section_path: Background
section_name: Background
paragraph_text: Background
  
  The Grand Kartal Hotel was built in 1998 by Mazhar Murtezaoğlu, the founder of the Kartalkaya Ski Resort. Inspired by the ski resorts in Switzerland, Murtezaoğlu built two hotels in the region, the Kartal Hotel (built in 1978) and the Grand Kartal Hotel. After Murtezaoğlu's death in 2019, his son-in-law Halit Ergül took over the management of the Grand Kartal Hotel.
  
  The 12-story hotel had 161 rooms and 350 beds, and was last renovated in 2015. The fire took place during the winter school break, when Kartalkaya had an increased number of visitors, with 80–90% of the hotel occupied.