Forbes Travel Guide Celebrates Europe’s Star Award Winners In Istanbul
Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul rolled out the red carpets for guests.
The leaders of Europe’s luxury hospitality community gathered at Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul Thursday to celebrate Forbes Travel Guide’s 2022 Star Award winners. More than 70 industry tastemakers from over 10 countries across the region congregated along the famed strait in the East Garden under towering palm trees.
“To have the opportunity to bring together so many of our great hotel and industry partners while celebrating Istanbul and the iconic Çırağan Palace was a great honor,” said Hermann Elger, CEO of Forbes Travel Guide. “The spirit of our industry community — which included hoteliers, travel buyers, luxury brands and tourism boards — was felt throughout the evening, punctuated with a spectacular full moon rising over the Bosphorus as if to spotlight the spectacular collection of FTG-rated hotels.”
Attendees included Jonathan Crook managing director of the forthcoming The Peninsula Istanbul; Anne Golden, general manager of Pan Pacific London; Sal Gowili, general manager of The Ritz London; Adrian Messerli, regional vice president and general manager of Four Seasons Hotel Madrid; Tarek Mourad, senior general manager at Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet and Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus; and Andrew Steele, general manager of Raffles Istanbul.
Chris Fradin, Amanda Frasier, Ralph Radtke and Hermann Elger welcomed industry tastemakers.
“As we were awarded Five Stars in 2022 by Forbes Travel Guide, we are extremely happy to host a very special reception this evening in our legendary hotel located on the shores of the Bosphorus,” said Ralph Radtke, general manager of Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul and regional director of Kempinski Residences in Türkiye. “Since launching its Star Rating system in Türkiye with several prestigious properties earning a place on the