For Mert Turkmen, the hospitality industry appealed to him as a creative sanctuary at a young age. His first interaction in the sector came at a tender age of 15, where he spent majority of his time in the kitchen of his father’s Bebek-based steakhouse in Turkey.
As time passed, Turkmen’s passion for the culinary business grew, and led him towards Cipriani Istanbul, a renowned upscale Italian restaurant, where his interest in the luxury restaurant market further blossomed.
Turkmen owes his experience to humble beginnings, which led him to discover new opportunities. Soon, he made a professional move to the UAE, where he had landed in Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island, eventually moving on to work at some of Dubai’s top restaurants. His portfolio consists of positions in Roberto’s, Scalini Dubai and The Galliard, where he worked as a lounge manager, restaurant manager, and operations manager, respectively. Before joining the latter, he was head-hunted and made the decision to move his team following a series of meetings and discussions.
With a finger on the pulse of operations in the past seven years, the dream team raised The Galliard as a successful brand.
When not busy in his profession, Turkmen indulges in travel, fashion and is fond of creating content on Instagram, which garnered him a legion of followers. Through his ventures, he infuses his global experiences and cultural dynamics into the local culinary industry.
To date, Turkman’s incredible expertise and restaurant enterprise has earned him a seat as one of the influential names in the world of hospitality.