A deeply rooted icon in Istanbul’s collective memory, The Grand Tarabya merges the elegance of the past with the sophistication of the future under the leadership of Uğur Talayhan. In his vision, Tarabya is not merely a hotel; it is a living stage that carries the spirit of the Bosphorus, defining luxury through subtlety rather than ostentation. The full text of the exclusive interview featured in the 1st issue of The Vault Mag:
The Grand Tarabya is not just a hotel, but one of the essential pieces of Istanbul’s memory. What was the first responsibility you felt when you took office?
On my first day in office, walking through those doors, what I felt was not so much excitement as a profound sense of respect. Because anyone who crosses the threshold of The Grand Tarabya actually steps into a heritage accumulated since 1966. I knew that day that I was taking over not just a building, but a story. The first and most powerful responsibility I felt was to prepare this deeply rooted identity for a new era without damaging it—meaning neither clinging too tightly to the past and falling behind the times, nor sacrificing the hotel’s soul in the name of renewal. Striking that delicate balance between the two became both a professional duty and a matter of personal honor for me. A leader’s true success lies in respecting the story that came before them while adding a new chapter that does not shame it. I began with precisely this awareness and, I must confess, the sweet weight of that realization on my shoulders.
When Tarabya is mentioned, the Bosphorus, elegance, and nostalgia come to mind. In your opinion, what does it mean to reinterpret this legacy today?
Reinterpreting a legacy is not about preserving it statically as many might think; the real essence is keeping it alive. A legacy placed behind a glass showcase, no matter how valuable, eventually turns into merely a memory. Yet the Bosphorus, the elegance, and the nostalgia associated with Tarabya are not things of the past for us; they are still breathing, living values. My task is to retell this spirit in the language of today: blending this deep-rooted identity with contemporary comfort, international service standards, and the expectations of today’s guest. Thus, the goal is not to imitate nostalgia, but to carry it into the present and pass it on to tomorrow. For me, true elegance is not what remains unchanged, but what can renew itself while preserving its core. And that is precisely the story of Tarabya: like a Bosphorus that constantly flows, yet always remains itself.
“I took over not a building, but a story.”
What was your first initiative upon taking office that made people say, “A different era is beginning here”?
To be honest, I do not believe in launching a new era with a single striking move; lasting change comes not from flashy openings, but from a quiet shift in mindset. Therefore, my first ‘initiative’ was not a space or a service, but the shared language we established with our team. Before anything else, I shared this: every guest here is not a room number, but a name we know, remember, and whose expectations we anticipate. Because what transforms a hotel is not first its marble or architecture, but the perspective of its staff. I wanted guests to get the feeling that ‘something is changing here’ not from grand announcements, but from the subtlety at the moment of being welcomed at the door, from a detail remembered. True transformation begins not when it is declared, but when it is felt; and in my opinion, the strongest first step is building a service culture that wins people’s hearts.
Which innovation do you think guests will talk about the most within the coming year?
I hope my answer won’t surprise you, but the most talked-about innovation of the upcoming period will not be a single service or a gleaming space. I believe in a holistic transformation of the experience. With the hotel’s transition to Fairmont, our guests will find that Bosphorus elegance they have known for years, blended with the international sophistication of a brand uniting the world’s most iconic hotels. But what truly excites me is that this change will be noticed by the guest not through grand gestures, but through small details that make them feel special: a word spoken at the right moment, a remembered preference, an unexpected touch of finesse. I believe the strongest innovations are not those announced with noise, but those felt in silence. Therefore, what will be talked about the most is precisely this invisible refinement itself.
If you had to choose three words to revive the spirit of Tarabya, what would they be?
A difficult question, because fitting Tarabya into three words is somewhat limiting it; yet I would love to try. My first word would be elegance—the unpretentious nobility of this shoreline that has remained unchanged for centuries. The second is continuity: a heritage that has flowed uninterruptedly from 1966 to today, passing the memory of each generation to the next. And the third is renewal; because we view this legacy not as a burden, but as a starting point. When these three words come together, what emerges is actually the very spirit of Tarabya: a place that is deeply rooted yet never static, carrying its past while looking toward the future. To my mind, true prestige is hidden right there—in places that possess both a memory and a dream.
The competition among luxury hotels in Istanbul is stronger than ever. What do you think will be the most crucial element setting The Grand Tarabya apart from its competitors?
The competition in Istanbul is truly fierce, and I see this not as a threat but as a motivation; because strong competitors push you to do better every day. However, the most important element setting us apart will be something no competitor can subsequently buy or build: our roots. The story of The Grand Tarabya dating back to 1966, being one of Turkey’s first five-star hotels, its unique shoreline named after ‘healing’ (Tarabya), and the enduring lifestyle we offer through our residences… All of these represent a depth that a hotel cannot acquire with money, but only with time. New and impressive structures will always exist, but history cannot be imitated. When you add the global power and vision of Fairmont to this, a very rare address emerges—one that has both a past and a future. What sets us apart is precisely this wholeness.
In your opinion, what do guests now expect from a five-star hotel, and what is the element that truly surprises them?
Today’s guest already sees comfort, quality, and aesthetics as a right from a five-star hotel; these are no longer elements that surprise, but rather what is expected from the very beginning. Therefore, what creates the difference is not the amenities you offer, but how you make the guest feel. The moment that truly impresses people is when their expectations are sensed before they are even voiced; the moment they feel not like a customer, but like an expected guest. Luxury is no longer in ostentation, but in sincerity and refinement. The most elegant way to surprise a guest is not to make a grand gesture, but to remember a small detail that matters to them. True surprise is not hidden in grandeur, but in the warmth of feeling truly seen. My team and I pursue precisely this every single day.
