CA R E E R STO RY
semih elbaba
An inspiring success story that started at Belek
Turkey and continues at Rixos Seagate Sharm, Egypt
B
orn in 1979 to a Lebanese father and a Turkish mother,
Semih Elbaba started his career in the hospitality sector
under the roof of Rixos Hotels after completing 2-years of
higher education in Lebanon (LAU). Let’s listen to his story:
Rixos Hotels opened its first facility in Belek in 2000. Turkey
was undergoing financially difficult times back then, and I was
unsure as to where I could start my career. When I was just about
to choose among industries, I saw that tourism had a lot to offer
for its people and for the national economy. As an individual of the
country, I decided to make a move. But where? As is known then
and now, Antalya has always been the heart of tourism, although it
has experienced great improvements over time. I learned that a
new facility had just opened there. I am not sure if it was the
attraction of its name or its heavenly beautiful garden, but I made
a decision to start my career there. I remember saying, ‘RIXOS
will be the place where I will start and will eventually had off to
the next generations.’ Time flies. Now we are in 2015 and Rixos
Hotels have become a globally applauded trademark, running and
operating hotels in 3 continents around the globe.
222
1979 yılın F