Turkish executive Aykut Korkmaz recently took over as general manager of Athenee Palace Hilton, one of Bucharest’s top hotels. He replaced Dane Jan Thomsen, who has been managing the hotel since late 2013.

Hilton hasn't officially announced the move yet, but Korkmaz has already moved to Bucharest in March, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Aykut Korkmaz has been working within the Hilton group for some 14 years. He started his career at the former Hilton Konya where he was director of operations from 2002 to 2003. He then moved to Egypt as director of operations at Hilton Sharm Waterfalls Resort before moving to London for the opening of Hilton London Tower Bridge.

He also managed the Hilton hotel near London’s Heathrow Airport and prepared the opening of the Hilton Istanbul Bomonti Hotel & Conference Center, which he has managed until March this year.

This is the third big move in the local hotel sector this year. Ana Hotels, one of the top three local hotel companies, which also owns the Athenee Palace Hilton hotel, recently appointed Belgian Christine Schillings to take over as general manager, replacing the owner’s daughter Alexandra Copos de Prada.

The Radisson blu hotel, which is just across the street from Athenee Palace Hilton, on Calea Victoriei, also changed its manager recently. Swiss Markus Kraus took over as GM of the Radisson blu and Park Inn hotels in Bucharest, on April 1, replacing Bert Fol, who moved to Istanbul.

editor@romania-insider.com