hosting guests for meetings or private dinners in an
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exclusive atmosphere. Located on the top floor, both suites have two balconies with a Bosphorus
view, a lavish living room, a writing desk in a spacious entrance area with a library, one bedroom
with a private bathroom and a living room, a canopy bed and a stereo system with a CD player.
Common amenities in all suites include a balcony, a walk-in closet, a writing desk, a choice of six
pillows and additional pillow menu, an LCD screen TV, an in-room safe, climate control, a bathtub
combined with a shower and complimentary wireless Internet access.
Pasha and Presidential Suite
Fit for a “pasha” or a “president”, these two suites are located on the top floor of the hotel building
and have an unbeatable location, with a full panoramic view of the Bosphorus and the historical
peninsula. They both have two separate bedrooms, a lavish lounge with a writing desk and a library,
a dining table for six guests and a stereo system with a CD player.
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Palace Suites
With private butler service available around the clock, every wish is a command at the Palace suites
at Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul. The 11 Palace suites have a private entrance and a private
lounge. There are six Palace suites on the first floor and five on the second floor. Palace suites
ensure the ultimate in privacy and luxury for their guests. The helipad of the hotel is at the garden
facing its entrance, and boats and yachts can embark right at pier of the palace. Every suite is
different and carefully decorated with individually curated furniture, a unique decor and a majestic
Bosphorus view or a Yıldız Park view. Palace suites cater to different needs and come in different
sizes, ranging from one bedroom to three.
All suites enjoy these amenities: 24-hour personalised butler service, a writing desk, a choice of six
pillows and additional pillow menu, an LCD screen TV, an in-room safe, climate control, Blaise
Mautin bathroom amenities, a Turkish hand-made crystal chandelier, parquet flooring and
complimentary wireless Internet access.
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The Sultan Suite
The Sultan Suite is a 376 square metre spacious suite located on the second floor of the magnificent
historical palace overlooking the Bosphorus. One of the largest suites in Europe and equipped with
the state-of-the-art technology and features, the Sultan suite is the best room in which to enjoy the
marvellous Bosphorus and feel the soul of this historical palace that Ottoman sultans once called
home.
Entering the suite through a large hall, guests will come across a fancy living room with a dining
area for 12 people in the middle, with two large bedrooms placed on either side. A kitchenette is
conveniently located on the right side of the entrance hall. The master bedroom has a very
comfortable air bed, a handmade marble “hamam” and a Turkish bath with a private steam room
and rain shower with gold plated and crystal bathtub faucets. The guest bedroom also has its own
bathroom with a large window overlooking the Bosphorus and the historical peninsula.
With its colossal and beautiful doors, two decorative fire places, flamboyant chandeliers, artsy
columns, replicas of paintings from the famous palace painter Fausto Zanaro, floor to ceiling
windows (the height of the room is 5.7 metres) and an extraordinary Bosphorus view, this
magnificent suite combines the best of contemporary features, like the 65 inch LCD TV in both of
the rooms and remote control automation system, with classical Ottoman architecture to recreate the
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splendour of the palace. All the furniture, including the imperial style furniture with Ottoman motifs
and accessories dating back to the 19th century, are made in Turkey.
Guests in the Sultan Suite also enjoy a complimentary limousine transfer to/from the airport. The
Sultan Suite has hosted many royals and VIP guests since its opening, such as the King of Spain H. E. Juan Carlos II and the Queen; the King of Jordan - H. E. Hussein and the Queen; former US
President Bill Clinton; Presidents and Prime Ministers of Turkey; Luciano Pavarotti and Liza
Minnelli, Oprah Winfrey, Bono and Madonna.
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DINING AT ÇIRAĞAN PALACE KEMPINSKI ISTANBUL
Gazebo Lounge
With the opening of Çırağan Palace Kempinski İstanbul in 1990, İstanbul socialites have found the
place “to see and to be seen”, right on the Bosphorus at the Gazebo Lounge, an airy lounge with
comfortable seating and a magnificent view of the Bosphorus.
