ISTANBUL – Richard Gere was there, so too was Tom Jones, singing about the Green Green Grass of Home.
Sharon Stone made an appearance alongside Mariah Carey, Monica Bellucci and the president of Kazakhstan.
The occasion was the opening party for the opulent Mardan Palace resort in the Turkish Riviera town of Antalya, where the host was the enormously rich Russian businessman Telman Ismailov.
The Mardan Palace Hotel is destined to rank alongside the Burj al Arab in Dubai and the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi as one of the world’s most lavish hotels. It already claims to be Europe’s most expensive hotel at US$1.5 billion.
Its architecture reflects distinctive landmarks of Istanbul – the main hotel resembles The Dolmabahce Palace and bridges across the pool are based on original designs of the Da Vinci Bridge.
Gondolas sail guests around the world’s second largest swimming pool, and five floor-to-ceiling aquariums depict the oceans of the world in the hotel’s main seafood restaurant.
Baby sharks are being introduced to an artificial reef within the hotel’s aqua complex where guests will swim with the fishes, while a dramatic amphitheatre, seating 900, will host world-class entertainment and spectacular light shows.
The rooms and suites of the hotel are laid out in distinct sections. The look-alike Dolmabahce Palace houses the main hotel lobby.
The Anatolian Wing features traditional Ottoman warm colors and gold furnishings, while the European Wing goes for more minimalist designs.
The Garden Suites are located in villa buildings set within a sanctuary of gardens and semi private swimming pools.
by Ian Jarrett
Coming Soon: The Mole’s report from the Mardan Palace.
