Let your self experience a great city where the Continents meet.
Latest News
New openings in 2024
The St. Saviour in Chora (Kariye) is re-opened after years of restorations as a mosque and a museum.
Entrance fees in 2024
As of 1st of March 2024, many State museums' fees are set in Euros, to be paid its equivalent in Turkish Liras.
Museum Pass
You can buy the "Museum Pass" for foreigners which is valid for 5 days in various museums of Istanbul.
Museums open 7 days
Many State museums in Istanbul operate 7 days a week, except Topkapi Palace.
Curriculum Vitae
Burak Sansal
Istanbul
TURKEY
info@allaboutturkey.com
Mobile: (+90) 532 – 314 53 24
EXPERIENCE:
08/1994 – Today
05/1991 – 11/1992
Professional National Tour Guide, working with Turkey's most prestigious travel agencies. Traveling extensively worldwide, I have a personal knowledge of touring and hotel facilities in the following countries: Turkey, England, France, Denmark, Iceland, Germany, Belgium, Nederlands, Luxembourg, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Macedonia, Serbia, Albania, Bulgaria, Austria, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Hungary, Lebanon, Morocco, Kenya, China, Korea, Thailand, Japan, Russia, USA, UK, UAE, and the Caribbean.
I currently work/worked with various travel agents: Viking (Istanbul), Dekon MICE (Istanbul), Medkom Forte (Istanbul), Intra Tourism (Istanbul, Antalya and Kusadasi), Euro Marmara (Istanbul), Setur (Istanbul headquarters), Alta Tours (Istanbul), Sunny Travel (Izmir head office), Aldo Tours (Istanbul), Baron's Travel Agency (Istanbul headquarter), ATC tourism (Marmaris), Manager Tours (Istanbul), LevanteMar Tourism (Izmir), Minerva Tourism (Izmir), Pacha Tours (Istanbul headquarters), Kizilca Tours (Marmaris), Pera Tourism (Istanbul), Bravo Tours (Izmir), Ekin Tourism (Antalya), 2000 Tours (Izmir and Marmaris branches), Za-Na Tourism (Izmir). During my tenure in these companies, I was responsible for leading various groups, providing information about archaeological sites and Turkish culture. The itineraries were mostly different from each group, but generally concerned visiting a range of sites throughout the country; from East to West and from North to South. These tours were generally limited from 2 to 21 days. I also escort daily sightseeing tours and work as an interpreter for businessman during their conventions. Some of the tours were on private driver/guide basis.
Besides guiding clients of incoming travel agents, I also work/worked with international pharmaceutical companies as a tour guide for their foreign corporate visitors to Turkey or as an interpreter and group leader for their medical doctors and staff attending international conventions abroad. Some of these companies are/were Pfizer, Actavis, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, IE Ulagay - Menarini, Novartis - Sandoz, Nutricia - Bebelac, Nestle Health.
08/1990 – 11/1990
Iber Art Hotel (Kemer-Beldibi, Antalya), five star hotel belonging to the Spanish Iber group. As part of my compulsory job training in order to finish my study at the University, I started as a reception clerk trainee and promoted to shift leader working in every department of the Front Office; cashier, reservationist and receptionist dealing with IBM AS/400-36 computers.
03/1990 – 05/1990
Sunny Travel (Izmir), A Grade Travel Agency working mostly with Dutch and British tour operators. As part of my compulsory job training during fourth semester of the University, I worked in this agency being responsible of coming reservations and proceeding operations.
11/1989 – 03/1990
Omega Tours (Izmir), A Grade Travel Agency working mostly with French tour operators. As a compulsory third semester job training I was employed as a reservation and office clerk.
08/1989 – 10/1989
Club Salima (Kemer-Beldibi, Antalya), first class holiday village. During the second part of my first year job training I worked there as a receptionist at the Front Desk helping also to the other departments like Accounting and Guest Relations.
05/1989 – 07/1989
May Hotel (Didim-Akbuk, Aydin), five star Deluxe-hotel. During the first part of my compulsory job training, I was assigned to the Front Office as a receptionist working with NCR UNIX computers.
MILITARY OBLIGATION:
11/1992–03/1993 — Turkish Navy, after basic training in Iskenderun assigned to Headquarters in Ankara and after passing some exams chosen for NATO (Belgium)
03/1993–02/1994 — posted in the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (S.H.A.P.E.) in Mons, Belgium as a Military Police.
02/1994–06/1994 — extension of four more months in the Service and re-assigned to Headquarters in Ankara and then posted in Mersin.
Total of 19 months compulsory military service completed in June 1994.
