Erkan Ruhan Güner, Entertainment Manager at XO Cape Arnna, shares the inspirations drawn from ancient culture and modern technologies, the secrets to unforgettable evening atmospheres, and how his team designs experiences that appeal to every age group. Here, we explore the creativity and passion behind the entertainment.
What are your sources of inspiration when creating the entertainment concept at XO Cape Arnna?
The foundation of our entertainment concept at XO Cape Arnna is rooted in the deep history of this region and the fascinating cultural heritage of the Luwians. We draw inspiration from the stories of the people who lived here thousands of years ago, as well as from the energy of the sun and nature. By blending Fethiye’s rich history with the dynamics of the modern world, we create a unique entertainment concept.
At the same time, we embrace an approach we call “old-school entertainment, new version”. We reinterpret the warmth and sentiment of traditional stage entertainment with digital visuals, interactive shows, advanced stage technologies, and experience-oriented content. We aim to offer our guests not just entertainment, but a journey through time from past to future.
How do you create a different atmosphere every evening?
At XO Cape Arnna, every evening we invite our guests into a completely different world. To achieve this, we analyse our guest portfolio thoroughly. Our hotel welcomes guests predominantly from Turkey, the UK, Germany, Russia, the Middle East and other parts of Europe. We also host a high number of children, so we prioritise a family-friendly approach when designing our programmes.
This diversity allows us to reflect different cultures and energies on stage. We reimagine each evening’s concept according to the demographics of our guests. For example, one evening we may present an international music extravaganza, while another night we raise the tempo with modern dance and DJ performances.
With our “old-school entertainment, new version” philosophy, we merge the warmth of traditional entertainment with new-generation stage technologies, digital visual effects, light shows and interactive experiences. In this way, we create unforgettable atmospheres full of surprises that align with guest expectations.
Which show or event has been the most memorable for you recently?
In truth, every evening is memorable for us. However, two moments stand out in particular: the first was the applause we received when announcing that Todes by Alla Duhova, a performance group especially significant to our Russian guests, would be performing at our resort. The second was during the finale of our Pasha show, when images of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk performing a waltz were projected onto the stage. Receiving a standing ovation in that moment was deeply moving. Additionally, organising the very first activities of our opening week with our first guests at the Goat Pub was an incredibly exciting experience.
Which daytime activity attracts the most interest?
Participation in all of our daytime activities is remarkably high. However, the trapeze activity has been exceptionally popular. In fact, it is offered only at our resort and one other in the Kemer region in Turkey. We host around 80–90 guests per day for this activity, which is an impressive number for a hotel programme. Pole dancing lessons, which are also unique to our resort, have likewise drawn significant interest.
What does it take to bring international performance groups into the hotel’s programme?
It is quite a challenging process. First, we identify groups that are compatible with our budget, aligned with our concept, and appealing to the wide cultural range of our guests. We then negotiate with the companies representing these groups within our budgetary framework. The most difficult part is scheduling them and fitting their performances seamlessly into our two-week programme. We also carefully review their shows in advance to ensure they are a good fit for our concept.
How do you keep your team’s creativity alive?
Working at XO Cape Arnna is already a major source of motivation for our team. To avoid falling into routine, we regularly add new elements to our weekly programmes that spark excitement. This keeps the energy vibrant. For example, the fashion show we organised along the King’s Road was not only highly motivating but also regarded as a near-professional event that received great appreciation from the team.
How do you balance activity variety for different age groups?
For children, we prepare weekly programmes tailored to ages 4–12 in Lumi’s World (kids club) and to ages 13–17 in the Teenage Lounge. For adults, our daytime sports activities are designed to appeal to all age groups. As for evenings, we maintain variety with live music nights and DJ performances in our two à la carte restaurants, themed shows every night at The Stage, and thematic parties at the Beach Bar. With around 400 children staying at the resort, most of our programmes are created with a family concept in mind. We design both daytime and evening activities that children can enjoy independently or together with their families, ensuring we reach every age group.
What exciting innovation are you planning for the upcoming season?
We are working on an entirely exclusive concept unique to XO Cape Arnna. We aim to create a tailor-made programme where most of the events are produced in-house, with only top-level, high-production shows brought in from outside.
How would you describe entertainment at XO Cape Arnna in a single sentence?
A captivating journey where emotions, rhythm, art and imagination come together to make every moment unforgettable.
