Cem Kınay Dr.

Futurist, Experience Designer

Dr.Cem KINAY

With many substantial hotel investments and international awards, Dr. Cem Kınay is one of the most prominent worldwide figures in the tourism sector.
As the founder of the Vienna based Gulet Turistik (1987) and the Magic Life Hotels (1990) chain, Dr. Cem Kınay introduced the “All Inclusive” experience invented by him to the European tourists.
Together with his over 8000 colleagues, he took charge of the Magic Life Hotels chain, which had a total number of 20,000 beds and 23 hotels in Austria, Turkey, Greece, Spain, Egypt, Tunisia, and Bulgaria as the fastest growing and the most successful hotel concept at the time.
For 15 years, millions of guests were welcomed in Sarıgerme, Marmaris, Bodrum, Belek, Side, and Kemer in Turkey; in Kos, Crete, Corfu, and Rhodes islands in Greece; in Arlberg in Austria; in Hamamet, Mahdia, Djerba in Tunisia; Sharm El Sheikh and Nile in Egypt; in Varna/Duni in Bulgaria; and in Fuerteventura Island in Spain.   

In 2021, together with Elif Dağdeviren, it was granted to the institution named Anatolity Sustainable Culture and Tourism Foundation.
In 2020, he served as a consultant in the construction of the platform Goturkiye for the Turkish Tourism Promotion and Development Agency.
In 2019, he became a founding Board Member of the Turkish Tourism Promotion and Development Agency. 
In January, 2019, his book titled “Be Smart. Be Human” was published by Destek Publishing House.
In August, 2018, his first book where he put together his past experiences, titled “Akıllı Ol. İnsan Ol” was published by Destek Publising House.
In 2017, he founded CEM KINAY XPD Consulting Firm, and he provides consultancy for domestic and foreign investors regarding investments, concept design, and digital transformation.
In 2014/2015, he became a Board Member of the GALATASARAY SPORTS CLUB.
In 2012, he moved to Istanbul.

In 2006, he was bestowed certain important and valuable awards by the President of Austria, such as the “Austrian State Order”. Under the management of Dr. Cem Kinay, Gulet Turistik and Magic Life Hotels chain won more than 50 valuable awards from important organizations.
Between 2005-2009, he conducted the investments and real estate developments for the Mandarin Oriental Dellis Cay Hotel and the Bulgari Hotel in the Turks and Caicos Islands as the founder of the O Property Collection company; however, after the British government seized the power in the islands following the coup of 2009, he was compelled to leave the islands.
In 2004, he sold his shares in the Magic Life Hotels chain to the German TUI group and moved to Miami, and lived in America and the Turks and Caicos Islands until 2012.
In 2003, the first “All Inclusive” Magic Life hotel was opened in Fuerteventura Island in Spain.
In 2002, the first “All Inclusive” Magic Life hotel was opened in Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt.
In 2001, the first “All Inclusive” Magic Life Nile Vessel set sail on the Nile River in Egypt.
In 2001, the first “All Inclusive” Magic Life hotel was opened in Varna in Bulgaria.
In 2001, the German TUI became a partner of the Magic Life hotels chain.
In 1998, the first Magic Life Jet was designed with the Austrian Airlines and started to fly.
In 1997, the first “All Inclusive” Magic Life hotel was opened in Hammamet in Tunisia.

In 1997, he was chosen the “Man of the Year” by “Trend Magazine”, the most prominent economy journal of Austria.
In 1996, he was chosen the “Tourism Professional of the Year” by the Hotel and Tourism journal, “Traveller”.
In 1996, the first “All Inclusive” Magic Life hotel was opened in Kos Island in Greece.
In 1995/1996, the first “All Inclusive” Magic Life Ski hotel was opened in the Arlberg region in Austria.
In 1994, the first “All Inclusive” Magic Life Yatch gulet set sail in Bodrum.

In 1990, he founded the Magic Life Hotels Chain, and Magic Life Sarıgerme, the first “All Inclusive” hotel of the franchise, was opened.
Between 1977-1984, he studied at Vienna University, the Faculty of Medicine,
Between 1969-1977, Istanbul Austrian High School, 
Cem Kınay, who lived in Aşkale/Erzurum, Diyarbakır, and Ağrı between 1958-1969, graduated from Ağrı Alpaslan Elementary School. 
He was born in Istanbul, Bakırköy in 1958.