TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul 27, 2026--
Hotel Okura Co., Ltd., the leading global Japanese hotel operator, is pleased to announce that the Hotel Okura Thermal Resort & Spa Cappadocia is scheduled to open in 2028 in the historic village of Mustafapaşa in the Cappadocia region of Türkiye.
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Building upon the initial Okura Spa & Resort Cappadocia project announced in June 2015, this development is moving forward in collaboration with Hotel Okura’s new partner KK Universal, a real estate and hospitality investment group headquartered in Türkiye. To meet evolving global market needs, the site has been expanded to create a highly desirable luxury resort. The new plans feature premier thermal and wellness facilities that blend Okura’s signature omotenashi (Japanese-style hospitality) with the unique cultural heritage of the Cappadocia region.
On May 22, 2026, Hotel Okura signed a hotel management contract with Oluşum Grubu Gayrimenkul Yatırımları ve İnşaat Ticaret A.Ş., a hotel operating company backed by KK Universal. The property will be operated by Okura Saraylı Hotel Management A.Ş., a joint venture established in February 2015 between Hotel Okura Co., Ltd. and local partners Saraylı Turizm A.Ş. and MSIC Gayrimenkul Yatırım ve Danışmanlık Ticaret Ltd. Şti. The signing ceremony was held in Tokyo on May 22, 2026, attended by following executives:
Hotel Okura and KK Universal will continue discussions on future projects in Türkiye, deepening their partnership and expanding their collaborative presence in the region. Hotel Okura will pursue its growth journey in Türkiye exclusively through this partnership.
About the Resort
Hotel Okura Thermal Resort & Spa Cappadocia will be located in Mustafapaşa, a historic village in the UNESCO World Heritage Cappadocia region of Türkiye. Once known as Sinasos, Mustafapaşa resembles a living open-air museum, featuring centuries-old churches, mosques, and intricately carved stone buildings. In 2021, the village was recognized by the United Nations World Tourism Organization as a “Best Tourism Village” for its commitment to preserving and enhancing local heritage, culture, and biodiversity through sustainable tourism practices.*
The resort will comprise four buildings—including preserved historic stone structures and newly constructed facilities— three of which connected by underground passages. A recently acquired historic mansion, recognized as a symbolic representation of the region's cultural heritage, will undergo restoration by KK Universal and be integrated into the hotel. The design of the property will harmonize with Mustafapaşa's distinctive charm and architectural character, offering guests an authentic experience infused with Okura's refined aesthetic and omotenashi hospitality.
The resort will showcase Türkiye's renowned thermal culture through comprehensive wellness experiences. One of the world's premier thermal destinations, Türkiye has abundant mineral-rich waters. The new resort will boast an expansive 3,500-square-meter spa and wellness center – the biggest in the region. Guests will enjoy thermal baths with mineral-rich, licensed spring waters, traditional Turkish hammam steam baths, and both indoor and outdoor pools, creating a sanctuary providing physical and mental rejuvenation throughout their stay.
Additionally, the dining experience will feature three venues, including the internationally acclaimed teppanyaki restaurant “Sazanka,” pioneering the integration of teppanyaki into hotel fine dining, alongside an all-day dining establishment.
Toshihiro Ogita, President, Hotel Okura Co., Ltd., commented, “We are honored to embark on this project together with KK Universal and are delighted to bring the Okura brand to Türkiye. This project represents an important opportunity to introduce the Okura philosophy to guests in one of Türkiye's most remarkable destinations. Our commitment to offering world-class hospitality, blending the elegance of Japanese culture with local charm, is unwavering. Through Okura's signature hospitality, rooted in the spirit of Japanese omotenashi, we aspire to serve as a bridge between Türkiye and Japan.”
* “Best Tourism Village” is a UN Tourism initiative recognizing destinations that align with its Sustainable Development Goals and demonstrate excellence in cultural heritage preservation and sustainable development through tourism.
Property Overview:
About KK Universal
KK Universal is an Istanbul-based international investment group creating end-to-end value across real estate, tourism, and hospitality sectors by consolidating development, brand positioning, asset management, and operational processes under a single corporate structure. Focused on building long-term value in distinguished locations, KK Universal has led pioneering projects including Türkiye’s first fashion-brand hotel, Vakko Hotel & Residences, and the country’s first Moxy Hotel project developed in collaboration with Marriott, Moxy Istanbul Beyoğlu. Backed by a strong financial structure and global partnerships, KK Universal continues its growth across Türkiye and Europe by creating lasting value in premium destinations.
