Merve Sakaoglu

Senior Development Manager @ IHG Hotels & Resorts

About

I am a hospitality professional with over 13 years of experience in hotel development, operations, and luxury pre-openings across Türkiye and international markets. Currently serving as Senior Development Manager at IHG Hotels & Resorts, I lead the expansion of IHG’s diverse brand portfolio in Türkiye by identifying opportunities, building strategic partnerships, and delivering sustainable growth for owners and investors. My career journey spans global luxury brands including Raffles and Shangri-La, where I contributed to successful pre-openings and coordination, ensuring the highest standards of quality and guest experience. At Accor, I managed hotel openings and operations across multiple countries, bridging owners’ investment goals with brand excellence. I bring a unique combination of market knowledge, owner relations, and operational expertise, with a strong network in Türkiye’s hospitality and investment community. Passionate about creating long-term value, I focus on matching the right brand to the right opportunity while driving both guest satisfaction and financial returns.

Country

Türkiye

City

Istanbul

Industry

Hospitality

Skill

Brand Development, Hotel Contract Negotiation, Business Development, Development, Operations Management, Sustainability, Leadership, Team Leadership, Leadership Development, Cross-functional Team Leadership, Educational Leadership, E-Learning, Management, Hotel openings, Project Management, Brand standards, Brand standard, Quality, Guest Experience, Pre-opening

Experience

Senior Development Manager

IHG Hotels & Resorts

2024-11 - Present · 1 yr 11 mos

• Driving hotel development opportunities across Türkiye for IHG’s luxury, lifestyle, and mainstream brands. • Building strategic partnerships with owners, developers, and investors to expand IHG’s footprint. • Assessing feasibility, brand fit, and financial performance of new projects. • Leading deal negotiations and supporting owners from concept through signing.

Operations Manager | GX

Accor

2022-4 - 2024-11 · 2 yrs 8 mos

Turkey

• Directed guest experience strategy and operational excellence across the Turkish portfolio. • Improved service KPIs and brand standard compliance through on-site support and training. • Implemented quality and sustainability initiatives, enhancing both guest satisfaction and owner ROI. • Partnered with development teams to position new projects for long-term success.

Operations Project Manager

Accor

2019-1 - 2022-4 · 3 yrs 4 mos

Turkey, Israel, Georgia, Ukraine • Managed pre-opening and conversion projects across four countries. • Coordinated brand implementation, operational readiness, and quality audits. • Worked closely with General Managers/Owners to align operational strategies. • Delivered guest experience initiatives to ensure consistency with global brand standards.

Executive Office & Quality Coordinator (Pre-opening)

Raffles Istanbul

2014-4 - 2019-1 · 4 yrs 10 mos

Istanbul, Turkey

• Coordinated implementation of luxury service standards and guest experience programs. • Assisted in quality audits (Forbes, LQA), operational readiness, and brand compliance. • Acted as liaison between executive office and operations teams, ensuring alignment and smooth operation.