Meet Our Team

Experienced professionals dedicated to creating unforgettable personalized travel experiences.

Koray Edemen | Keytours Vacations | Personalized Travel Experiences

KORAY EDEMEN

President & Founder

Koray Edemen, a native of Ankara, Turkey, is a seasoned travel industry expert and the founder of Keytours Vacations. He began his career as a travel director and licensed guide in Istanbul and Cappadocia while earning a B.S. in Mathematics and Computer Science. At 22, he launched his first company, catering to American military personnel and diplomats in Turkey. In 1993, he co-founded Keytours Vacations in the U.S., which quickly became a leading tour operator for Europe and the Mediterranean.

Over the past 26 years, Edemen has diversified his investments across transportation, hotel management, and online travel ventures. Known for his hands-on leadership, he played a key role in his company’s software development, even writing the initial code himself. Today, Edemen is a major shareholder in six travel companies and a recognized industry speaker.

Jane Martin
Jane Martin

Director of Sales

Jane has spent nearly 30 years in luxury travel, with a wide range of experience in aviation, cruise, land and event management. Her travels for both business and pleasure have taken her to nearly every country in the world, but there is always something else new to see. She is excited to bring her industry knowledge and experience to Keytours Vacations.

703-302-1245

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Gregory Abbott (1)
Gregory Abbott

Business Development Manager

Greg has spent his career in the Travel and Tourism Industry with a specialty in cruising. Beginning by working onboard cruise ships in the Purser's Department, he later moved to shoreside sales. He enjoys establishing relationships and building partnerships with travel professionals, expanding from Southern California to several states and now the entire western region. He is always happy to assist our travel agent partners with marketing plan ideas to increase your revenue goals. Passionate about the travel industry, Greg is well-traveled to many parts of the world and always happy to chat about why Key Tours should be your "One Stop Shop" for booking your clients.

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Osman Akpinar
Osman Akpinar

Operations Manager

With over 20 years of experience in the travel industry, Osman has worked across various segments, including travel agencies, tour operators, hotels, and restaurants. He has a diverse market background, having served travelers from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Africa, and Canada, and for the past six years, he has specialized in assisting American travelers with personalized itineraries to Europe, Africa, South America, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. Osman initially handled administrative and product-related duties, which enriched his destination expertise.

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Kevin Duden-1
Kevin Duden

Product Development Europe & Customer Service Manager

Kevin's passion for travel has guided him through an extensive career in the industry, spanning over two decades and encompassing visits to more than 45 countries. His journey commenced as a Tour Director, guiding groups of travelers on adventures across the globe. Progressing in his career, he assumed pivotal sales leadership positions at American Express Travel and subsequently at Abercrombie & Kent, where he led the Europe Team. Among Kevin's most treasured travel memories are his explorations across Europe, an unforgettable train journey through Russia, and immersive experiences discovering the diverse wonders of Australia and New Zealand.

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Meet our team
Kristina Karm-Edemen

Quality Assurance & Product Manager (Africa & Asia)

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Martin Thompsen-2
Martin Thompsen

Groups Sales & Operations Manager

With more than 25 years of experience in the Luxury sector of the travel industry at Classic Vacations - from frontline Res Agent, to Marketing, then Product Development, and finally in multiple Leadership roles, Martin's experience allows him to apply his expertise to ensure Keytours travelers' vacations are perfect & will provide memories for a lifetime. With his experience in leading Operations for high-volume teams, Martin can help refine & improve all aspects of the Groups booking & support processes. Martin has been fortunate to travel to many amazing places across the globe for work and fun - and his most memorable travel experiences include staying at an A-list celebrity's private villa in Turks & Caicos, enjoying 5-star resorts in the Maldives, and a week-long private catamaran cruise in BVI.

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Duygu Kalelioglu 2
Duygu Kalelioglu

Digital Marketing Manager

With over 18 years of expertise in digital marketing, Duygu is a driving force behind Keytours Vacations' brand growth and online presence. Having led successful campaigns for globally renowned brands, she is an expert in crafting impactful digital strategies that boost brand awareness and customer engagement. Duygu’s vast experience spans social media marketing, Google and Meta ads, email marketing, CRM, and loyalty programs, as well as software integration, ERP databases, and e-commerce platforms. A passionate traveler with a deep love, Duygu combines her marketing acumen and global insights to deliver personalized travel experiences that inspire.

Vicki Sachs (2)
Vicki Sachs

Personalized Luxury Travel Consultant

Vicki started her travel career at Delta airlines, where she was in reservations, sales, and at the city ticket offices for 17 years. In 2006, she was lucky enough to find her second significant travel career with Keytours Vacations.

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Esin Soydemir
Esin Soydemir

Personalized Luxury Travel Consultant

Esin has been in the travel business since 1999. She has worked with various travel companies and started her travel career with Key Tours in 2008. Esin loves helping her customers create their ideal vacations!

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Tuba Karatari-1
Tuba Karatari

 Individual Travel Expert

Tuba has over 15 years of experience in the travel industry, a passion for travel, and a commitment to customer satisfaction. Tuba lived in London for 13 years, during which time she achieved her Master's Degree in International Business and traveled Europe and Asia extensively. Tuba guarantees that you will experience not just a holiday, but the journey of your life.

