Following her education in St.George’s Austrian High School and after majoring in Tourism and Hotel Management in Bosphorus University, Pınar Kartal Timer started her career at the Hilton İstanbul in Revenue Department in 1988. After a transfer to the Sales Department, she held several positions until her promotion to Director of Sales and Marketing for both Hilton İstanbul and Hilton Parksa in 1994, where she worked until 2002.

In 2002 she joined the opening team of Moevenpick Hotel İstanbul as Director of Sales and Marketing, then became Area Director Sales & Marketing Turkey Moevenpick Hotels and Resorts. She moved on to Çırağan Palace Kempinski İstanbul where she was Director of Revenue and Business Development.

Mrs. Pınar Kartal Timer was appointed in February 2009 as General Manager to Pera Palace Hotel, with the mission to return Pera Palace Hotel to the glory days of its heritage. After completion of the restoration she managed to re-open the hotel successfuly in 2010. She also led the transition of the property to join Jumeirah Hotel Group in 2012.

Fluent in English and German, Pınar Kartal Timer is an active member of associations such as Skal Club, BUMED, Association of Turkish Hoteliers and Vice President of American Chamber of Commerce Turkey. She is married and have 2 children.

Within her 30 years career in luxury international hotel groups like Hilton, Kempinski and Jumeirah as Director of Business Development and General Manager, she has not only developed an unrivalled experience, knowledge and understanding of opening and managing hotels she also proved herself as a creative Managing Host.

Drawing on her experience Pinar will cover following points on Art of Hosting:

*Practical and effective business development solutions

through the analysis of existing business challenges and designing taylor made plans for improvement to maximize revenues and profits.

*Re-structuring the sales and marketing team

* Marketing and PR strategies and activities to rigtly position the product

* Creating opportunities to make the right connection within the extensive global business network

*Consultancy on hotel concept and overall theme