Redecorated with the theme of a "Garden Room" during the renovation of the hotel building in
1997, its modern decorations also reflect an elegant Turkish style with Turkish handmade rugs and
“Yalı/waterside villa” styling on the window elevations and ceramics.
With its superb location right by the Bosphorus and its wide terrace, the Gazebo Lounge is still the
hotspot of Istanbul and a veritable Istanbul must-see. The Gazebo Lounge serves à la carte breakfast
from 06.30 to 12.00. All day long until midnight, guests can enjoy a wide variety of sweet and
savoury pastries, home-made truffles, pralines and chocolates along with freshly brewed coffee and
tea options or refreshing coffee cocktails. Prepared by pastry team, the Gazebo Lounge’s delicious
chocolates are made fresh every day and are the talk of the town.
The most renowned afternoon tea in the city is served every day from 15.00 to 17.00. This “İstanbul
classic” is served on a special three-tier stand, featuring classic finger sandwiches, scones and an
array of afternoon pastries, best enjoyed while taking in the stunning view.
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Tuğra Restaurant & Lounge
Another signature restaurant that has only gotten better as time has passed is the Tuğra Restaurant &
Lounge, located on the first floor of the historical Çırağan Palace with a breathtaking view of the
Bosphorus. Its finesse has been certified many times, with awards including “The Most Creative
Menu Tuğrul Şavkay Special Award - 2008” and the American Academy of Hospitality Services
Award in 1999. Tuğra has also been named as “One of the World’s Best Hotel Restaurants - 2003”
by Hotels Magazine. Its romanticism has been noticed by Travel + Leisure USA, and in 2005 it was
recognised as “One of the 50 Most Romantic Places in the World”.
After much research based on historical documents, the Çırağan Palace Kempinski İstanbul chefs
have created a delicious menu that offers classical Ottoman dishes, the way they were served to the
sultans. “Tuğra” means “the signature of the Sultan” (every Sultan in the Ottoman Empire had a
private signature), which matches perfectly with the restaurant for Tuğra is the signature restaurant
of Çırağan Palace Kempinski İstanbul.
With its floor to ceiling windows and a beautiful terrace overlooking Asia, Tuğra Restaurant &
Lounge exudes an elegant ambiance in beige, blue and brown hues, decorated with clove and tulip
motifs that reflect the glamour of the Ottoman age. Velvet curtains and massive hand-crafted
paintings, together with beautiful woodwork, complement the specially designed plates, crowned
with the flourish of the “sultan’s signature”.
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Since the appointment of the acclaimed Turkish chef Ahmet Kara in the beginning of 2012 Tuğra
Restaurant and Lounge’s already mouthwatering menu has been lovingly enhanced by the addition
of many exciting and traditional dishes. This inspiring menu is prepared with fresh, seasonal and
mostly organic and local products, including the most well-known products of Anatolia and Thrace
such as wild herbs and spices from the Aegean mountains, black cabbage and corn flour from the
Black Sea, sucking lamb from Thrace, dried beans from Middle Anatolia, delicious free range beef
from East Anatolia and freshly caught fish from the Bosphorus.
Tuğra Restaurant & Lounge’s menu features soups such as Sour Red Lentil and Chilled Toyga Aşı
and cold or hot starters such as a traditional mezze platter, a selection of dolma, stuffed vine leaves,
Börek pastries, pilafs and salads. It is hard to choose among the delicious main courses such as Testi
lamb casserole, chicken Topkapı or Külbastı, prepared with to the guest’s choice of sliced lamb loin,
beef tenderloin or free range corn-fed chicken thigh. Stars of the dessert trolley include Dark
Chocolate Palace Pudding, Künefe with clotted cream, Güllaç, and a selection of Baklavas.
The restaurant serves dinner from 19.00 to 23.00 every day, with classical Turkish music filling the
background.
