Hotelier, operator, brand-builder. Twenty years giving restaurants and resorts vision for impact.
We don't run hospitality.
We engineer it.
Born into hospitality, raised on the pass. Istanbul → Bodrum → Switzerland → Dubai.
Oytun Cakir is a Dubai-based hospitality entrepreneur whose career spans over two decades, shaped by an upbringing in his family’s hotel in Bodrum and refined through an MBA at Glion Institute of Higher Education — one of the world’s top three hospitality management schools. He spent six transformative years leading Sianji Wellbeing Resort, earning 21 international awards including Europe’s Leading Wellness Resort title two consecutive times, and becoming one of Turkey’s most recognized young leaders in tourism.
Relocating to Dubai, Oytun built a reputation as the architect behind some of the most successful Turkish restaurant brands entering the Middle East — serving as Regional Director at Q Food & Beverage and later as CEO of Dives Holding. The industry came to know him as “the guy who makes a local brand global.”
In 2021, he co-founded Gastronaut Hospitality alongside Orkan Doganci, growing it into one of Dubai’s most dynamic multi-brand operators. The portfolio includes TROVE at Dubai Mall, BOHOX café, Mamabella, Ram & Roll, and WOOHOO — a futuristic dine-and-nightlife concept with a cyberpunk aesthetic and a post-midnight speakeasy, SPOCK. The group’s consultancy division has also launched brands including Zenon, Blume, Rodina, and Cavista for third-party investors.
Alongside Gastronaut, Oytun founded UMAI, an AI hospitality company redefining menu engineering, cost control, and kitchen intelligence — with Chef Aiman, positioned as the world’s first AI chef.
A creative by nature and an early adopter by instinct, he brings the same precision and curiosity to building businesses that he does to everything he pursues.
From a family resort on the Aegean to a future concept in Dubai.
Six years rebuilding the family resort into one of Europe's defining wellness destinations. Named Europe's Leading Wellness Resort two years running.
Brought Huqqa and The Galliard out of Turkey into The Dubai Mall. Top-three in segment within four months.
Structured CZNBURAK's GCC expansion with an upgraded concept and two new sub-brands.
Trove, BohoX, Mamabella, Woohoo and Ram&Roll owned. Zenon, Blume, Rodina, consulted. Established UMAI which founded Chef Aiman who is the world's first AI Chef.
10+ brands in four years.
Restaurant Brands pulled around one core idea: taste, hospitality, and the room between.
"What I've learned is — I still don't know anything."
Hobbies that keep showing up in the rooms I build.
Coverage from global newsrooms and industry voices — filtered by altitude. Flagship press up top, regional & trade below, honours further down.
"Only happy people can make people happy."
New projects, collaborations, speaking invitations — or a coffee in Dubai.