Look who Bolu Grand Hotel owner Halit Ergül is close to: Many celebrities have stayed at his hotels!

Following the hotel fire in the Kartalkaya region of Bolu, where 78 citizens lost their lives, the first news of an arrest has arrived. Halit Ergül, the owner of the Grand Kartal Hotel, was taken into custody as a result of public pressure and investigations.

Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, in his statement after the fire, pointed to the Bolu Governor's Office, saying, "The responsibility lies with the special provincial administration." However, it is noteworthy that Ergül has been in a close relationship with the governors in Bolu for years and that his hotels have been awarded various honors.

VERY CLOSE WITH GOVERNORS

The Gazelle Resort Hotel, owned by Halit Ergül, was awarded a "Green Five Star" plaque by the Ministry of Tourism in 2015. The then-Governor of Bolu, Aydın Baruş, praised the hotel's eco-friendly approach, stating, "These facilities bring serious quality to the service sector."

In 2019, Bolu Governor Ahmet Ümit visited the Gazelle Resort Hotel and received information about the hotel's physical condition and occupancy rates. Halit Ergül had emphasized that his hotel was eco-friendly and stood out for its natural living spaces.

ALSO VERY CLOSE TO THE TFF

The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) 2022-2023 Referee Seminar was held at the Gazelle Resort Hotel, owned by Halit Ergül. The opening was attended by Bolu Governor Erkan Kılıç, TFF President Mehmet Büyükekşi, and other officials. It is also known that many of the AK Party's events in Bolu were organized at this hotel.

The fact that the Gazelle Resort Hotel continued to accept reservations after the fire had drawn criticism. It has been learned that the hotel, which is currently closed, will begin accepting reservations again as of February 2. A hotel official stated, "Our reservations are currently closed. We are refunding the money of customers who wish to cancel or rescheduling their bookings to a later date."

While debates regarding the Bolu Governor's Office and Halit Ergül continue in the public eye following the fire tragedy, the extent of the negligence is expected to be clarified through judicial investigations.