Presenting 2025 Hotelie Hall of Fame Story - Deniz Omurgonulsen '00
Published on September 7, 2025
An excerpt from Deniz's story...
Deniz Omurgonulsen’s journey in hospitality began with her family’s roots in Turkey. Her grandparents started a small restaurant in 1961, which her parents later grew into a family business that included hotels. This foundation instilled in her an appreciation for service and hospitality and perhaps explains why her parents made the bold decision to send Deniz and her sister, Melis ’97, to Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration.