NEWH Winter 2022 - 42

INTERVIEW
Esin Güral Argat
Vice President of the Board of
Gürok Group
By Can Faik
Photos courtesy of Gürok Group
A
visionary with a passion for sustainability and female empowerment, Esin Güral Argat saw an opportunity to create a unique hospitality experience with
the backing of Istanbul-based Gürok Group to launch JOALI Maldives. Here, she talks to Hospitality Interiors' Can Faik about the company's ethos and
dedication to giving back.
What does your current position involve?
In 1992, I started my business life with Güven Çini and Seramik, which is my own venture. In 1998, I executed
the structuring of all processes of LAV, one of the key brands of the Gürok Group, from the concept stage to its
positioning, from the determination of the production process to the creation of the supply network. The LAV brand is
today the fifth-largest glass manufacturer in the world.
In 2008, I started to manage the tourism investments of the Gürok Group, leading the opening of the Ali Bey Resort
Side facility. In 2016, we made a successful entry into the luxury hotel segment in the Maldives with the JOALI
Maldives brand, focusing on foreign investments in tourism. In 2021, we launched JOALI BEING with its wellbeing
concept, the second property in the Maldives. Since 2009, I have been working as the vice president of the board
of Gürok Group companies, including LAV, GCA, Ali Bey Hotels & Resorts, JOALI, Lapis Yapı, Gürok Kiremit, and
Turkey's leading consumer, tourism and industrial brands. In this context, I lead the group's domestic and international
investments and brand processes.
Esin Güral Argat
Why did you choose the Maldives as the setting for the resorts?
In addition to my many years of management experience in the hospitality sector, I always try to keep my explorer
side alive. I have traveled the world to understand guests' expectations and experience the distinctive features of
luxury resorts. I found that there was great food and great service in the luxury hospitality industry, but there was one
thing missing-the soul. We set our goals accordingly. We didn't just make a big luxury facility investment, we set out
to give a new brand an identity and a story. JOALI Maldives was our first step on this path. We were looking for an
authentic, unique, and special place for our guests to experience our brand. Maldives is a very characteristic place in
this sense. It is a place that fascinates with its beauty, and most importantly, that tourism continues for 12 months.
The JOALI BEING arrival jetty
Entrance to the Vandhoo restaurant at JOALI Maldives
The JOALI arrival jetty
Continued on p. 44 〉〉〉
42 newh.org

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NEWH Winter 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NEWH Winter 2022

President's Letter
News
Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity
Who's Who
Conference Roundup
Have You Seen
Scholarships
Student Spotlight
Interview: Esin Güral Argat
Sustainability Point of View
Q&A: Valerie Coleman
Q&A: Emily Mueller
Q&A: Jason Reynolds
Cover Story: Chapman
Riley's Fish & Steak
The Spa at PGA National Resort
The Scarlet Hotel
Chapter Highlights
Save the Date
New Members
Partner Profiles
Sponsor Index
NEWH Winter 2022 - Cover1
NEWH Winter 2022 - Cover2
NEWH Winter 2022 - 3
NEWH Winter 2022 - President's Letter
NEWH Winter 2022 - 5
NEWH Winter 2022 - 6
NEWH Winter 2022 - 7
NEWH Winter 2022 - News
NEWH Winter 2022 - 9
NEWH Winter 2022 - Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity
NEWH Winter 2022 - 11
NEWH Winter 2022 - Who's Who
NEWH Winter 2022 - 13
NEWH Winter 2022 - 14
NEWH Winter 2022 - 15
NEWH Winter 2022 - 16
NEWH Winter 2022 - 17
NEWH Winter 2022 - 18
NEWH Winter 2022 - 19
NEWH Winter 2022 - 20
NEWH Winter 2022 - 21
NEWH Winter 2022 - 22
NEWH Winter 2022 - 23
NEWH Winter 2022 - 24
NEWH Winter 2022 - 25
NEWH Winter 2022 - Conference Roundup
NEWH Winter 2022 - 27
NEWH Winter 2022 - Have You Seen
NEWH Winter 2022 - 29
NEWH Winter 2022 - 30
NEWH Winter 2022 - 31
NEWH Winter 2022 - 32
NEWH Winter 2022 - 33
NEWH Winter 2022 - Scholarships
NEWH Winter 2022 - 35
NEWH Winter 2022 - 36
NEWH Winter 2022 - 37
NEWH Winter 2022 - Student Spotlight
NEWH Winter 2022 - 39
NEWH Winter 2022 - 40
NEWH Winter 2022 - 41
NEWH Winter 2022 - Interview: Esin Güral Argat
NEWH Winter 2022 - 43
NEWH Winter 2022 - 44
NEWH Winter 2022 - 45
NEWH Winter 2022 - Sustainability Point of View
NEWH Winter 2022 - 47
NEWH Winter 2022 - 48
NEWH Winter 2022 - 49
NEWH Winter 2022 - Q&A: Valerie Coleman
NEWH Winter 2022 - 51
NEWH Winter 2022 - Q&A: Emily Mueller
NEWH Winter 2022 - 53
NEWH Winter 2022 - Q&A: Jason Reynolds
NEWH Winter 2022 - 55
NEWH Winter 2022 - Cover Story: Chapman
NEWH Winter 2022 - 57
NEWH Winter 2022 - Riley's Fish & Steak
NEWH Winter 2022 - 59
NEWH Winter 2022 - 60
NEWH Winter 2022 - 61
NEWH Winter 2022 - 62
NEWH Winter 2022 - 63
NEWH Winter 2022 - The Spa at PGA National Resort
NEWH Winter 2022 - 65
NEWH Winter 2022 - 66
NEWH Winter 2022 - 67
NEWH Winter 2022 - 68
NEWH Winter 2022 - 69
NEWH Winter 2022 - The Scarlet Hotel
NEWH Winter 2022 - 71
NEWH Winter 2022 - 72
NEWH Winter 2022 - 73
NEWH Winter 2022 - 74
NEWH Winter 2022 - 75
NEWH Winter 2022 - Chapter Highlights
NEWH Winter 2022 - 77
NEWH Winter 2022 - 78
NEWH Winter 2022 - 79
NEWH Winter 2022 - 80
NEWH Winter 2022 - 81
NEWH Winter 2022 - 82
NEWH Winter 2022 - 83
NEWH Winter 2022 - 84
NEWH Winter 2022 - 85
NEWH Winter 2022 - 86
NEWH Winter 2022 - 87
NEWH Winter 2022 - 88
NEWH Winter 2022 - 89
NEWH Winter 2022 - 90
NEWH Winter 2022 - 91
NEWH Winter 2022 - Save the Date
NEWH Winter 2022 - 93
NEWH Winter 2022 - New Members
NEWH Winter 2022 - 95
NEWH Winter 2022 - 96
NEWH Winter 2022 - 97
NEWH Winter 2022 - 98
NEWH Winter 2022 - 99
NEWH Winter 2022 - 100
NEWH Winter 2022 - 101
NEWH Winter 2022 - 102
NEWH Winter 2022 - 103
NEWH Winter 2022 - Partner Profiles
NEWH Winter 2022 - 105
NEWH Winter 2022 - Sponsor Index
NEWH Winter 2022 - Cover3
NEWH Winter 2022 - Cover4
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