Laledan Restaurant
Just like the Gazebo Lounge and Tuğra Restaurant & Lounge, Laledan Restaurant also has an
intriguing history. When opened in 1990 under the name of “Çırağan Restaurant”, it was one of the
rare fine dining restaurants in the city and it was full each and every day with the crème de la crème
of the city. When the restaurant organised “Culinary Stars” weeks Çırağan Palace Kempinski
İstanbul proved to be a pioneer in the gastronomic world as it was in many other ways.
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It brought the skills of world renowned chefs to local diners, and for most of the chefs it was their
first time in İstanbul or Turkey.
Some of the big names that came include Alain Ducasse and Paul Bocuse. Until 1996, when it was
turned into Laledan Restaurant as it is today, it remained one of the city’s main attraction points.
Laledan Restaurant serves the best buffet breakfast and brunch in the city, with comfortable all day
dining by the Bosphorus from noon to midnight. Breakfast is served every day from 06.30 to 11.00
with over 250 delicious items, 80 percent of which are made with organic ingredients. The
“Legendary Çırağan Brunch” on Sundays is between 12.00 and 16.00 and offers over 300 items,
including egg dishes, breakfast sweets, Danish and croissant varieties, a cold buffet with cheeses,
salads and sushi and a hot buffet with carvings, soups and main courses such as prawns and grilled
beef medallions, all served alongside desserts, a kids buffet, an Asian corner, Turkish classics and
more. This is part of the legacy carried over from the restaurant’s older days.
Laledan is the hotel’s all day dining restaurant and it has been redeveloped to serve all-time
favourites served from 12.00 to 24.00 in its spacious and day-lit dining room, offering great views
of the Bosphorus and the landscaped gardens. Its menu blends well-known international comfort
food dishes; dishes that “make you feel at home” such as hamburgers and spaghetti Bolognese, with
classics that have been famous within the hotel since its opening such as the original preparation of
the Çırağan Palace Shrimp Cocktail.
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Bosphorus Grill
An al fresco summer dining spot on the Bosphorus, where guests can actually touch the waters of
the strait while enjoying a view spanning from the Bosphorus Bridge to the Maiden's Tower,
Bosphorus Grill was opened in 2003 and still remains one of the top summer dining venues in the
city with its stunning location and rare delicacies.
A delicious open buffet serves fresh homemade pasta, mezzes, salads, a rich variety of grilled meat
and fish and sweets, for which all of the ingredients are handpicked from Turkey and around the
world. This delicious menu is accompanied by live music all week.
After a marvellous dinner, guests can conveniently reach the city’s other hot spots with a fast and
romantic boat journey right from the pier of the restaurant. Bosphorus Grill is open during the
summer months from 19.00 to 23.00.
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Sezai Erdoğan, Executive Chef
The first Turkish Executive Chef of the hotel, Sezai Erdoğan has been in the kitchens of Çırağan
Palace Kempinski İstanbul since its opening in 1990. His 26 years of in-depth culinary experience
include organising Turkish food festivals at The Plaza New York and working with legendary chefs
such as Alain Ducasse and Marc Meneau.
Having fallen in love with the “grandfather’s occupation” of being a chef, Erdoğan mastered
Turkish cuisine at different five-star hotels in Turkey before starting at the Çırağan Palace
Kempinski in 1990, when the landmark hotel opened its doors. While he was working at the hotel,
he continued his academic studies at North East Surrey College of Technology in England and at the
renowned Glion Hotel School of Switzerland. Gaining experience in various world cuisines and
every section of the kitchen from garde mangier to desserts, he was promoted to Senior Sous Chef
in 2004, Executive Sous Chef position in 2005, and Executive Chef position in 2013.
He has participated in various Turkish food festivals in different cities all around the world,
including Dubai, Riyadh, Budapest, New York, Mumbai, St Petersburg and Bangkok and gave
support during openings at a number of Kempinski hotels as a consultant chef. Among his
unforgettable memories is the French Food Festival organised at Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul
in 1995.
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During this festival, he had the chance to work with world-famous, Michelin-starred chefs including
Alain Ducasse, Roger Verge, Michel Troisgros and Marc Meneau during a rotating 2-month
schedule of guest chefs.
