Changing Luxury Travel in Türkiye
Through The Marina Concierge, his bespoke lifestyle and travel service, Khayyam is quietly shaping the way tastemakers experience Türkiye. From seaplane brunches to secret yacht soirées, his work is less about itinerary and more about emotion.
The Bodrum-based curator talks about the evolution of luxury, the soul of the Turkish Riviera, and why Bodrum isn’t the “next Mykonos” but something far more compelling.
Khayyam has lived and worked in some of the world’s most iconic jet-set destinations, but what sets each of them apart for the luxury traveler?
To Khayyam, it’s that each destination is a world of its own, a symphony of sensations and style. “Ibiza is a barefoot dream: spiritual, raw, rhythmic. St. Tropez is where cinema and elegance entwine, where every sunset feels like a scene from a Nouvelle Vague film. Mykonos dazzles with sculpted minimalism and energy, where luxury is kinetic and carefree. These places are chapters from a lifestyle memoir,” he says.
Why Bodrum Is Different?
In today’s global rhythm, jet-setters often start their week in Mykonos, continue with St. Tropez, and finish in Ibiza. And yet, increasingly, they’re finding Bodrum to be a destination that reflects the essence of all three, while speaking its own dialect. At The Marina Concierge, Khayyam and his team understand those transitions intimately and orchestrate them like movements in a concerto.
To Khayyam, what transforms a coastal town of Bodrum into a luxury icon begins with geography. Bodrum’s cinematic coastline, crystalline waters, and sun-drenched hills shape a sensory experience that invites exploration and indulgence. The natural landscape sets the tone for what luxury can feel like when rooted in authenticity.
Next is infrastructure. The arrival of Yalıkavak Marina marked a turning point for the region. With its world-class facilities, fine dining, designer boutiques, and the ability to welcome the world’s most prestigious superyachts, it elevated Bodrum from a beloved local getaway to an international luxury hub. It signaled to the world that Bodrum was ready for the spotlight.
Then comes hospitality. International names like Mandarin Oriental, The Bodrum EDITION, and Six Senses brought with them a global standard of service, experience, and design. But Bodrum’s true richness lies in its homegrown institutions. Iconic properties like Maçakızı offer something that can’t be imported—a legacy of hospitality rooted in culture, creativity, and charm.
Together, these elements create more than a destination. They create a feeling. And that feeling is what makes Bodrum a true luxury icon.
The Marina Concierge: Crafting Moments Beyond Itineraries
A few years ago, Khayyam saw a need for a true experience curator, someone who could offer the same level of detail, elegance, and discretion found in Paris, Dubai, or Capri. That’s when we launched The Marina Concierge, with homes in both Bodrum and Dubai.
With his team, they have created moments that feel like dreams: private dinners, seaplane lunches over the Aegean, surprise yacht journeys through secret coves. They bring the impossible within reach, and they do it with style.
A Turkish Approach to Luxury
For Khayyam, luxury in Turkey differs from Europe because the country is a bridge, where East meets West, restraint meets grandeur. European elegance is about history and discretion. Middle Eastern luxury leans into generosity and drama.
Türkiye and especially Bodrum marry both. Mornings barefoot and spiritual, nights candlelit and cinematic. This duality is our superpower.
Over the past few years, Khayyam has noticed that private villas are the most in-demand luxury assets in Bodrum. Clients are seeking a sanctuary and spaces where architecture blends with nature, where silence is curated, and privacy is absolute. They design entire ecosystems around their clientele, complete with private chefs who source from local markets, wellness practitioners offering sunrise yoga or custom detox programs, and even curated art installations that reflect the guest’s personal taste. Some clients request pop-up galleries in their villas featuring Turkish contemporary artists, transforming the space into a private cultural experience.
Yachting, too, has evolved beyond transport. Vessels are now floating venues, tailored for celebration, serenity, or both. A day at sea might begin with a sunrise meditation on deck, followed by a seafood lunch prepared by an onboard chef, a curated wine tasting with a sommelier at golden hour, and a DJ set under the stars as the coastline glows in the distance. Some guests prefer themed journeys: cinematic-style sunset cruises with film screenings projected on sails, or wellness voyages combining breathwork, sound baths, and fresh Aegean cuisine.
Luxury Defined in 2025
The luxury Khayyam’s clients seek is no longer defined by excess. It's about intention, curation, and connection. Every detail is a reflection of who they are, or who they want to become while they’re there.
In one word, Khayyam defines luxury in 2025 as “gravity.”
To him, luxury today isn’t loud, it’s intentional. A Turkish breakfast with local honey. A digital detox villa where no one knows your name. A walk through a market, unrecognized, unbothered. Affluent travelers want less noise, more soul, and we understand that.
Three Turkish brands Khayyam says people should know about include Maçakızı — the gold standard of boutique hospitality. Then Vakko, which bridges fashion, fragrance, and now lifestyle with grace. And Maxx Royal Bodrum—a bold new entry redefining family luxury without compromise.
If he had one weekend to impress a world-class tastemaker in Bodrum, his itinerary would include arriving in style via a seaplane or yacht. The villa awaits, perched above the Aegean, shimmering with silence.
Day One: sun-drenched hours at Maçakızı, followed by a cruise to Gigi at Mandarin Oriental for a long, indulgent lunch. A golden hour stroll through Yalıkavak Marina, sundown drinks at Zuma, and a vibrant dinner at Brava at The Bodrum EDITION.
Day Two: barefoot luxury that includes a brunch on a secret bay only the sea knows. Return to Maçakızı for a starlit dinner. Then, Scorpios Bodrum, where night and rhythm blur into legend.
Bodrum as a Way of Life
Bodrum doesn’t try too hard. That’s part of the appeal. It’s about how everything fits together. The setting, the people, the pace. You don’t need to force anything here. Things just… work. You arrive, and it starts to feel like exactly where you’re meant to be.