EDUCATION:
Dokuz Eylul University English Education (Izmir-TR), unattended for military service, 1990-1992
Dokuz Eylul University Tourism and Hotel Management (Izmir-TR), AA degree, average of 76/100, 1988-1990
Italian High School (Istanbul-TR), average of 6.46/10, 1979-1988
Leonardo da Vinci High School (Lugano-CH), 1986-1987
Halil Vedat Firatli Primary School (Istanbul-TR), average of 5/5, 1974-1979
LANGUAGES:
Native Turkish, fluent in Italian and English, beginner German and French
EXECUTIVE COURSES:
Online seminar on Yedikule Dungeons of Istanbul by Dr. Hayri Fehmi Yilmaz, 02/2021
Online seminar on Istanbul Synagogues by Dr. Inci Turkoglu, 01/2021
Online program (20 courses) on Safeguarding Archaeological Assets of Turkey (SARAT) in association with ICOM England and Koc University, 12/2020
Online seminar on Hattusas site by archaeologist in charge Prof. Dr. Andreas Schachner, 11/2020
Online seminar on Earthquake Readiness by AKUT Search & Rescue organization, 11/2020
Online & Onsite seminars on Zerzevan Castle site by archaeologist in charge Dr. Aytac Coskun, 11/2020
Online Seminar on Covid-19 Pandemic in Tourism by TUREB, 10/2020
Seminar on History of Chora Church (Kariye) and Restorations by Dr. Olcay Aydemir, 12/2019
Seminar on General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), 11/2018
Seminar on Istanbul during Prehistoric Period by Prof. Dr. Mehmet Ozdogan, 12/2016
Seminar on Christian Churches Iconography in Anatolia and Istanbul by Dr. Arzu Toraman, 12/2016
Seminar on Culinary Tourism and History of Gastronomy by Mr. Vedat Basaran, 12/2016
Seminar on Cultural Tourism by Mr. Faruk Pekin, 11/2016
Seminar on Greek Orthodox Patriarchate and its History, 03/2016
Seminar on Wine and Olive Oil in the Roman Empire by Sommelier Mr. Murat Yanki, 02/2016
Seminar on Gobeklitepe by Dr. Sema Gokcan, 12/2015
Seminar on Hagia Sophia by Prof. Dr. Robert Nelson from Yale University, 03/2015
Professional seminars on Edirne Selimiye Mosque, Cappadocia rock churches frescoes, New Tour Guide's Law, 11/2012
Professional seminars on Gallipoli National Park, Roman period Architecture, Future of Turkish Tourism and Tour Guides, 11/2011
Professional seminar for VIP and State Protocol guiding, 02/2011
Professional seminars on Ottoman Medresses, Neolithic findings at Gobeklitepe, Turkish baths, 11/2010
Professional seminars on Cultural Richness, Istanbul 2010 Cultural Capitol, New Historic Findings at Marmaray, 11/2009
Seminar on Carbon Dating and Related Techniques, 03/2009
Professional seminar on Nature and Alternative Tourism, 01/2009
Professional seminars on Monuments of the War of Liberation, Housing and Settlements in Anatolia, Technics of Tourism Advertisement, 11/2008
Professional seminars on Mevlana, Gallipoli, Ahmet Hamdi Tanpinar, 11/2007
Professional seminars on Armenian Dispute, Suleyman the Magnificent, Ethics of Guiding, 11/2006
Professional seminars on Silk Road, Ottoman Cuisine, EU Tourism Politics, 11/2005
Professional seminars on Mythology, Calligraphy, Folklore, 11/2004
Outgoing Tour Guide seminar to Italy, 01/2004
Professional seminars, 11/2003
Professional seminars on Armenian Dispute, Interior Disorder, Terrorism, 12/2002
Advanced Emergency Intervention & First Aid course, 01/2002
Professional seminars on Silk Road, Flora & Fauna, Armenian Dispute, Crusaders, 2001
Ministry of Tourism Professional Tourist Guide course, 18th period (Izmir), Italian and English, 11/1990 03/1991
Ministry of Tourism (Ankara) Travel Agencies Information Clerk, Italian, average of 98/100, 1989
Dokuz Eylul University (Izmir) Computer, average of 96/100, 10/1988 05/1989
Dokuz Eylul University (Izmir) Accounting, average of 90/100, 1988
SPECIAL SKILLS:
Driving License, B-A2 class, 1986 (Altdorf-CH), with national (TR) & international (D) professional courses on motor biking in 2003-2004
Yacht Captain License (ADB), 1990 (Izmir-TR), with national (TR) and international (cross Atlantic) race experience between 1990-2015
International Yacht Training (IYT) Bareboat Skipper license, 2021 (Istanbul-TR)
Scuba Diving License, CMAS 1 star, 1999 (Fethiye-TR)
VHF Marine Radio / Short Range Radio License (KMT), 1994 (Izmir-TR)
Olive Oil tasting master certificate, 2021 (Akhisar-TR)
Hunting License (1989) and Trap Shooting License (1990)
Parachuting, C class, 1991 (Izmir-TR)
Several international shooting awards, 1993 (BE, GE, DK)
Several 10 km. Running awards, 1984-85-86 & 2021 (Istanbul-TR)
4 km. Swimming award, 1987 (Lugano-CH)
Tennis award, doubles, 1988 (Istanbul-TR)
Best Travel Website award, 2008 (Istanbul-TR)
25th year of guiding honor badge, 2016 (Istanbul-TR)
REFERENCES:
Will be furnished upon request.
Hope to see you soon in Istanbul.
