Born in Istanbul, UmutÖzkanca was introduced to hospitality during his formative years, spending much of his time in his family-run restaurants. This influential stage of his life shaped Umut’s prospective passions and career path exponentially.
After graduating from Bentley College in Boston, Umut’s passion for the hospitality industry paved the way for his future success. It opened up opportunities to work with some of the most outstanding international chefs at the French Culinary Institute. Umut’s father, RasimÖzkanca, one of Turkey’s most renowned hospitality pioneers with more than 50 years of experience, has been a fundamental influence and guidance throughout his career. Together, they dreamed of elevating Turkish culinary art on par with French, Italian, and Japanese cuisine. This dream has been fulfilled with the popular contemporary Anatolian restaurant, Rüya. And the Kojaki project launched in November 2021 at Expo 2020 Dubai’s Opportunity District. The entrepreneur is also the Vice Chairman of Doğuş Hospitality & Retail Group, one of the major international players in the F&B sector.
