About Me

My name is Kaan, and I work in the Sales Department at Destination DC, the official destination marketing organization for Washington, D.C. I support meeting planners in finding the right hotels for their events and collaborate with hotel partners to ensure smooth and successful experiences. One of the highlights of my role was organizing a Turkish Cultural Night, where I shared my heritage while promoting the city's diversity to our clients.

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I'm an active member of the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) and currently serve on the Rising Sales Leaders Council, focusing on the development of future industry professionals.

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My journey in hospitality began at a Tourism Vocational High School, followed by internships at Hilton Izmir and participation in AEHT competitions in Portugal. I later studied Tourism and Hotel Management at Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU), where I led student organizations, coordinated events, and helped reestablish the university’s membership with AEHT. This work led to EMU hosting the 5th AEHT Youth Parliament, and I also represented the university at the 4th Youth Parliament in London, where I spoke at the Houses of Parliament.

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In 2015, I founded the "Future of Tourism Platform," connecting tourism and gastronomy university clubs, students, and professionals through annual events and collaborations across Turkey, Europe, and North Cyprus.

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I also spent a semester studying at Woosong University in South Korea and later completed a Master’s in Tourism Management at EMU, followed by an MBA in Entrepreneurship from Bay Atlantic University in Washington, D.C.

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Professionally, I have held roles at Hilton and InterContinental Hotels, gaining experience in hotel operations, guest services, sales, and leadership in the U.S. and Turkey. Outside of work, I run a blog and YouTube channel about hospitality and tourism, and host a podcast and video series called Kaanversation, where I talk with industry professionals from diverse backgrounds.