As one of Turkey’s leading hotel groups, Akra Hotels has earned the “Equal Opportunity Model” (FEM) certificate from KAGİDER (Women Entrepreneurs Association of Turkey) thanks to its human resources practices that support women’s employment and promote equal opportunities for women in all areas of professional life.

Developed by KAGİDER in collaboration with the World Bank, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and EY, the Equal Opportunity Model (FEM) certification program aims to promote gender equality in the workplace and enhance women’s productivity. The program continues to transform the business landscape in Turkey, and Akra Hotels is now among the companies that have been awarded the FEM certificate.

Holding the title of Great Place To Work® Türkiye’s Best Employer™ and being a signatory of the United Nations Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs), Akra Hotels stands out for its equal opportunity practices in areas such as recruitment, training, career support, talent management, and feedback monitoring, as well as for its strong commitment to supporting women’s employment.

By partnering with KAGİDER and earning the Equal Opportunity Certificate, Akra Hotels has proven both nationally and internationally that its organizational structure, actions, and employment policies are committed to gender equality and the empowerment of women in the workforce.

The certificate award ceremony was held at the Istanbul Headquarters of the Women Entrepreneurs Association of Turkey (KAGİDER), with the attendance of BHM Board Members Ali Ramiz Barut and Sinan Barut, Group Human Resources Director İbrahim Hakan Yılmaz, Group Brand and Business Development Director Özgür Balta, Group Sales Director Okşan Esmen, Group Revenue Manager Müzeyyen Özsözgün, General

Manager of Akra Fethiye and Akra Fethiye The Residence Aslıhan Atıl, Assistant Group Marketing Manager Ebru Ertek Sezer, KAGİDER President Esra Bezircioğlu, KAGİDER Board Members Neşecan Çekici and Özlem Derici Duyarlar, Secretary General Yeşim Seviğ, and Corporate Relations Manager Aylin Dinler.

Akra Hotels became the 55th company in Turkey and the first in the tourism sector to receive the Equal Opportunity Model (FEM) Certificate.

KAGİDER President Esra Bezircioğlu began her speech at the ceremony by saying, “Every company that receives the FEM certificate rekindles our hope for a more equal world,” and congratulated Akra Hotels, expressing her gratitude for its commitment to ensuring equal opportunities for women in business life.

Bezircioğlu continued: “Our dream is to reach a world where women and men are equally represented and have equal opportunities in all areas of life. Achieving this requires not only our efforts, but also a great responsibility on the part of companies. The more organizations implement human resources practices that support women’s employment and offer equal opportunities in professional life, the more hopeful we become about achieving a more equal world. We thank Akra Hotels for setting an example for others by earning the FEM certificate and recognizing its work in this field. I hope to see many more companies join this process and qualify for the FEM certificate in the near future.”

KAGİDER Board Member Neşecan Çekici stated that the FEM certification program is a model initiative for achieving gender equality in the business world in Turkey. She added: “Companies that have joined us on this journey not only contribute to employment but also actively support the empowerment of women. We invite all companies to apply for the FEM certificate.”

KAGİDER Board Member Özlem Derici Duyarlar also expressed her satisfaction with the growing interest in the FEM certificate, noting that the number of corporate applications has increased significantly in recent times. She stated that this rising interest is a clear sign of how sensitive institutions have become to strengthening women’s employment.

BHM Board Member Ali Ramiz Barut emphasized that he represents the third generation in the leadership of Akra Hotels, one of the pioneering brands in the hospitality industry with over 50 years of experience. He stated: “We are fully aware that creating a work environment where our female and male employees enjoy equal rights, equal conditions, and equal opportunities is crucial to ensuring the sustainability of our company’s success.”

“As the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of Akra Hotels, we are committed to implementing policies based on equal opportunity, merit, trust, and fairness. We are actively working to foster a corporate culture that embraces and reinforces these

principles. To support this goal, we continue our efforts to increase the employment of women, to ensure that women take on more active roles in leadership positions, and to empower women—initiatives we believe will inspire our industry and set a valuable example. We would like to thank KAGİDER for launching this program, which supports a transformative shift toward equal opportunity and women’s empowerment in the business world. We will continue our efforts in this area with unwavering dedication,” he said.

BHM Board Member Sinan Barut emphasized their commitment to equal opportunity, stating: "At Akra Hotels, we approach this issue with great sensitivity and adopt the view that ensuring equal participation of both women and men in business life is critical. Through all our Human Resources policies and ongoing initiatives, we aim to increase women’s employment in our properties, diversify and expand career programs, and create a work environment where our female employees can work in peace and confidence—setting a positive example in our industry. Receiving the FEM certificate, which is a meaningful symbol of this commitment, is an honor for us. As a signatory of the United Nations WEPs, we will continue our efforts to strengthen women’s presence in professional life."

BHM Group Human Resources Director İbrahim Hakan Yılmaz added: "We are fully aware that when we provide equal rights, equal conditions, and equal opportunities to both our female and male employees, we unlock the full potential of our company. In this regard, Akra Hotels’ 2023–25 Human Resources Strategic Plan and Goals emphasize sustainability, corporate responsibility, and the empowerment of women. They also aim to ensure fair treatment, increase women’s representation, empower women in leadership roles, promote their personal and professional development, and foster diversity, equity, and inclusion."

We believe that an equal and bright future is only possible through women’s active participation in all areas of life—especially in the business world—by ensuring equal opportunities and implementing fair human resources practices. We are honored to have crowned the valuable outcomes of our efforts to shape the future of our company and create added value for our society with the FEM certificate. We congratulate all Akra Hotels employees who contributed to this achievement and thank KAGİDER for its pioneering work in this area.

The FEM certificate can only be obtained following a rigorous independent audit process.

The FEM certificate aims to identify inequalities in processes such as recruitment, training, career planning, and development, and to eliminate gender-based

discriminatory practices in professional life. It also seeks to support the private sector in promoting gender equality in the workplace, enhance women’s productivity in the Turkish workforce by fostering equality in employment and earnings, and encourage the adoption of equal opportunity procedures across the business world.

The areas evaluated through independent audits under the FEM program include:

Management’s commitment to equal opportunity, Equal opportunity in recruitment and selection, Equal access to training opportunities, Equal opportunity in performance evaluation and promotion, Career support practices, Monitoring of feedback and complaints, Communication and corporate advertising