Please visit www.kkuniversalinc.com
About Hotel Okura
Hotel Okura Co., Ltd., founded in 1958, opened its flagship Hotel Okura Tokyo in 1962 as a first-class hotel that quickly became renowned worldwide for its blending of traditional Japanese beauty with the very best in accommodation, cuisine and service. It closed its doors in August 2015, and after four years of rebuilding work reopened as The Okura Tokyo in September 2019. Hotel Okura has extensive expertise in the hospitality world, including asset ownership and hotel development, as well as hotel management, the restaurant business and chain operations through its subsidiaries and other group companies. The brand unites member hotels under its “Best Accommodation, Cuisine and Service” philosophy to ensure that all guests enjoy Okura’s signature hospitality, which combines Japanese attention to detail and Western functionality.
Please visit okura.com/corporate/.
Okura Nikko Hotel Management Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Hotel Okura, operates 80 properties (53 in Japan and 27 overseas) encompassing some 24,036 guest rooms (as of July 1, 2026) under three hotel groups: Okura Hotels & Resorts, Nikko Hotels International and Hotel JAL City.
Please visit okura.com/.
About Okura Saraylı Hotel Management A.Ş.
Established on February 13, 2015, Okura Saraylı Hotel Management A.Ş. is a joint venture providing hotel operations management and development support for Okura Nikko Hotels in Türkiye. The company is jointly capitalized by Hotel Okura Co., Ltd.; Saraylı Turizm A.Ş., an established real estate and hotel development firm, and MSIC Gayrimenkul Yatırım ve Danışmanlık Ticaret Ltd. Şti., a real estate development advisory firm.
Rendition of Hotel Okura Thermal Resort & Spa Cappadocia
SEATTLE (AP) — There were at least three suspects involved in a shootout at a crowded food festival near Seattle’s Space Needle over the weekend, police said Monday. One of them was among those killed in the violence.
In a document filed in juvenile court in Seattle, where a 15-year-old arrested in the case waived his initial appearance Monday, police said they believe there were at least three shooters, rather than two: the 15-year-old, an acquaintance who died at the scene and “at least one other unknown suspect.”
Nicole Powell, the Seattle Police Department's assistant chief of investigations, told a news conference Monday afternoon that investigators believe the shooting may have been gang-related, with two groups firing at each other. The deceased shooter was 19.
A judge ordered the 15-year-old held in juvenile detention for investigation of firearms violations and first-degree assault. The King County prosecutor's office said it expected to receive the case from Seattle police on Wednesday for a charging decision.
The gunfire erupted around 6 p.m. Sunday in the waning hours of the Bite of Seattle, leaving three people dead and at least four others, including a toddler, injured. The annual three-day festival draws hundreds of food and retail vendors and performers to Seattle Center, a sprawling park in the shadow of the Space Needle. Many attendees rushed into campus buildings or ran from the park at the sound of the shots.
News that there were at least three suspects followed a series of confusing statements from city officials concerning the shooting.
On Sunday, the police department waited five hours to share with the public that one shooter had been arrested and that they believed another to be on the loose. Earlier, Mayor Katie Wilson had announced two people were in custody, a statement she retracted.
At a news conference before the court hearing Monday, Police Chief Shon Barnes said investigators weren’t sure if the second shooter was among the dead. Neither he nor the mayor made any reference to additional shooters. Barnes had been out of town Sunday, attending a conference of Black law enforcement executives in Dallas.
The officials defended their handling of the case, saying they were trying to ensure they provided accurate information about chaotic events.
The King County Medical Examiner's Office on Monday identified the dead as Carlos Israel Sanchez Villalba, 44; Ashley Whitehead, 56; and Junior Cee Niko Semo, 19.
Villalba was a husband and father of three known for his kindness and willingness to help others, according to a GoFundMe campaign launched Monday to help his family with funeral expenses. He died from a gunshot wound to his torso, while Whitehead died from a gunshot to her pelvis and Semo died from multiple gunshot wounds, according to the medical examiner’s office.
