TURKEY

Mehmet Önkal, CHA, ISHC

Mehmet Önkal is a graduate of Robert College of İstanbul, Turkey and has a BA in Accounting and Finance. In 1970 he joined London office of Arthur Andersen and Co., and five years later he opened the firm's İstanbul office.

In 1978, he joined ITT Sheraton Corporation and held various top management positions with the company until 1992, including being Regional Manager for East Mediterranean based in İstanbul, and Vice President ITT Sheraton Asia Pacific Corporation for Asia based in Hong Kong for two years.

Upon returning to Turkey in 1992, he became the CEO of the 22 hotels of TenTur Group, and subsequently he held board memberships in several Doğuş Holding companies and was the GM of Yonca Turizm, the owning company of the earlier İstanbul Mövenpick Hotel. Prior to joining BDO Hospitality Consulting, Mehmet was the General Manager of İstanbul Princess Hotel.

Since October 1997, he is the Managing Partner of BDO Hospitality Consulting, and has done consultancy work in Turkey, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Malta, Maldives, Cyprus, Italy, England, Tanzania, Bulgaria, Greece, and Ghana.

Mehmet is a member of Turkish Appraisers Association, International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC), International Association of Skall Clubs. Mehmet is a "Certified Hotel Administrator" (CHA) of The Educational Institute of the American Hotel and Lodging Association. He is also a member of the “Supreme Advisory Committee” of Turkish Tourism Investors Association (TYD).