Özgür's unique combination of luxury hospitality expertise and wellness credentials has given him a distinct edge in the industry. His career began at The Ritz Carlton, Istanbul, and continued with the opening of Richmond Nua Wellness in 2005, Turkey’s first and only pioneering wellness resort. Following this, he supervised Hillside Beach Club, a renowned resort managed by the country’s leading leisure group, for seven years, where he successfully elevated the resort's spa into a Wellness Retreat concept.
Özgür then transitioned to the Jumeirah Group, where he oversaw the Jumeirah Bilgah Beach Hotel’ s wellness and leisure offerings, and later moved to One&Only Reethi Rah, Maldives. At Reethi Rah.
His next chapter brought him to JOALI Maldives, where he spent eight years demonstrating his dedication to excellence and commitment to the brand. He was appointed General Manager of JOALI BEING, the Maldives' only dedicated wellbeing island, from 2020 to 2023. During his time at JOALI, Özgür led both project and operations teams to ensure properties opened on time, consistently delivering high-end services as promised.
In addition to his professional achievements, he is a respected panelist in international wellness circles, Ambassador at GWI and a member of the judging committee at the World Spa & Wellness Awards. His creative approach and insights into new trends are widely recognized, and his solution-focused mindset continues to inspire those around him.
Özgür holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education and Sports from Marmara University in Turkey and has also trained in Advanced Hotel Revenue Management at Cornell University. His 25-years career has seen him open a number of luxury hotels in iconic locations, from Istanbul to the Maldives.