Kilim Hotel, one of the best-known landmarks on Izmir’s Kordon Pasaport waterfront, is set to be demolished and rebuilt as a modern, environmentally friendly property designed to meet current earthquake and fire safety standards. The hotel has operated since 1966, and its owner said the new project aims to preserve its place in the city’s tourism landscape while updating the building for today’s needs.
Izmir Palas Turizm Ticaret A.Ş. said the existing hotel building will be taken down and replaced with a new hotel that fits Izmir’s skyline and the historic character of Kordon. The company said the work will be carried out in a way that causes as little disruption as possible for local businesses, residents, pedestrians and traffic.
The new development is planned to include energy-saving systems, social spaces with views over the Gulf of Izmir, modern meeting rooms, restaurants and accommodation units. The company said it expects the rebuilt hotel to serve both business and leisure travellers.
In a statement, the company said it regards the hotel as one of the symbols of Izmir Pasaport and believes the new phase will increase the hotel’s contribution to the city’s brand value and tourism potential.
The announcement marks a major change for a property that has been part of Izmir’s hospitality sector for nearly 60 years. Kilim Hotel opened in 1966 and became a familiar name for visitors staying near the city’s waterfront, with its location helping to establish it as one of the area’s reference points.
Izmir Palas Turizm Ticaret A.Ş. said the new building will be designed to comply fully with earthquake and fire regulations. It also said environmental and occupational safety measures will be applied carefully during construction.
The company said the project will use green building criteria and energy-efficient systems. It added that the rebuilt hotel will aim to combine modern architecture with the aesthetic identity of Kordon, a prominent area on Izmir’s coastline.
The hotel’s planned facilities are expected to include higher-standard restaurants, meeting rooms and social areas that highlight the view over the Gulf of Izmir. The company said these features are intended to make the property attractive to guests travelling to Izmir for both work and holidays.
The announcement comes as many Turkish tourism businesses look to update older properties to meet stricter safety standards and changing guest expectations. In this case, the company has chosen full redevelopment rather than renovation, signalling a long-term bet on the site’s value in one of Izmir’s most recognisable districts.
Local reporting said the demolition and construction process would be managed to limit pressure on surrounding streets and businesses. That approach suggests the company is aware of the challenges of carrying out major works in a busy waterfront area with heavy pedestrian and vehicle movement.
Kilim Hotel’s transformation will be closely watched in Izmir, where the Kordon and Pasaport districts are among the city’s most visible and historic urban spaces. The project also reflects a wider trend in which established hotels are being redesigned to align with modern safety rules, energy efficiency goals and changing tourism demand.
For Izmir, the redevelopment represents both the end of a long-running chapter and the start of a new one for a property that has been tied to the city’s hospitality identity for decades. The company said it believes the new hotel will strengthen that legacy while serving a new generation of visitors.
