By Samar Yahya
Saudi Gazette
JEDDAH — Caresse resort and spa, Bodrum, nestled in the heart of the Turkish Riviera, is a luxury boutique hotel that overlooks the Aegean Sea. Located within a few minutes’ drive from Bodrum’s historical monuments and the buzzing city center, the stunning property spreads out across 64,000 sqm, perched on the Mediterranean shore.
Opened at the end of July 2015, Caresse boasts its own private beach, a majestic infinity pool, a fleet of private yachts, a 1,600 sqm spa and two restaurants. It is home to 67 exquisite hotel rooms, 9 spacious suites, and a stately Caresse King Villa; each including a private terrace and chic, bespoke furnishings designed by world-renowned, Turkish architect Onur Ozgul.
An unrivalled, year-round travel destination, Caresse offers guests a coveted seaside escape, while remaining connected to the pulse of the city.
Conde Naste Traveller, a prestigious travel magazine, ranked Caresse as the best resort in Europe and the sixth best resort in the world after only one full year of operation. Selçuk Kurtul, Director of Sales and Marketing at Caresse Bodrum, visited Jeddah recently and talked to Saudi Gazette about the property.
“I am here on a roadshow tour with Marriott International Luxury Brands. Saudi Arabia is by far our biggest market in the GCC region and the second biggest after Turkey. Saudi visitors account for around 30 percent of our total visitors and we witnessed a 56 percent increase in their occupancy during the first four months of this year, compared to the same period of last year,” Kurtul said
As a destination, Bodrum offers a rich blend of archeological, cultural, culinary, shopping, and entertainment options. It’s a destination, which appeals to honeymooners, big families with children, and even the younger generation who are well-travelled and looking for extraordinary experiences.
Historically, Bodrum was positioned as the Jet-Set destination of Turkey. “Our guests are mostly members of the Royal families, celebrities, and high-net-worth individuals. Herodotus, the “father of historians” in ancient Greece, called this historical heritage site the eternal land of blue. Everybody can find something of interest here, culinary experiences, azure-colored bays, historical sites, or simply sailing, fishing, or diving.
“Our guests look for personalized services and tailor-made experiences. Simplicity and personalization are what they want. So, we create experiences which can stay in their mind.” Kurtul explained that as the tangerine is a trademark of Bodrum, the harvesting season here begins end of September to end of March. Guests staying with us during this period can visit tangerine fields, harvest tangerines directly from the trees, and then learn how to prepare tangerine jam in a workshop with our experienced executive chefs. In addition to that, we offer craftsmanship experiences such as woodcarving, pottery, or lamp making.
KSA, among other GCC travelers, stay for longer periods than most of the European or USA guests. On average, Saudi visitors stay for around 4.5 nights, compared to 3 nights by Europeans or Americans. “We always create special packages for our GCC guests who are looking for an extended vacation. When GCC guests book six-night stay during summer, they get an additional complimentary night for deluxe rooms and two additional complimentary nights for suites. We also offer additional incentives for big families such as the opportunity to book their second or adjoining room at half the price from the best available rate.”
To differentiate itself from others, a property should have a personal touch with individualized service. It’s the soul of the place that matters. Caresse, for example, has its exceptional lifestyle blended with the Aegean Sea’s energy.
Kurtul added that this year, we have created a new summer menu for our guests, fusing Aegean and Mediterranean cuisines with contemporary Turkish cuisine. This fusion creates a rich blend of flavours. As an example, Chef Baran, member of the Turkish National Culinary Team, has created a special Anatolian-inspired contemporary desert called Black Island Mousse, which is today one of our most sought-after signature deserts blended with local tangerines.
Prior to his visit to Jeddah, Selçuk Kurtul attended Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai, and stated that it is a very important event to stay tuned and updated with the ever-evolving trends and preferences of GCC guests, which we can then carry home to evolve our offerings.
Caresse is a very niche property, and to promote it, we also need a niche approach. ATM is one of those platforms that is perfectly suited for this purpose. Our interior and exterior designs, along with the more than 100 pieces of artwork, are blended with the Aegean earth colors which enable our guests to relax and feel more tranquil during their entire stay. ATM is the place where we can inform target customers about these features.
On expansion plans Selçuk said: “It’s all about expansion to penetrate new markets, attract new guests, retain our loyal customers, create personalized experiences, and come up with new ideas and concepts which will continue to amaze our guests. “
In Bodrum, we have access to the only female yacht captain in the city. So, for ladies who want privacy on an untouched island, for example, this can be an ideal solution. We are also very close to Greece. Kos Island is only 45 minutes away by ferry. However, with our speed boat, which is the same boat used in James Bond Casino Royale movie and which is a limited edition, Kos becomes only 7 minutes away.
In short, it’s all about experiences, and our job is to create those tailor-made lifetime experiences that take into consideration the specifics and preferences of each region.
