In thepress

The successful organisation of the International Lions Convention in Hawaii in 1999 was recognised with an award as one of Turkish tourism’s international achievements. Led by İlkay Felek, the event went on record as a milestone that showed the strength of Turkish tourism in international congress tourism, event management and travel organisation.

İlkay Felek, one of the entrepreneurs of Turkish tourism, talks in an exclusive magazine interview about his path to success in business, the lessons of his early years and his approach to leadership.

The independent spirit he developed at Robert College, an early drive to start working and the determination to face difficulties head-on form the foundation of Felek’s entrepreneurial story.

Sharing the discipline, perseverance and life experience behind his success, the interview offers a fresh perspective on his career in tourism and his personal journey.

The departure of Alex de Souza, one of the most unforgettable players in Fenerbahçe’s history, from Türkiye became an emotional moment etched in the memory of thousands of fans.

By organising the special journey on which Alex de Souza and his family left Türkiye, we became part of a farewell that went down in football history.

This meaningful journey with one of Turkish football’s legends and his family remains, years later, among our most memorable arrangements.

Published in PARA magazine (29 April – 5 May 2001) under the headline “Ten Trillion in Five Years”, the article covers the commercial success tourism entrepreneur İlkay Felek achieved within five years and his rise in international tourism.

Having turned an entrepreneurial journey that began in his Robert College years into a successful tourism business, Felek stands out for his awards from international airlines and his work with Galatasaray Sports Club.

While the 10 trillion lira turnover reached in 2000 shows growth sustained despite the economic conditions of the time, the article also explores Felek’s approach to leadership and his goals for the future of tourism.

In an interview titled “Becoming a Brand in Tourism”, İlkay Felek, one of the entrepreneurs of Turkish tourism, shares his views on the importance of branding in international tourism, the core principles of good team management and his experience in business.

The success story of a tourism venture ranked among the agencies carrying the most passengers from Türkiye to Italy, and recognised with an award by Alitalia, stands out for its strong leadership and customer-focused service.

Having carried a working life that began at Robert College into success in international tourism, Felek stresses the importance of building professional teams, making the most of people’s potential and growing sustainably.

This exclusive interview is a valuable piece of press history, shedding light on entrepreneurship, institution-building and brand creation in Turkish tourism.

In 2001, taking on the travel arrangements for Galatasaray Sports Club’s various sports branches became one of the defining examples of professional travel services for sports clubs in Turkish tourism.

Led by tourism entrepreneur İlkay Felek, the partnership covered the coordination of domestic and international travel for the club’s athletes and delegations.

Featured in the press of the time under the headline “Galatasaray’s Travel Partner”, the article charts the growth of work in sports tourism, corporate travel management and international event services.

This archive piece is an important record of the period, documenting Felek’s experience in tourism and his work in professional travel organisation.

Published in EKONOMİST magazine on 17 December 2000 under the headline “From Tour Guide to Tour Empire”, the article tells the success story of tourism entrepreneur İlkay Felek, from guiding tours to running international travel operations.

An entrepreneurial journey that began in 1995 in a small office in Harbiye, Istanbul, quickly grew into a tourism business spanning international travel arrangements, tours abroad and airline partnerships.

Being among the agencies sending the most tourists to Italy, which earned an award from Alitalia, and the travel arrangements made for Galatasaray Sports Club stand out among Felek’s key achievements.

The article also discusses team spirit, customer satisfaction, leadership and sustainable growth. This historic interview is a valuable piece of press history, shedding light on the development of Turkish tourism and Felek’s entrepreneurial vision.

In an interview titled “Tourists Got Savvier, Quality Rose”, published on the travel page of Milliyet newspaper, tourism entrepreneur İlkay Felek reflects on changing travel habits, travellers’ rising expectations and the importance of service quality in tourism.

Discussing travel arrangements to European destinations, Spain above all, Felek shares his views on affordable holiday options, the advantages of booking early and competition in international tourism.

The interview highlights the choices of more discerning travellers, the balance between price and service quality, and the decisive role of customer satisfaction in tourism.

This historic interview is a valuable archive record of Felek’s international tourism experience and his approach to changing travel trends.