Ras Al Khaimah, UAE – 26 November 2025:
Özgür Gereli, a seasoned hospitality leader with more than 30 years of international experience, has been appointed General Manager of Rixos Bab Al Bahr, the luxury all-inclusive family resort located on Al Marjan Island. His appointment marks a strategic move as the property enters a new phase of transformation, operational excellence, and ambitious growth.
Gereli’s distinguished career spans leadership roles across some of the world’s most recognised hotel brands, including Hilton, Radisson Blu, Wyndham, Rotana, and Rixos. His extensive global exposure covers key markets such as Turkey, Kuwait, Ukraine, Germany, the United Kingdom, France and the United Arab Emirates. Before joining Rixos Bab Al Bahr, he served as General Manager of KeyUrla Hotel in Turkey, successfully leading its opening and establishing its operational foundation.
Profile
Gereli began his career at Hilton Izmir in 1992 as a bellboy, progressing steadily to Head of Front Office. He later advanced into senior management positions across revenue, operations, and hotel leadership, including roles at Hilton Ras Al Khaimah, Hilton Kuwait Resort, and Fujairah Rotana Resort & Spa.
Throughout his career, he has led several hotels in both the UAE and Turkey, among them BM Beach Hotel, Altin Yunus Resort & Thermal Hotel in Çeşme, Radisson Blu Resort & Spa Çeşme, and La Quinta by Wyndham Bodrum. His ability to elevate performance and drive commercial outcomes has been a defining strength.
Gereli is also recognised as a key member of the pre-opening team of Rixos The Palm Dubai in 2012. During this period, he played a vital role in boosting guest satisfaction by 40%, strengthening the property’s competitive positioning, and contributing to revenues of USD 190,000 within the first ten weeks of operation.
In his new role, Gereli will oversee the full renovation programme underway at Rixos Bab Al Bahr, leading the resort’s strategic direction, operational excellence, and commercial performance. His mandate includes ensuring sustained guest satisfaction, building high-impact teams, entering new market opportunities, and maintaining the resort’s position as one of Ras Al Khaimah’s leading hospitality destinations.
Cenk Ünverdi, Chief Operating Officer of Rixos and All Inclusive Collection, commented:
“We are delighted to welcome Özgür Gereli back to the Rixos family. His remarkable leadership record, his passion for people, and his deep understanding of the hospitality sector give us full confidence that Rixos Bab Al Bahr will continue to thrive under his direction. We look forward to seeing the new benchmarks he will set for guest experience and operational excellence.”
