Zeynep Özlem Baş

Born and raised in Turkey, for a young woman Zeynep Özlem Baş already has a distinctive record of professional achievement in the hotel and tourism industry, the media and the arts.

Since completing her studies in Tourism and Hotel Management at the University of Istanbul and in Food and Beverage Management at the Bermuda College, Zeynep Özlem Baş has had broad experience and has demonstrated expertise in the respective professions in which she has worked.

In the hotel and tourism industry, Ms. Bas has gained experience in all departments. Most recently she was Guest Communications Manager at the Grand Hyatt Regency Istanbul hotel, where she also served as staff trainer for Guest Communications.
She is a group trainer who conducts seminars for hospitality industry personnel to enhance guest relations, guest expectations and communications, complaint handling, social skills and communication skills.
Earlier in her career, Ms. Bas worked in various executive positions at the Istanbul Hilton and Sheraton Istanbul.

Her entree into the Arts world was prompted, and mentored, by Aydin Gun, a renowned opera singer, teacher, founder of the State Opera and the International Istanbul and Yapı Kredi Festivals. She served as Assistant Artistic Director of the Yapı Kredi Festival where she was responsible for planning programmes, budget, coordinating with sponsors, hotels, airlines, sound and lighting companies, contracts and artist relations. She also took part in the organization and management of the Leyla Gencer International Vocal Competition and Yapi Kredi Youth Pop Music Competition. In 1998 Ms. Baş founded and currently directs Oz Productions, a Performing Arts Management and Production company.

In 2001, Ms. Bas studied Media Crisis Management and Television and Radio Production at the BBC Training and Development Center in the U.K.
Ms. Bas first acquired her media skills and experience in her position as Executive Assistant to the President of Medya Group, the most influential media company in Turkey (newspapers, magazines, television and radio stations) and, later, during a stint at Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising Worldwide. She also acts as regional manager for leading defence publications.

Since the inception of her company, she has represented various international artists from different genres in her portfolio on prestigious stages and festivals around the world in nearly 30 countries including Singapore Esplanade, New York Town Hall, Sydney Opera House, Hong Kong Festival, Athens Festival, Cleveland Museum of Art, Prague Czech Parliament, Brussels Palais des Beaux-Arts, Brisbane Powerhouse, Bahrein National Museum, Essen Philharmonie, Seongnam International Dance Festival, Melbourne Festival, Edinburgh Festivals and Tbilisi Festival of Theatre.

Özlem also works as a music consultant for music programmes. She has consulted on numerous documentary programs aired on ERT, the Greek national TV channel. The topics have included Indian and Hungarian music and a special portrait on one of Hungary's most celebrated music stars and Unesco Ambassador for Peace Márta Sebestyén for the "World Musicians" documentary.

She performs on stage with the Istanbul Music and Sema Group and reads poems of Rumi (Mevlâna).
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