Chef Erdoğan today is in charge of the food operations of the landmark hotel and its four
restaurants, two bars and six kitchens, which together serve 313 accommodation rooms and 20
function rooms as well as an outside catering operation. He manages in total 200 staff members that
report to him in his kitchens.
“Using regional products is vital for the taste of the food, and it is one of my top priorities. We get
our legumes from village women and farmers. We never buy packaged rice; our rice comes from
Gönen, of the city of Balıkesir, and we only buy the rice produced this year. Our apples are carried
on mules in Amasya, in the Black Sea region, and sent to us”, the chef explains. He has always
placed a high level of importance on both the quality of produce and its taste. Chef Erdoğan speaks
English and Japanese fluently and he is married with two children.
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LE FUMOIR AND ÇIRAĞAN BAR
Wine and Beverage Masters
The Çırağan Palace Kempinski İstanbul beverage experts are made up of the experienced and
knowledgeable Sommelier Tuncay Altun and Sommelier Halil Kara who take care of the
delicious drinks and wines at the hotel’s four restaurants and two bars.
Le Fumoir
Opened in 2010, Le Fumoir rapidly became the talk of the town, owing to its superb location,
premium cognacs, quality malts, a fine selection of wines and champagnes, enticing cocktails and
quality cigars served in handmade humidors, all served with a signature presentation style unique to
Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul.
Located in the lush, green gardens of the Çırağan Palace and surrounded by palm trees with a
splendid view of the Bosphorus, Le Fumoir has a posh ambiance with a striking Far Eastern décor.
At this well ventilated and half al fresco posh bar, guests discover the very best of Istanbul’s social
life for pre- or post-meal socialising and can enjoy the most comfortable setting to enjoy an early
evening cocktail or the finest selection of spirits.
In summer 2012, owing to the General Manager Ralph Radtke’s fresh idea of an al fresco summer
extension, Le Fumoir Pavilion was set up in the midst of the palm trees extending over the
Bosphorus. Soon it proved to be very popular, particularly among the young socialites of the city, as
the “only place to have hookah in style” while enjoying the cool breeze of the Bosphorus.
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Le Fumoir is open from 17.00 to 01.00 every day. Le Fumoir Pavilion is open from 11.00 to 01.00
during weekdays and from 12.00 to 01.00 during summer weekends.
Çırağan Bar
The venue that hosts Çırağan Bar today used to be the brasserie of the times and is where the hotel
became renowned for its stunning brunch, a tradition owned with passion by each management to
follow. Brasserie was later turned into Çırağan Bar, as it is today, with the renovation of the hotel
building in 1997.
Located in the hotel building on the ground level, Çırağan Bar welcomes its guests every evening
from 18.00 to 01:00. It is the perfect venue to enjoy the evening and leave a hectic, stressful day
behind. Guests indulge in an elegant atmosphere with the best of champagne and martini cocktails,
cognac, liqueurs and more, with a delicious oriental tapas selection.
Wine Cellar at Tuğra Restaurant & Lounge
The hotel’s wine cellar initially was opened on the ground floor of the palace in 2003. After
renovation in 2007, it was moved to the inside of the Tuğra Restaurant & Lounge, which made it
much more visible. The cellar has 140 different types of wines from 14 different countries including
the best of Turkish wines. The prominent white wines include Meursault, Louis Jadot Chardonnay
2007, Chablis Premier Cru Chardonnay and Domaine Laroche 2009.
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Among red wines the cellar proudly would offer its guests the very best, such as Château Margaux,
Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon 1995, Château Mouton Rothschild
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc 1975 and Château Petrus Merlot, Cabernet Franc
1994.
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Dream Banqueting Areas
It is hard to decide what Çırağan Palace is most famous for: its government summits, high profile
meetings and congresses, or its weddings and other social events that create memories to remember
for a life time. Its magnificent, spacious terrace right on the Bosphorus hosts countless VIP events,
from a Chanel catwalk to an Oprah Winfrey party, from a jet set Indian wedding to a world
renowned company’s annual executives gathering.
