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‘‘Key to success is
working with good people’’
An urban jewel, The Istanbul EDITION is an exclusive hotel in the heart one of the world’s most vibrant cities at the nexus of Europe and Asia. A fifteen-story tower with 78 guest rooms and a magnificent, full-floor penthouse, The Istanbul EDITION serves as a sophisticated hub providing multiple venues for relaxing and entertaining including a three-story spa by ESPA, Cipriani restaurant, Gold Bar, Drawing Room and Screening Room, Meeting Studios, Business Center, Event Space and Nightclub.
How you would describe Istanbul to someone who have never visited Istanbul and never been here?
I would just say, get on the plane and come here because you really need to see this! There are a lot of words that you can use to describe
TürkçeIs there any place you often visit in İstanbul ?
The only place I visit every often is this hotel of course… There is no single place but when I have a day or a day and a half for myself, I rather jump on my bicycle or car and go to a place near water. To get some fresh air… This is something you cannot have in Moscow or New York or any other big city. Also Bebek, Ortaköy, you know, strolling around, watching…
I didn’t say Reina on purpose because I know everyone knows Reina.
And I love it, it was my first restaurant, that I went to when I came to the city. What about Turkish food?
You know I’m a German national so and although I haven’t spent the last 15 years in Germany really, I know that I can buy more döner in Germany on every corner then you can ever buy pizza or ice cream. But all the meats, the grills and the vegetables, all these tastes, they are just my type of food. I like traditional Turkish food such as kebabs.
TürkçeWhat do you think about Turkish people ?
Turkish people, especially the people in Istanbul as I haven’t really been anywhere other than Istanbul; they are very welcoming and they are very hospitable. Very friendly, open people. The city is highly sophisticated, people are highly sophisticated. If you look at the young people and the fantastic education they get; great universities, traveling abroad... I mean, this city has everything that you would expect from a metropolitan city
anywhere in the world. And I think that makes it one of the biggest advantages because it’s very convenient and easy to be in this city and this country with all these people around you. What is luxury for you?
You know what? Having time is luxury.
And I mean it, I’m not even joking. I think luxury today is defined by every individual himself. For me, luxury is having an hour in which I don’t need to do anything; in other words, I can really decide what I do. This is luxury. Luxury is also knowing that you are able to purchase anything you like. And I’m not talking about brands, be it expensive or not. I don’t think it’s important any more today. I think if you can make your own decision, then you have the luxury to be able to go out and shop and do what you like. That is luxury. So that’s how I describe it. There’s luxury of course in brands and of course there are luxury brands and there are great fantastic items on sale, but that is a given by the product.
What about your hobbies? What do you do in your spare time?
I play golf. I haven’t played ever since I’ve been in Istanbul, but I’m sure I will. So there’s golfing, there’s skiing, I play a little bit tennis too. Fitness.
In my age you don’t try to buff and build up a lot of muscle. Otherwise you’d have to change your entire wardrobe and that is also too expensive. But if you go to the fitness centre once, three or four times a week, just to keep yourself fit, in shape, athletic, I think that’s really good for yourself; for your body and also to keep your mind fresh. How will you describe yourself in three words?
I don’t think I can describe myself in three words. But I think I am a very focused person; stubborn sometimes, too often.
And I like to have good people around me because you need that when you want to be successful. There is no one man show any more today. So that was six, seven words may be, but that’s it.
İLKBAHAR 2013 SPRING 2013
We had a open hearted and warm conversation with General Manager Marcus Loevenforst on living in Istanbul.
Loevenforst came to Edition from The RitzCarlton Hotel Company, where he recently served as hotel manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Moscow, overseeing daily operations of the 334-room hotel.
During his five years with The Ritz-Carlton, Loevenforst also served as executive assistant manager, food and beverage of The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain and director of food & beverage of The Ritz-Carlton, Berlin. A native of Germany, Loevenforst began in the hotel industry in 1991 at the Garden Hotel Krefeld and later joined InterContinental Hotels and Resorts, where he spend 10 years, holding operations positions in Stuttgart, Germany; San Francisco; Miami; and Toronto.
Türkçeİstanbul. But I really think that people should come see themselves.
Istanbul is a very modern, sophisticated and busy metropolitan city. As for accessibility, when you look at the map İstanbul is located to the east of every major city and you can fly here from any of them in just 2 or 3 hours, which, I think, is a great advantage. In addition, I would probably mention the cuisine and the people and of course you have to mention the historical sites.