Temel Kotil, CEO of Turkish Airlines, has been interviewed for Business Guide Turkey for Kommersant, to talk about the successful strategy of branding and business development of Turkish Airlines and the ambitious
prospects that the airline is committed to attain in the short and mid-term.

Focus Communication: I would like to start with the results of 2009. I know tha......

Mavi has been the leader jeans brand in Turkey for 13 years.   After running the American operation, you were also recognized as one of the top 100 most influential people in American Men’s clothing.  Back when you started in New York 12 years ago, did you think you’d attain this level of recognition so quickly?

I suppose that dreamin......

Both of your two principal businesses, mining and hospitality, depend heavily on the macro-economy.  You have continued to reinvest in the tourism sector implying little need to subsidize the mining business.  As commodities prices tick upwards again, will your hotel expansion become even more ambitious as the firm can have a larger appetite for risk?

TUSKON is a relatively young organization, established only in 2005, among Turkey’s many other business chambers and associations. Could you briefly explain to our readers the main aspects that distinguish it from other national business organizations and the role it is currently playing in Turkey?

TUSKON is the largest non-governmental and volunteer busi......

According to the statistics of UN World Tourism Organization, Turkey has leaped to higher ranks among the global tourism destinations and found her place in the first 10. How could you summarize the key factors in this perfect performance of Turkey?

Turkey’s tourism sector has been rapidly going upwards since 1980. When taking a look at the WTO data of th......

Born and raised in Antalya, having grown up in the private sector before becoming the city’s mayor until June 2009, could you describe to our readers how the face of Antalya has changed in the past 20 years?

Antalya developed at a much higher pace than most cities in the World. It welcomed 20 000 tourists in 1988, 1 900 000 million in 1999, and 10 millio......

The Antalya Promotion Foundation (ATAV) was founded in 1996. Back then, which characteristics of the market made you feel there was the need to create such a structure?

The year 1996 coincides with the 10th anniversary of the beginning of mass tourism in Antalya. At this stage, the various stakeholders started to realize that besides the work carried out by the......

For starters could you please briefly introduce TYD and the role it has played in the development of the Turkish tourism sector since its creation over 20 years ago?

The Turkish Tourism Investors Association (TYD) is a non-governmental association (NGO) representing the tourism investors of Turkey. Its 200 members operate hotels, touristic complexes, marinas, a......

In this important historical moment for the construction industry, could you inform our readers about the activities and members of the Turkish Contractors’ Association?

As the leading association of the construction sector in Turkey, the TCA was established in 1952.  Being the locomotive of the economy, the construction industry is one of the most i......

You have been holding the position of Governor of Antalya for more than five years –an unusual performance. What have been your key achievements and the main developments of the Province since 2003?

I have been working in the Turkish administration for long years and governed a number of other cities before Antalya. Such experience taught me that no matt......