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Andreas Larentzakis
Andreas Larentzakis

Senior Travel Consultant

Andreas, joined the company in 2002 and has served various management positions at Keytours Vacations. He has a bachelor degree in business administration and has travelled extensively throughout the world researching destinations and establishing relationships with local travel suppliers. He is currently based in Greece working as a destination specialist.

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Brooke Henthorn (1)
Brooke Henthorn

Personalized Travel Consultant

Brooke studied International Relations at West Virginia University. While in college, she interned as a tour guide in Barcelona for 4 months. After falling in love with Spain, she relocated to Madrid after graduation. From there, Brooke has traveled throughout Europe, the United States, and the Caribbean. Brooke thoroughly enjoys discovering new cultures, considers herself a foodie, and loves assisting her clients plan their vacations.

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Thomas Mathis
Thomas Mathis

Personalized Travel Consultant

With nearly 25 years of experience in the travel industry, Thomas Mathis is a travel consultant who began his career with Kuoni Travel in Zurich. Originally from Switzerland, Thomas has traveled to over 60 countries, sharing his extensive knowledge to help clients create unforgettable, personalized vacations. His expertise spans a wide range of destinations, from Europe to Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Fluent in English, French, Spanish, and German, Thomas is passionate about turning travel dreams into reality.

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Zsofia Laczko
Zsofia Laczko

Personalized Travel Consultant

Zsofia is a travel professional with over 13 years of experience and an advanced degree in tourism management. She has worked as a leading tour operator, gaining valuable insights from operations and sales teams. Originally from Hungary, she has lived on two continents and traveled to more, which has deepened her appreciation for diverse cultures and perspectives.

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Sasha Balabanoff
Sasha Balabanoff

Travel Consultant

Sasha has been in the travel industry for over 20 years, designing travel packages for the top travel agents as well as traveling to amazing destinations such as Italy, Mexico, Costa Rica, Columbia, Carribean, Tahiti to name a few. Her biggest passion is learning about new cultures and meeting people from different backgrounds. Traveling allows her to do both! Helping advisers create memorable trips and experiences for their clients motivates her to do this work every day.

Melek Kocaslan Horton melek@keytours.com-1
Melek Kocaslan Horton

Customized Groups Travel Consultant

With a remarkable 18 years of experience in the travel industry, Melek, originally from Turkey, has made Mississippi her home for the past two years. Armed with a degree in Tourism and Hotel Management, she embarked on a career that led her through various roles in travel agencies. Her extensive professional journey has taken her across the globe for both business and pleasure, fostering an unwavering passion for travel. Beyond her expertise lies a deep-seated love for her work, fueled by the connections she forms with people—a testament to her genuine dedication to the industry and her innate joy in exploring the world.

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Meet Our Team
Liena Ramli

Customized Groups Travel Consultant

Liena joins Keytours Vacations with over 10 years of experience in the travel industry, with background in Tourism Management studies. She is originally from Singapore and has lived in Turkey, Germany and Japan. She has traveled to over 120 countries and counting.

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Gul Okur
Gul Okur

Groups Operations Coordinator

Gul has over 13 years of experience helping customers meet their travel needs. She started her travel career at Quintessentially. She worked as congress project manager for International Medical companies and 8 years at Costa Cruises as an operations and sales manager. She has strong problem-solving skills that allow her to deal with even the most stressful situations. Travelling is her passion.

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Idil Pollard
IDIL POLLARD

Sales Coordinator

With over six years of experience in the hotel industry, including her previous role at Swissotel, Idil Pollard brings a wealth of expertise in sales and customer service to her position as Sales Coordinator at Keytours Vacations. Her passion for travel and commitment to personalized service allow her to expertly assist clients in crafting their dream getaways, ensuring every detail is tailored to their needs. Idil’s extensive background and dedication to delivering exceptional experiences make her an invaluable asset to our team.

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Selma Gunel
Selma Gunel

Operations Coordinator

Selma has garnered approximately 15 years of experience within the tourism industry, notably with Celestyal Cruises. Her expertise is particularly focused on European countries, where she has amassed extensive knowledge during her tenure.

Hatice Temar
HATICE TEMAR

Fulfillment Supervisor

Studied tourism administration at Bogazici University in Istanbul, graduated with honor degree. Worked in 5* hotels (Swissotel, Radisson Blu, Kempinski) for 10 years, excelled in large scale groups, meetings and congress management. Proud to be a part of a team managing largest event of Cyprus. Loves travelling and learning languages, (german, spanish, arabic) already visited Germany, Israel, Kazakystan & Iraq. Lived in Turkey, Cyprus & Qatar.

Ece Akyaman
Ece Akyaman

Marketing Coordinator

With over 8 years of experience in social media, content creation, and client relations, Ece specializes in developing creative marketing strategies that drive engagement and growth. She has managed numerous campaigns and social media accounts across various industries, always with a focus on bringing brands closer to their audiences through meaningful storytelling. Ece has a deep passion for reading, writing, traveling, and thoughtful reflection, which she incorporates into her work to create unique and impactful solutions. At Keytours Vacations, she is excited to bring her expertise to enhance the company’s online presence and lead innovative marketing initiatives.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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