Speaking at the monthly dinner meeting of POYD, Saatçioğlu, the chairman of the board, expressed that the 2024 season is expected to be better than 2023, with the expectations for the new season's growth being in the range of 5-8%.

"The minimum wage is at its highest level in the last 15 years"

Saatçioğlu highlighted the significant issue of the minimum wage for hotels, noting that it increased by 49% compared to the previous year, reaching 17,000 lira. He mentioned that the minimum wage, at 578 dollars, is the highest figure in the last 15 years.

Saatçioğlu stated that they have achieved the targeted figures in terms of both revenue and tourist numbers. He mentioned that during the pandemic, they lost many qualified employees, but they are now in a phase of recovery.

"We are losing money but we will endure it"

The President of POYD said that the facilities open from January to April experienced tough times due to currency pressure and are operating at a loss. “Despite being open and achieving occupancy rates of 50-60%, we are losing money. However, we all will endure this loss. We really made mistakes during the pandemic. We lost most of our staff. I believe we need to make these sacrifices to regather our personnel,” he stated.

About POYD

The Professional Hotel Managers Association (POYD) is an organization that primarily represents the interests of professional hotel managers.  It appears to be particularly active in Türkiye especially in regions like Antalya, which is a major hub for tourism.

The key functions and objectives of POYD likely include:

  1. Advocacy and Representation: Acting as a voice for hotel managers, representing their interests in dialogues with government bodies, tourism organizations, and other relevant stakeholders.

  2. Professional Development: Providing opportunities for training and professional growth to its members. This could include workshops, seminars, and conferences on various aspects of hotel management and the tourism industry.

  3. Networking: Facilitating networking opportunities for its members to share knowledge, experiences, and best practices. This is especially important in the hospitality industry, where trends and customer expectations can change rapidly.

  4. Industry Standards and Practices: Working towards the enhancement of industry standards and practices. This can involve setting guidelines for customer service, sustainability, and operational efficiency.

  5. Crisis Management and Support: Offering support and guidance to its members during challenging times, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which had a significant impact on the tourism and hospitality sector.

  6. Market Research and Analysis: Conducting or commissioning research to stay abreast of market trends, tourist behaviors, and economic impacts on the hotel and tourism industry.

It's important to note that such organizations play a crucial role in the hospitality industry, especially in tourist-centric economies, by not only supporting hotel managers but also contributing to the broader development and sustainability of the tourism sector.