HISTORY

Everything starts with a bus company in Van, the pearl of the East: Hazar Turizm. The Elik family from Van carries thousands of passengers safely to all over Türkiye through the company Hazar Turizm for years. Meanwhile, life in Van gets more vibrant. The East has now come out of its shell, so to speak, and life has begun to become more colourful on the streets of Van.

The world of commerce in the East becomes more active every day. The roads of the East are long and challenging... So much so that in those days, transit bus passengers even had to sleep on benches sometimes while switching vehicles. Based on these needs, Tehran Hotel is opened. Despite all its modesty, this very first hotel in Van makes the Elik family turn over a new leaf in their life.

The second-generation members of the Elik family come to Istanbul. As in every Eastern story, the Elik family also begins to pursue new lines of business in Istanbul. Meanwhile, Eastern culture is becoming widespread in the west of Türkiye, turning into something of a discovery. For example, "Ocakbaşı” (a traditional and Eastern type of grill restaurant) is a new culture for the people of Istanbul... The Elik family's Istanbul adventure begins with Altınşiş Ocakbaşı, an Eastern grill restaurant which they open in Cihangir.

Taksim's famous Talimhane neighbourhood; the location of automotive manufacturers... It is time for transformation for Istanbul, too. These are the years when automotive repair shops start leaving this most central location in Istanbul... And while they were leaving Talimhane, investors had already started buying land there. Coşkun Elik, the brother in the Elik family who is an investor, has used his earnings to make investment in the most valuable spot of Talimhane and is now biding his time.

On this land located in the centre of Istanbul, Elite World Prestige, the first link of today's Elite World Hotels & Resorts chain, which is now known as Elite World Comfy İstanbul Taksim, starts rising. By this time, Istanbul has become one of the most valuable travel destinations in the world. Local and foreign tourists... Fully-packed hotels... It is time for a second hotel for the Elite World chain. 

The chain's first 5-star hotel, Elite World İstanbul Taksim, opens its doors. Talimhane's first 5-star hotel hosts thousands of guests from dozens of countries and hundreds of business meetings. The Elik Family has now decided to put all their focus on tourism and starts to make all their plans for the future accordingly.

Türkiye has integrated not only with its West but also with its East, and each city has become a valuable tourism destination. Now is the time to invest in the land where were born. Van's first 5-star hotel, Elite World Van, is opened at a ceremony with the participation of the then Prime Minister of the Republic of Türkiye, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

The family, devoted to tourism, now meticulously evaluates every new investment opportunity. Meanwhile, Istanbul has become one of the most important business and trade centres in the world. International congresses, fairs, meetings... “If Istanbul is growing, you will too!” Elite World İstanbul Florya, the chain's first business-themed hotel, opens its doors.

The Elik family, which is also interested in investments in resort hotels that are indispensable for the Turkish tourism sector, opens Elite World Marmaris in Marmaris, the pearl of the South, in 2015. The hotel quickly becomes a favourite destination among adults looking for a quiet and peaceful holiday.

The Elik family continues its investments at full speed. The Elite World Hotels & Resorts chain puts its signature mark on both sides of Istanbul with the "Elite World Grand" brand that represents luxury segment hotels. In 2017, Elite World Grand İstanbul Basın Ekspres, the largest hotel of the chain on the European Side, opens its doors.

In 2018, the chain makes its mark on two continents with the addition of Elite World Grand İstanbul Küçükyalı on the Anatolian Side where Istanbul's value is increasing. Elite World Hotels & Resorts has now secured its place among Türkiye's leading domestic hotel chains with the mega hotel facilities it has opened.

Elite World Grand Sapanca, one of the largest links in the chain that brings the Elite World brand value to another level, quickly becomes the centre of attention for both the chain and  local and foreign tourists with its unique location in nature and the opportunities it offers in terms of leisure and business travels, congress tourism, and wellness. 

2019 is also a remarkable year in the history of the chain as Elite World Hotels & Resorts becomes the first domestic hotel chain that is selected for the Turquality (TQ) program, the first and only state-supported branding program.

2020 marks the beginning of a new transformation journey for the Elite World Hotels & Resorts chain.  Infrastructure work begins in line with the chain's 5-year growth strategy.

As of 2021, the journey of growth starts with the franchise business model implemented both at home and abroad, accompanied by a corporate identity transformation as well as the expansion and growth of sub-brands to be added to the chain.

In 2022, the franchise growth model is launched and negotiations begin with investors from all over Türkiye who want a stake in the tourism sector. The first link of the chain that brings Elite World closer to its 2030 goals begins to take shape.

The chain's first franchise hotel is opened in Samsun under the name Elite World Comfy Samsun Atakum. Now is the time to take the growth strategy one step further. 5 new brands are added to the 4 existing brands that appeal to different categories, in parallel with the changes in global travel trends. Thus, the chain continues its endeavours in the tourism sector with 9 brands that appeal to every travel type, ranging from economy-class to long-term accommodation.

It is now time for the Elite World brand to grow both domestically and internationally. Van, the place where the brand was born, also becomes the address of the first new hotel of 2024. Elite World GO Van Edremit opens in May and Elite World Village İstanbul Polonezköy opens in July 2024.

Elite World Kuşadası, the chain's first management hotel operated on behalf of the property owner, also open its doors in June 2024 in Kuşadası, one of Türkiye's most important tourism centres. Elite World completes its deals in order to introduce its service quality abroad. 

The chain signs an agreement to open its first hotel abroad in the Ivory Coast (Republic of Côte d'Ivoire) under the name Elite World Grand Yamoussoukro in 2026. 

2024 is a year of breakthroughs for Elite World. Elite World GO Bursa İnegöl, Elite World Residence Bodrum Asarlık, Elite World NEST Diyarbakır, and Elite World Residence İstanbul Yeni Levent respectively, become the new links that were added to the chain.