Caring for the place we call home.

Yiğitoğlu Turizm was founded by Ahmet Yiğitoğlu in 1985 and incorporated in 1996 as Yiğitoğlu Turizm İnş. Otom. San. İç ve Dış Tic. Ltd. Şti.

Yiğitoğlu Turizm remains a family business. It operates three hotels with Ministry of Tourism operating licenses and has two hotel projects under construction with Tourism Investment Certificates. Its projects also include the Yusuf Fatma Yiğitoğlu Mosque.

• Burcu Kaya Hotel: Ministry of Tourism 4-Star Hotel Operating License (1987)

• Yusuf Yiğitoğlu Konağı: Ministry of Tourism Special Accommodation Facility Operating License (2003)

• Dilek Kaya Hotel: Ministry of Tourism Special Accommodation Facility Operating License (2010)

Yiğitoğlu Turizm has worked in tourism since 1985. We continue to invest in our operations, meet legal and industry requirements, and work toward sustainability.

We are establishing a Sustainability Management System across our properties.

Sustainability is generally defined as meeting today's needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Sustainability in Tourism

It aims to contribute to the local economy and to the protection of natural and cultural heritage by minimizing the negative social and environmental impacts of tourism, while improving service quality in doing so.

Sustainable tourism means using environmental resources responsibly, supporting economic stability, and protecting natural heritage and biodiversity. It also means respecting local communities and their traditions, encouraging understanding between cultures, and preserving cultural heritage. Its goals include a better quality of life and better social services for residents and visitors, with income opportunities that help reduce poverty.

At Dilek Kaya Hotel (Yiğitoğlu Turizm İnş. Otom. San. İç ve Dış Tic. Ltd. Şti.), we aim to contribute to Cappadocia and to the tourism industry.

Our Sustainability Management System guides that work across our operations.

Dilek Kaya Hotel has welcomed guests since 2010.

We reinvest in our business to improve the guest experience. By offering products and experiences rooted in Cappadocian culture, we aim to help make the region a place people choose to visit.

We aim to be a leading hotel in Cappadocia and Türkiye: self-sufficient, financially efficient, and in balance with nature. Our approach combines professional management with the care of a family business.

We are building a sustainability management system to put these goals into practice.

Our Sustainability Management System (SMS) is designed for the size and scope of our hotel. This section explains how it works.

Risk analysis is the basis of our management system. We follow these steps:

• Hazard Identification

• Analysis of Risks

• Evaluation of Risks

• Determining Control Measures

• Implementing Control Measures

We have assessed occupational health and safety risks and use the findings to make improvements.

The SMS sets policies and targets for environmental, social, cultural, economic, human rights, and quality matters. We measure progress against those targets using a Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle:

Plan

We set goals for society, culture, the environment, the national economy, and our management system, then plan the steps needed to reach them.

Do

The responsible staff put the plans into practice, then monitor, measure, and record the results at regular intervals.

Check

We review the results and feedback from guests and staff to see whether our practices match our business values and the standards we want to be known for.

Act

When results fall short or reveal a problem, we take corrective action and keep a record of it.

We comply with applicable local and national requirements, including those covering safety, health, and the environment. Regular staff training covers these topics and the relevant legislation.

We maintain the following compliance documents and records:

• Tourism Establishment / Special Accommodation Facility Certificate (Ministry of Culture and Tourism)

• Staff Insurance Declarations (Last Month)

• Tax Certificate (Revenue Administration)

• Sewer Wastewater Connection Certificate (Ortahisar Municipality)

• Environmental Management Service Certificate

• Zero Waste Certificate

• Occupational Safety Contract with an OHS Joint Service Unit (OSGB)

• Safe Tourism Certificate

• Emergency Action Procedures

• Electricity Generation License

• Workplace Physician Contract

• Public Health Pool Water Inspection Reports

• Ministry of Culture and Tourism Approved Facility Price Forms

• Ministry of Culture and Tourism Arrival and Overnight Notifications

• Pest Control Contracts and Inspection Reports

• Staff Certificates and Training Documents

• Personal Data Protection (KVKK) Compliance Documents

• Alcohol Sales Permit

• Hygiene Procedures

• First-Aid Certified Staff

• Certified Lifeguard Staff

• Public Education Hygiene Certificate

• Health Reports for All Staff

• Trademark Registration Certificate

• Hotel Insurance Policy

• Private Security Financial Liability Policy

What Are Human Rights?

The Right to Life

The right to life is among the fundamental principles of human rights and is granted equally to everyone. Personal inviolability is essential; no person may restrict another's right to life, otherwise they are deemed to have committed a crime before the law.

Prohibition of Torture and Ill-Treatment

Torture and ill-treatment of people is strictly prohibited. As a basic condition of a humane life, elements such as torture, ill-treatment and insult are prohibited.

Freedom of Thought and Expression

People have freedom of thought and expression. No one may be mistreated because of their thoughts or expressions.

Freedom of Religion and Conscience

Everyone is free to believe in the religion they wish. No one may be coerced on account of the religion they believe in.

The Right to Privacy

Everyone has a private life. No one may interfere with another person's private life or collect information about their private life.

