“Our target in tourism is 10,000 beds within four years”

Engin Akçakoca is the former head of the Banking Regulation and Supervisory Agency (BRSA), which is the most important of the various institutions which monitor and regulate the banking sector. Now he is making a name for himself as board chairman of the Martı Group. Akçakoca has been heading the group for six months and says that he is still at the learning stage. “I find the Martı Group’s vision of achieving a 10,000 bed capacity within four years very exciting. It will be a lot of fun to overcome whatever obstacles may arise along the way.”

At one time Engin Akçakoca was one of the most talked about people in the business community and one whose name featured most often in newspapers. After he left his post he worked in a number of different sectors. Akçakoca is currently a member of the board of directors of the Anadolu Group’s food company. He also works as a consultant to the IMF. For the last six months he has been serving as board chairman of the Martı Group, which is one of the most important players in the tourism sector. Akçakoca says that his new post at the Martı Group takes a large proportion of his time. He attributes his decision to choose the tourism sector to the company’s ambitious vision. Akçakoca was very affected by the Mart Group’s vision of a 10,000 bed capacity within four years.
We spoke with Engin Akçakoca about his new position at the Martı Group, his future targets and his thoughts about the tourism sector.

* What kind of offers did you receive when you left the BRSA?
After I left the BRSA I was prevented by law from working in the banking sector for the next two years. As a result, I had the opportunity to look at every business except banking. I received offers from many different fields. I evaluated some of them. I accepted the first, which was an offer from the IMF to become a consultant. I am working as a consultant to the central banks of Palestine, Nigeria and Kyrgyzstan. The second was my membership of the board of the Anadolu Group’s food and drinks company. Finally, I accepted an offer to be the board chairman of the Martı Group. At the moment it is on the latter than I spend most of my time.

* It is six months since you started in the post. What were the first decisions that you implemented?
We are making substantial, stable progress with the public offering. In addition to this, we have made some positive contributions. We have developed new management principles and ethical rules. The company has a sufficiently ambitious vision. What are important now are the steps we take towards realizing that vision.

* What part of the vision most influenced you?
The Martı group has set itself a target of 10,000 beds within the next four years. After the public offering has been completed, we shall focus the real estate investment trust activities on a number of areas, and one of the main goals is the establishment of living centers in other countries. To be honest, I find these goals very exciting.

* How do you plan to realize these goals?
We are not planning to achieve 10,000 beds all by ourselves. We shall sign leasing, management and operating agreements. We shall also take over the management of hotels bought by the real estate investment trust. This is how we shall achieve the target of 10,000 beds.

Seyma Öncel Bayıksel
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