The Bosphorus view alone is no longer enough. How do you aim to differentiate the Tarabya experience?
You are quite right; the Bosphorus view is a unique starting point, but it is no longer a privilege on its own. Our goal is not just to make the guest gaze at a view, but to make them experience an emotion. We build this through complementary layers: the story told by a deeply rooted venue, a gastronomy that leaves a mark on the palate, a wellness concept that truly rejuvenates rather than just resting you, and most importantly, a personal touch felt at every touchpoint. The view is a frame; the true picture is created by the experience you place within that frame. If a guest leaves here saying not ‘it had a wonderful view’ but ‘I felt entirely different there,’ it means we have done our job right. And that is precisely what will make the Tarabya experience distinct: a sense of belonging that goes beyond the view.
“Once upon a time, luxury was measured by owned objects and ostentatious details.”
Luxury is now defined more by lived moments than owned things. How will Tarabya interpret this transformation?
Not only do I believe in this transformation, but I also see it as the most mature point hospitality has reached. Once upon a time, luxury was measured by owned objects and ostentatious details; today, it is defined by the moments when a person feels part of a story. Tarabya carries this interpretation naturally and without force, because this shoreline itself is not an object, but an atmosphere, a moment, an emotion. The color of the water in the first light of morning, that tranquility striking the terraces at dusk—these cannot be bought, only experienced. And our job is not to sell an expensive stay to the guest, but to gift them time to be remembered. Because what makes an experience enduring is not its grandeur, but the trace it leaves within a person. The future of luxury will belong to those who can multiply these moments; and Tarabya is practically tailor-made for this.
What kind of strategy are you pursuing to bring Tarabya—which has been an important meeting point in Istanbul’s social life for years—back onto the city’s agenda?
Tarabya was one of Istanbul’s most elegant meeting points for decades; this social memory is still alive today and serves as an invaluable foundation for us. The strategy we follow to bring it back onto the city’s agenda is not built on forced visibility or temporary popularity, but on creating a natural and lasting attraction. The way to truly bring a place onto the agenda is not through advertising, but through the time people spend there. Therefore, our focus is for the hotel to become a meeting address for Istanbulites once again through its gastronomy, social venues, and cultural stance. My goal is to make someone telling their friend, ‘let’s meet at Tarabya,’ the most natural sentence again. A venue stays on the agenda when it is a place where people accumulate memories, and we want these memories to accumulate here once more.
What projects are you working on to transform the hotel from merely a place to stay into a living destination?
What transforms a hotel into a living destination is not those who enter its doors merely to stay, but those who come there for a reason—for a meal, a celebration, a gathering, a moment. The direction we are working on is precisely this: making The Grand Tarabya not just an address to stay at, but a center breathing within Istanbul’s social and cultural life. We are pondering a holistic lifestyle concept stretching from gastronomy to social spaces, from wellness to cultural experiences. Even someone who doesn’t spend the night at the hotel should be able to have a precious memory here; an Istanbulite should be able to find a getaway of their own here without traveling. I prefer to share concrete steps when the time comes; but the direction is clear: accommodation is a starting point, and the ultimate goal is to make this place where a lifestyle converges.
Gastronomy is now one of the strongest identities of luxury hotels. What kind of change will we see in Tarabya’s culinary vision?
This question is particularly close to my heart, because I started this profession in a kitchen at the age of 17; even though I became a general manager of a hotel years later, a part of my heart is still beside those flames. Therefore, Tarabya’s culinary vision is not an ordinary topic for me, but a personal passion. My goal is to bring the authentic flavors of this land together with international quality at the same table, without sacrificing one for the other. Our seven distinct food and beverage outlets provide a strong foundation to offer this diversity. But for me, a plate is not merely a technical achievement; it must carry a sense of belonging, a memory, a story. The change you will see will be in essence rather than ostentation: an approach that respects real ingredients, craftsmanship, seasonal offerings, and the trace left on the guest’s palate. Because the most unforgettable meals are not the most flamboyant ones, but the most sincere ones.
Tarabya’s terrace, bars, and Bosphorus shoreline were once Istanbul’s most prestigious meeting points. What are your plans to revive this social memory?
Tarabya’s terraces, bars, and Bosphorus shoreline once hosted Istanbul’s most prestigious gatherings; this is an extremely valuable social heritage upon which we can build a new future. The way to revive this spirit is not by viewing venues merely as service points, but by transforming them into living stages that people are eager to gather in. An evening spent against the sunset at Diba or the unique atmosphere of the Bosphorus shoreline is actually an invitation to this deeply rooted gathering culture. Our goal is to offer the guest not just a beautiful view, but a night they will want to remember. When people start accumulating good moments in a place, that place comes to life again on its own. And we want to make this shoreline once again the place where Istanbul says, ‘let’s meet there.’
Is a new era beginning regarding culture, art, and lifestyle events?
Yes, I am very excited about this. Culture and art are inseparable parts of both Istanbul’s and this hotel’s identity; it is impossible to think of one separate from the other. In a city with such high creative energy as Istanbul, it feels completely natural for The Grand Tarabya to open its doors to this world. I view art not as a painting hung in the lobby or an event added to the calendar, but as a natural layer of the guest’s experience—a presence imbued in the soul of the space, without being forced. We will shape the steps we take in this field with a careful and meaningful approach, devoid of ostentation. Because a cultural stance is not measured by how loudly it is announced, but by how sincerely the guest feels it. Yes, we are on the threshold of a new and promising era in this sense.
This interview was published in the September 2026, 1st issue of The Vault Mag. You can access the full magazine from the Issues page.
Discover more from The Vault Mag
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