The Right to a Fair Trial

The right to a fair trial is one of the most important human rights. No one is granted privilege on account of their class or title; everyone is equal before the law.

The Right to Property

Everyone has the right to acquire property and may use their property as they wish within the framework of the law.

The Right to Vote and to Be Elected

Everyone has the right to vote and to be elected; they may take part in elections and stand as candidates. No one may be coerced in this regard.

The Right to Marry

The right to marry is a right that arises from human nature. As far as the law permits, everyone may marry the person they wish.

We are committed to gender equality in our workplace.

• We ensure the health, safety and well-being of all our employees regardless of gender.

• We support women's participation in the workforce across all our departments and offer equal opportunities.

• We act on an 'equal pay for equal work' policy without gender discrimination.

• We assign responsibilities fairly, without gender discrimination.

• We give employees equal access to career opportunities.

• We develop training policies and support women's participation and greater awareness.

• We create a working environment and practices that preserve work-life balance.

• We support women taking part in company management and offer equal opportunities.

• We do not tolerate abuse, harassment, discrimination, suppression, coercion, or defamation of women. We value and support their contribution to our workplace and society.

We respect children as individuals with rights of their own. Protecting them from psychological, physical, commercial, and other forms of exploitation is our responsibility. To do this:

• We do not allow child labor in our own organizations and expect the same sensitivity from all our business partners.

• We provide spaces and opportunities that support children’s development and let them express their thoughts, wishes, and feelings freely and comfortably.

• We provide our employees with training on preventing and recognizing child abuse.

• We make sure that children are under adult supervision in the activities they take part in.

• We organize training to raise awareness about protecting children's rights and support related projects.

• When we witness suspicious acts involving children, we first inform the hotel management and, where deemed necessary, seek help from official institutions.

Dilek Kaya Hotel aims to provide accurate information to everyone in its promotional activities. All our printed materials and all our information available online reflect current and accurate information. Real images are used across all channels.

Staff Participation

Dilek Kaya Hotel undertakes to comply with the relevant provisions of Labor Law No. 4857 and pays its employees at least the minimum wage. It also undertakes compliance with Social Insurance and General Health Insurance Law No. 5510 and Occupational Health and Safety Law No. 6331.

We work with an occupational health and safety service. Risk assessments are updated regularly, and we use the results to prioritize improvements.

Our Sustainability Team manages this work. Its roles are:

Hotel Manager

Sustainability Champion

Environmental & Economic Sustainability Officer

Social, Cultural & Quality Sustainability Officer

Staff have free access to all training materials. A WhatsApp group shares timely updates, training videos, and other information in writing. Regular sustainability training is planned.

We collect and review staff productivity surveys on the 20th of each month and use the findings to make improvements.

Staff can leave written requests, suggestions, and complaints in boxes in the staff areas, anonymously if they wish. The boxes are opened on the 20th of each month.

We also use online surveys and reporting to reduce paper use, keeping records of the results and our evaluations.

WhatsApp groups help staff communicate quickly with each other and with management. We also use radios to respond promptly to guests.

Our sustainability goals and responsibilities will also be published in our sustainability management system on our official website.

Guest Experience

We want everyone who stays with us to feel welcome. This approach is part of our staff training and the way we work.

Our goal is to provide a comfortable stay and share the region’s culture through the hotel’s architecture and services.

As a family business, we make sure guests can reach a manager or a family member whenever they need to.

Our Public Relations team speaks with guests and reviews online feedback each month. Printed feedback forms are also available in guest rooms.

The Sustainability Team reviews guest feedback at its monthly meetings and agrees on improvements. Reception and the Public Relations team handle concerns during a stay and respond to reviews as quickly as possible. They have the authority to resolve complaints on the spot.

Guest services include turndown service, fruit in the room, and complimentary room decorations for special occasions.

Accessibility means everyone being able to reach and use any place and any service independently and safely.

Accessibility applies to homes, schools, workplaces, public spaces, transportation, and information and communication technology. These places and services should be safe to use independently. Access is essential for people with disabilities and makes daily life easier for everyone.

Dilek Kaya Hotel aims to take steps to improve accessibility and to continuously maintain and repair the related infrastructure. In particular, as management we provide the support needed so that guests with disabilities are not excluded from any area of tourism.

We look for suppliers that can provide the quality and quantities we need at reasonable prices, with a preference for local businesses and environmentally responsible practices. We request and check their sustainability certificates and supporting documents.

Local Purchasing

Provided quality and reasonable prices are met, Dilek Kaya Hotel gives priority to local suppliers. As noted in our supplier list, we work with a significant proportion of local suppliers and aim to increase this rate.

We support fair trade and aim to help the local economy by buying from new and smaller producers.

Environmentally Sensitive Purchasing

We measure purchases from environmentally certified local producers and fair-trade suppliers as a share of total purchases, and aim to increase that share.

In our purchasing we give priority to environmentally sensitive and organic products. If there is no eco-labeled product in the product group to be purchased, we choose suppliers or producers whose production and processes do not harm the environment. In purchasing, priority is given to selecting suppliers that hold sustainability certificates (such as ISO 14001, ISO 14064, ISO 20400).