Çırağan Palace Kempinski’s 20 meeting rooms, with state-of-art-technology and unparalleled
comfort ensure absolutely flawless meetings and social events. From the Çırağan Ballroom with an
unbeatable view of the Bosphorus and a capacity of 950 people at a sit down dinner to a plainer
room that can be divided and united, all rooms enjoy natural daylight and each is equipped with
electrical outlets (220-volt), climate and sound controls, a telephone and a microphone. Two private
dining rooms are also available for hire for exclusive functions. The hotel has four meeting rooms
which can host up to 20 guests. Dedicated in-house meeting assistants are always at your service,
which makes any event held at this Istanbul classic an inevitable success.
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THE AWARD-WINNING CONCIERGE TEAM
…INTRODUCING CENGİZ GÖRKEM, HEAD CONCIERGE
“For me, being an hotelier starts with being passionate and loving people. Cengiz has both of these
traits strongly, and his curiosity for life makes him an excellent concierge.”
Ralph Radtke, General Manager
Cengiz Görkem, Head Concierge
For Cengiz Görkem, Head Concierge of Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul, it is not a job, it is a
life style: he simply loves scouting every corner of the city, whether on a commuter boat, on his
motorbike or à pied. He can be seen spending easily an hour with a guest that would genuinely like
to spend his time like a local. “My job is my passion. If you ask me what my hobbies are, I would
tell you history, culture, geography and traveling to start with. For me, my job does not finish when
I leave the hotel. I crave new information and use every bit of it to make our guests’ stay truly an
unforgettable one,” he says.
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Except for a short period at another five star hotel in the south of Turkey, Cengiz Görkem has been
working at the concierge desk of Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul since its opening in 1990. He
has been making a name as the Head Concierge since 2010, and is sought after by name by regular
guests. In 2003, he took pride in being one of the founding members of the Turkish section of the
U.I.C.H., the International Union of Hotel Concierges Les Clefs d’Or in 2003. He has attended and
represented the Turkish section of the U.I.C.H Les Clefs d’Or at many international congresses in
locales including Brussels, Athens, Biarritz, Washington D.C. and London from 2001 until today.
Recommending the best of dining, shopping, cultural activities and city tours or organising
absolutely anything a guest might need during their stay, be it a last minute table booking or a ticket
to a concert, Cengiz Görkem and his team’s local and international network is the key to many
doors in the charming city of Istanbul. The concierge team also arranges private city tours with or
without a guide, private shopping tours and limo, boat and helicopter transfers.
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…INTRODUCING RALPH RADTKE, GENERAL MANAGER
“Ralph is an hotelier with good operational acumen and a strong passion for the industry. He has a
pragmatic approach to solving business problems and we are confident his leadership skills will
propel the Çırağan Palace to new heights.”
Reto Wittwer, Kempinski President and CEO
With over 35 years of international hotel industry experience in more than 15 countries, Ralph
Radtke, as TimeOut Istanbul English has nicely put, is “Mr Hospitality”. Ralph Radtke, who speaks
fluent English, French and Dutch in addition to his mother tongue of German, has been passionately
engaged in the international hotel industry for many years.
The foundations of his successful career were laid during his attendance at the Hotel School D.
Speiser at Tegernsee, and Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, from 1970 to 1972. In addition, he is a
graduate of the Hotel Management and Food & Beverage Management programmes at Glion,
Switzerland, and Florida State University.
