About Me

My name is Kaan, and I am currently the Executive Meetings Manager at Destination DC, the official destination marketing organization (DMO) and Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) for Washington, D.C. In my role, I focus on nationwide markets, working with groups requiring 10–49 room nights on peak and managing government and SMERF markets with up to 200 room nights on peak. I assist meeting planners in finding the perfect hotels for their events and work closely with hotel partners to ensure successful outcomes. I also contribute to prospecting efforts and lead generation, achieving significant results. A highlight of my work at Destination DC includes organizing the Turkish Cultural Night, where I showcased my cultural background while highlighting Washington, D.C.’s diversity as a vibrant and inclusive meeting destination to nearly 50 attendees, including event planners.

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I am an active member of the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) and was honored to be selected for their Rising Sales Leaders Council, which focuses on developing future industry leaders.

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I studied at a Tourism Vocational High School and completed internships at Hilton Izmir. During my studies, I participated in two European Association of Hotel and Tourism Schools (AEHT) competitions: the 23rd AEHT Annual Conference in Lisbon and the International Chocolate Festival in the Azores, Portugal, where my team placed second.

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I continued my education at Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) in North Cyprus, studying Tourism and Hotel Management. While at EMU, I took on leadership roles in the EMU Tourism Club and the Future of Tourism Platform, organizing over 90 events in three years. I also worked as an Event & Alumni Relations Coordinator for the Faculty of Tourism and reactivated the AEHT membership for the faculty. This led to hosting the 5th AEHT Youth Parliament at EMU, with 20 participants from Europe. Following this success, we established the European Future of Tourism Organization, where I served as president.

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In 2015, I founded the "Future of Tourism Platform," which unites tourism and gastronomy clubs and departments across Turkey, Europe, and Northern Cyprus. The platform hosts annual events at selected universities, fostering collaboration among students and professionals. As part of this initiative, I have had the opportunity to speak and moderate at various industry events.

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In my final semester, I studied Hotel Management as an exchange student at Woosong University in South Korea. I later completed a Master of Science in Tourism Management at EMU, researching the impact of technology on guest experiences. Additionally, I earned an MBA focusing on Entrepreneurship from Bay Atlantic University in Washington, D.C.

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After graduating, I joined Hilton Washington DC National Mall through their Management in Training program, gaining experience as a Front Office Supervisor and Housekeeping Manager. My career progressed with managerial roles at Hilton and InterContinental Hotels, providing me with extensive experience in sales, hotel operations, guest services, and team leadership.

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Beyond my professional responsibilities, I manage a YouTube channel and blog dedicated to the hospitality and tourism industry. I also host Tea Talks with Kaan (Kaan ile Çay Sohbetleri in Turkish), a podcast and YouTube series featuring diverse guests discussing various industry topics.