The four wounded included a 2-year-old boy, who was in satisfactory condition Monday. The others — two men, ages 23 and 27, and a woman, 39 — were discharged, a hospital spokesperson said.
One of the victims was walking a bicycle when struck, the court document said. The toddler was with his mother.
Vendors were allowed to return to the campus Monday morning to collect their equipment. Skewered squid on grills, roasted ducks in ovens and plates full of food were among the items left behind as people fled.
Near the spot of the shooting, a stain of what appeared to be blood was still visible. A candlelight vigil was planned Monday night at the center’s International Fountain.
Dozens of officers were providing security at the event and responded in seconds, at least one observing a suspect firing, authorities said. Police searched an IMAX theater on the grounds where they initially believed a second shooter had fled.
Adam Lombardo, who had a Burmese food stand at the festival, described the panic of fleeing people as a “stampede.” As he gathered his equipment Monday, he described how police escorted food vendors back to the crime scene to turn off their ovens and stoves.
“It’s really sad because you think that three innocent people aren’t getting up with their families,” he said. “They just came to enjoy a food festival with people, with friends, with new friends, and they lost their lives in just what sounds like meaningless bloodshed.”
Festival attendee Faith Adia Hunter said she and her friends had just gotten food from a crepe vendor when gunfire broke out. They sheltered in the nearby Seattle Children’s Museum.
“We were about to start eating, then heard someone yell something, then we saw people start to run,” Hunter said. “So we took off running, too.”
Moises Perez, 30, was cooking in his apartment next to the Seattle Center when he spotted people running and yelling outside his window. When he opened his door, he heard gunshots and started ushering more than a dozen people, mostly women and children, inside.
“I was like, ‘OK, we need to help these people,’” said Perez, a construction worker who had attended the food festival that morning. He said losing his brother to gun violence in Mexico years ago made him determined to help the people trying to get to safety.
He and his roommate, William Large, 25, made sure the door was locked and started directing people to the bathroom and hallway, and told them they could stay as long as they needed.
“They were definitely in shock. I know that a lot of people were crying, people were screaming, people were just in complete fear," said Large, who works in social services.
About 30 minutes later, Perez walked out to see what had happened. He found a woman shot in the leg being helped by emergency officials.
The festival started in 1982 and draws 350,000 attendees, according to its website.
Associated Press journalists Manuel Valdes, Hallie Golden and Lindsey Wasson in Seattle; Annika Wolters in Bangkok; and Christopher Weber in Los Angeles contributed to this report.
A vendor throws away food while cleaning up the day after a shooting at Seattle Center during the Bite of Seattle food festival, Monday, July 27, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
The U.S. flag flies at half staff at the Space Needle as cleanup continues the day after a shooting at Seattle Center during the Bite of Seattle food festival, Monday, July 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
A worker cleans blood off the pavement the day after a shooting at Seattle Center during the Bite of Seattle food festival, Monday, July 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
The U.S. flag flies at half staff as cleanup continues at the Space Needle the day after a shooting at Seattle Center during the Bite of Seattle food festival, Monday, July 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
A man walks near the scene, a day after a shooting at Seattle Center during the Bite of Seattle food festival, Monday, July 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
A Seattle Police officer sets up police line tape at the site of a shooting at Seattle Center during the Bite of Seattle food festival Sunday, July 26, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
An unidentified man is led into the scene by police after they responded to a shooting at Seattle Center during the Bite of Seattle food festival Sunday, July 26, 2026, in Seattle, Wash. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson, center, speaks at a news conference after a shooting at the Bite of Seattle food festival Sunday, July 26, 2026, in Seattle, Wash. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Police respond to a shooting at Seattle Center during the Bite of Seattle food festival Sunday, July 26, 2026, in Seattle, Wash. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
An unidentified man is led into the scene by police after they responded to a shooting at Seattle Center during the Bite of Seattle food festival Sunday, July 26, 2026, in Seattle, Wash. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
A Seattle Police officer walks through tents with colorful toys at the scene of a shooting at Seattle Center during the Bite of Seattle food festival Sunday, July 26, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
A crime scene photographer arrives as law enforcement examines the scene following a shooting at Seattle Center during the Bite of Seattle food festival Sunday, July 26, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