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In 1985, following various professional development stints in France, the Netherlands, Greece and
Italy, Ralph Radtke received his first general manager position at the Sofitel Thalasso Quiberon in
France. After working as a general manager in Hua Hin, Thailand and Moscow, Russia, he took
over the position of Area General Manager of Sofitel in the Ivory Coast in 1992. Two years later,
Radtke moved to the Hotel Europlaza & Residence in Luxembourg as the general manager. In 1999,
he was appointed as the Area General Manager of Accor Hotels in Luxembourg, and was in charge
of nine hotels. From 2006 onwards, he worked as the Director of Operations in Accor Hotels
Luxembourg with nine hotels under his watch and at Sofitel Hotels BeLux with four properties in
his control. In the last four years, prior to joining Çırağan Palace Kempinski İstanbul, he held the
post of Senior Vice President of Sofitel for a total of 15 hotels in Northern, Central and Eastern
Europe, Turkey and Israel. Having started at Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul in October 2011,
after only a few months he has taken the position of Kempinski Area Director, taking care of the
group’s Turkey and Bulgaria hotels in addition to being the General Manager of the Çırağan Palace
Kempinski Istanbul and a part of the Worldwide Development Committee for Kempinski.
His strong background in operations and food and beverage makes him an excellent leader for this
tradition-rich landmark right on the Bosphorus which constantly craves innovation.
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A BRIEF HISTORY OF ÇIRAĞAN PALACE KEMPINSKI ISTANBUL
17th century
The area around the Çırağan Palace was known as "Kazancıoğlu Garden” during the 17th century.
These lush gardens extended from the Beşiktaş district to the Ortaköy.
1718 – 1730
The gardens and the waterside palaces that adorned the Beşiktaş shores were to enjoy their most
brilliant epoch during the colourful years that came to be known as the Tulip Period, a period
characterised above all by a passionate love of flowers and music. It was during these years that
Ahmet III presented this property to his son-in-law, the Grand Vizier Ibrahim Pasha, who had joined
him in initiating this era of pleasure and cultural refinement.
The first structure in the region was the mansion that belonged to Admiral Kılıç Ali Pasha. Damat
İbrahim Pasha of Nevşehir, the Grand Vezir, had built a summer mansion for his wife Fatma Sultan
(the daughter of Sultan Ahmet III) in 1719 on the same spot. Fatma Sultan frequently organised
torch lit celebrations, or “Çırağan Festivals”, in the gardens. In Persian, the word Çırağan suggests a
“special light source”. The word soon became synonymous with the palace.
1834
Sultan Mahmut II in 1834 decided to reconstruct the area that by then had a mosque, a school and a
Mevlevi lodge by demolishing the summer villa and building the first palace. Following eight years
of construction, the classical palace beautified the shores with a foundation of stone – including
forty grand columns – and extensive use of rare woods.
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1857
Sultan Abdülmecid demolished the palace that Sultan Mahmut II had built, and made plans to
rebuild a new palace in a “western” style. However, he passed away in 1861 and his wishes were
carried out by his brother, Sultan Abdülaziz.
1871
Sultan Abdülaziz finished building the palace in 1871, yet the building was in a more “Eastern”
style, and North African architectural techniques were used. The contractors were Sarkis Balyan and
his associate, Narsisyan Krikor. The priceless ornamented doors of the palace were made by Vortik
Kemhacıyan and each was worth 1000 gold coins. Sultan Abdülhamit II gave one of these doors as
a gift to his friend, the German Emperor Kaiser Wilhelm II, who admired them very much and put
them on display in the Berlin Museum. Rare marble and mother-of-pearl were imported from all
over the world for the construction of the palace. The waterfront construction alone cost 400,000
Ottoman liras. Over the construction of the Çırağan Palace, which began in 1863 was completed in
1871, 2.5 million gold coins were spent.
1909
On November 14, 1909, Çırağan Palace was selected as the site for a significant meeting of the
Turkish Parliament. For this event, the palace was refurnished; valuable paintings from the art
collection of Sultan Abdülhamid of the 1860s were included. Works by Rembrant and Ayvazovsky
also took their places in the priceless collection. Dramatically, however, shortly after the conclusion
of the Parliament meeting in January 1910 a fire destroyed the inside of the palace, including
significant antiques and art pieces from Abdülhamid’s collection and books from the renowned
library of Murat V.