Dilek Kaya Hotel does not purchase, display or offer for guest use any endangered plant or animal species.

Efficient Purchasing

Our hotel gives priority to bulk and loose-product purchasing. It also operates a system for returning the packaging of packaged products (reusable packaging such as glass and plastic) to the supplier. This results in less transport and fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

We avoid unnecessary plastic, nylon, paper, glass, and wood packaging. Guests can choose single-use or refillable amenities according to their preference.

While respecting the intellectual property rights of the local community, Dilek Kaya Hotel incorporates authentic elements of traditional and contemporary local culture into its operations, design, decoration, cuisine and shops.

Yiğitoğlu Turizm built the Fatma Yusuf Yiğitoğlu Mosque and transferred it to the Presidency of Religious Affairs. Its design draws on Seljuk architecture and serves the local community while preserving a connection to cultural heritage.

Presentation of Cultural Heritage

Handcrafted products of our region are used in the decoration of both our rooms and our common areas:

• Reflecting wood craftsmanship and the divan (sedir) culture in the decoration

• Serving Turkish coffee in keeping with tradition

• Display of the region's handwoven kilims and carpets

• Use of examples of stonework in the decoration

• Serving tea in copper teapots

Our hotel uses local stone and regional architectural forms. No trees were harmed during construction, and the landscaping includes native fruit trees and vines.

Artifacts

Dilek Kaya Hotel does not buy or sell, broker the trade of, or display historical and archaeological artifacts.

Promotion of Sustainable Local Gastronomy

Dilek Kaya Hotel gives priority to promoting and consuming local products. In our restaurant, single-use product consumption has been reduced as much as possible. Paper cutlery holders are not used; once our stock of single-use items such as salt and pepper is used up, we will switch to refillable salt and pepper shakers. The tablecloths used during service are made of washable materials, and no paper, cardboard or plastic cups are used in the restaurant area.

We serve regional dishes at breakfast and dinner each day. The selection changes daily and includes Anatolian dishes and ingredients such as:

• Casserole (güveç) dishes

• Stuffed vegetables (dolma)

• Wrapped vine/cabbage leaves (sarma)

• Dried vegetable dishes

• Pickles

• Grape molasses (pekmez) and many similar products

These products are purchased in season from local suppliers as certified organic produce and served directly from the garden to the guest.

We use renewable energy wherever possible.

Solar panels generate a large share of the hotel’s electricity. We track generation and consumption, and work to reduce the electricity we use.

Sensor-controlled lighting is installed in our hotel's common areas and in corridors where it poses no safety hazard. To reduce energy consumption, LED bulbs are used in all rooms, and a keycard electricity system is in place.

The hotel is built from Cappadocia’s yellow stone. Its insulating properties help keep rooms cooler in summer and warmer in winter, reducing the energy needed for heating and cooling.

We have switched our heating systems and kitchen to natural gas. We aim to generate more of our electricity from solar power and train staff and inform partners about saving energy.

We work to use resources efficiently, protect nature, prevent pollution, and reduce waste. Our approach covers recycling, safe waste treatment, and the environmental effects of the products and services we provide.

We follow environmental legislation. Where no specific legal requirement applies, we research the safest way to separate and dispose of waste that could harm the environment.

Dilek Kaya Hotel holds a Zero Waste Certificate and an industrial waste management plan.

Licensed companies collect our packaging waste and used cooking oil. We record these collections in the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change system. We track energy use, water use, and solid waste by type and per guest-night.

Based on the hotel’s room capacity:

• The hotel is assessed as outside the scope of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulation.

• An Environmental Permit Exemption letter is on file.

Environmental training and awareness training are carried out regularly by the contracted environmental consultancy firm.

We measure and monitor water use regularly and work to reduce it. We follow legal requirements and inform staff and partners about water conservation.

All guest rooms have dual-flush toilets. In common areas, faucets are sensor-operated and toilets are dual-flush. Room notices explain towel reuse, and our housekeeping procedure calls for changing sheets and duvet covers after a two-night stay. These measures help reduce water use and water pollution.

For wastewater disposal, the regulations and legal requirements set by the local authority are followed. According to Water Risk Atlas data, the area where our hotel is located lies in a medium/high water-risk zone.

We hold a sewer connection letter from Ortahisar Municipality, in Ürgüp, Nevşehir, for the hotel’s domestic wastewater.

Dilek Kaya Hotel holds a Zero Waste Certificate and has a solid-waste management plan. Measures for separation at the point of waste generation, including guest areas, have been put in place. Zero Waste training has been organized for our staff.

Food Waste

We set aside food scraps to feed animals at the hotel and stray animals in suitable locations. Fruit and vegetable peels are separated and composted for the garden’s plants and trees.

Within the legal framework, waste oils are collected and recycled by a licensed used-cooking-oil collection company.

Packaging Waste

Packaging waste generated at Dilek Kaya Hotel is stored at the waste yard and collected by a licensed waste collection company.

Waste Batteries

Waste batteries and accumulators are collected in airtight containers and sent to TAP (the Portable Battery Manufacturers and Importers Association).