Tucked away on the glittering shores of Göltürkbükü, on Turkey’s Bodrum Peninsula, Maçakızı Hotel has evolved from a modest seaside pension into one of the Mediterranean’s most coveted boutique retreats—welcoming everyone from artists and musicians to international tastemakers, while never losing the intimate spirit on which it was founded.
Unlike many of today’s ultra-luxury resorts, Maçakızı Bodrum has never relied on spectacle. Its enduring appeal lies in its effortless elegance: lush gardens that seem to merge with the surrounding landscape, one of the Aegean’s most celebrated beach clubs, exceptional gastronomy, a carefully curated contemporary art collection, and an atmosphere that feels more like a private members’ club than a hotel. It is a place where guests return year after year, drawn not only by the beauty of the setting but by an unmistakable sense of belonging.
To experience this enduring icon firsthand, Alina Dyachenko, the Editor-in-Chief of Chic Icon magazine, spent several days immersed in the unique world of Maçakızı Hotel before sitting down with its Founding Partner, Sahir Erozan. In a candid and deeply personal conversation, he reflects on the remarkable legacy of his mother, the philosophy that has shaped the hotel from the very beginning, his lifelong passion for hospitality, and why, in an era increasingly defined by excess, he continues to believe that true luxury is found in authenticity, simplicity, and genuine human connection.
Chic Icon: Maçakızı Bodrum has become one of the Mediterranean’s most iconic boutique hotels. How did the story begin?
Sahir Erozan: It all started with my mother, Ayla Emiroğlu. Long before Bodrum became an international destination, she opened a small 16-room pension that was unlike anything else. Guests shared bathrooms, there was a tiny bar, and everything was wonderfully simple. Yet somehow it became the place where artists, musicians, and fascinating people gathered. Mick Jagger came by, Rudolf Nureyev visited—it wasn’t glamorous because it tried to be. It was glamorous because it was genuine.
I was very young then. That same summer I left for the United States and ended up staying there for almost thirty years. During that time I built my own hospitality business in Washington, D.C., opening restaurants and clubs. But every summer I came back to Bodrum, I realised how much I missed the sea. Eventually, I knew it was time to return home.
My mother and I had already opened a small beach club here, and when this piece of land became available, there was almost nothing around it. We simply looked at each other and said, “Let’s do it.”
The first Maçakızı Hotel had only 46 rooms. My mother didn’t even want televisions in them. She believed luxury had nothing to do with technology or excess. Simplicity, nature and genuine hospitality became our DNA, and they’ve remained with us ever since.
Chic Icon: Despite becoming one of Turkey’s most celebrated hotels, Maçakızı Bodrum still feels deeply personal.
Sahir Erozan: That’s very intentional. Today, luxury often feels loud. Everything is designed to impress you the moment you arrive. We’ve always tried to do the opposite.
I want guests to remember how they felt, not what they saw.
When you walk through the gardens, they don’t look manicured—they feel like a forest. Nothing is overdesigned. I live this way myself, so naturally the hotel reflects my own lifestyle.
We’re part of a much larger group today, but you would never know it. Behind the scenes we’re very professional, yet we have managed to preserve the soul of a boutique hotel. That’s something I was never willing to compromise.
Chic Icon: Nearly eighty percent of your guests return. That’s extraordinary.
Sahir Erozan: I think it’s because people don’t simply stay here—they become part of a community.
Guests come back every year at the same time. They know our staff by name, and our staff know them. Some of our employees have been with us for more than thirty years. When guests arrive, they hug the waiters. Some couples first met here and later got married.
It feels much more like a social club than a hotel, and I think that’s very rare today.
Chic Icon: Art is another defining element of Maçakızı Hotel. How do you choose the pieces?
Sahir Erozan: I never buy art as an investment. I buy what moves me.
Some people collect artworks because they expect them to increase in value. That’s never interested me. I simply live with pieces that I love.
One of my favourite works is a portrait inspired by my mother. Another beautiful installation by a close friend—an internationally recognised artist based in New York—was sadly destroyed during a storm. We still hope to recreate it one day.
Every year I add something new, so returning guests always discover another layer of the property. Art allows a place to evolve without losing its identity.
Chic Icon: You’ve also recently expanded the Maçakızı merchandise collection.
Sahir Erozan: We always had a few pieces, but this year we decided to approach it differently by working with a designer. I wanted to create something people would genuinely enjoy wearing—not just another hotel souvenir.
Everything is produced in small quantities. Some designs exist in only a handful of pieces. The idea is to create objects that carry memories rather than simply a logo.
At the same time, I never want guests to feel they’re constantly being sold something. That’s why we’ve kept the boutique very discreet. A holiday should feel relaxing, not commercial.
Chic Icon: You’re approaching another major anniversary. Are you already thinking about the future?
Sahir Erozan: I’ve stopped making long-term plans. The world changes too quickly.
I take life one season at a time. My ambition isn’t to open five more hotels. I’m perfectly happy improving the one I already have.
We’re currently renovating the property in phases, completely upgrading the infrastructure and redesigning the rooms while preserving the original spirit of the hotel. My hope is that every guest who returns feels that Maçakızı has become better—not different.
Chic Icon: And what does life look like once the season ends?
Sahir Erozan: I travel. That’s probably my favourite form of marketing.
I meet old friends, make new ones and talk about what we’re creating here. Hospitality has always been about relationships.
We’ve also developed a highly personalised private villa experience, now complemented by a boat available exclusively to villa guests. We don’t offer it as a commercial charter because exclusivity isn’t about price—it’s about trust. I like knowing who my guests are and creating experiences specifically for them.
In the end, that’s what Maçakızı Bodrum has always been about. Not following trends, but creating a place where people feel at home. If you love what you do, it never really feels like work.
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