1920
At the end of WWI, during the occupation of Istanbul, the ruined palace was used as “Bizo Barrack”
by the French military’s field corps engineers. From 1930 on, Beşiktaş Football Team used the
garden of the palace as a stadium.
1946
In 1946, an army captain damaged the grave site of the whirling dervishes in the basement of the
palace while digging for gold. That same year it was decided that the palace would be left to the
municipality.
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1985
On 7 March 1985, the Sanbar Group signed a letter of understanding with the Turkish Republic
Ministry of Culture and Tourism to renovate the Çırağan Palace and develop it into a recreational
centre with an adjoining five star hotel. This was followed in 1986 by a protocol agreement which
allowed the Group and its associates to progress to the development stage, with Sanbar Group as the
developer, designer and project manager and Kumagai Gumi as the main contractor for
construction. The construction work started in 1987 and, subsequently, the Kempinski Group was
awarded the contract for hotel management and operations.
1990
Çırağan Palace Kempinski İstanbul opened its doors to a curious public in 1990 with the modern
hotel building built on the premises of the palace. More significantly, however, after years of
redesign and construction the “new” Çırağan Palace opened the doors of its four immense, historic
gates in 1992.
1997, 2007 and present
The hotel building went under a renovation in 1997 which included all the rooms and public areas.
The palace’s renovation came in 2006; meeting rooms, public areas and suites were restored to their
original colour scheme and glamour. State-of-the-art technology was also placed in all meeting
rooms. The Tuğra Restaurant & Lounge was part of this renovation project as well.
Since then, Çırağan Palace Kempinski İstanbul has remained as “the place” to meet for royalty such
as H.R.M. Juan Carlos II, King of Spain and Prince Albert of Monaco. Presidents and prime
ministers such as Bill Clinton and world renowned artists, designers and business people such as
Sophia Loren, Sting, Oprah Winfrey, U2, Madonna, Zaha Hadid, Roberto Cavalli, Christian
Louboutin, and many others have stayed as well. The hotel has also hosted countless international
government summits, meetings, weddings and social events. Elsewhere in Istanbul, there have been
attempts to recreate the gracious lifestyle of the sultans within new hotels, but there is a world of
difference between saying, “this is what the walls of a sultan’s palace would have looked like” and
“these are the very walls”.
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ÇIRAĞAN PALACE KEMPINSKI ISTANBUL SUMMARY
ADDRESS:
Çırağan Palace Kempinski İstanbul
Çırağan Caddesi 32
Beşiktaş
İstanbul – 34349
Turkey
TELEPHONE:
+90 212 326 46 46
FACSIMILE:
+90 212 259 66 87
WEBSITE:
www.kempinski.com/istanbul
TWITTER:
@CPKempinski
FACEBOOK:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ciragan-Palace-KempinskiIstanbul/112986763993
OPEN SINCE:
1990
OWNERS:
Abu Dhabi Investment Authorithy (ADIA)
MANGEMENT
COMPANY:
Kempinski
GENERAL
MANAGER:
Ralph Radtke
TOTAL NO. OF
ROOMS / SUITES:
313
ACCOMMODATION
OPTIONS:
Hotel: 282 rooms & 20 suites
Palace: 11 suites
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SPECIAL FEATURES
& FACILITIES:
Tuğra Restaurant & Lounge
Laledan Restaurant
Gazebo Lounge
Bosphorus Grill
Le Fumoir
Le Fumoir Pavilion
Çırağan Bar
Private function rooms
Spa & Turkish bath (hamam)
Fitness Club
Heated open air outdoor pool
Indoor pool and jakuzzi
Complimentary internet
Around the clock open business center
ADDITIONAL
SERVICES:
Butler service at the historical palace
MEDIA CONTACTS:
For further information, please contact:
Çiler İlhan
Director of Public Relations
Area Director of Public Relations Turkey
Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul
Çırağan Caddesi 32
34349 Istanbul
Turkey
Tel +90 212 259 03 73 Fax +90 212 259 33 13
E-mail: [email protected]
www.kempinski.com/istanbul
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