Caresse, Bodrum’s ‘maestro of mood’ goes the extra mile

A luxury Turkish hotel renowned for its attention to detail has employed an ‘ambience manager’ to make each stay a sensory delight.
Levent Severoz, age 42, oversees music, lighting, temperature and even aromas at Caresse Bodrum—a part of The Luxury Collection®, ‘setting the scene’ to elevate the guest experience.
“I dream up a scenario and decide what vibe a space should project,” he says.
“For instance, in the winter, I might make the lighting warmer in tone, or use a musky fragrance for a touch of romance.”
Severoz has an array of fragrances at his disposal, from stimulating citrus to fresh and floral notes.
“In the summer, I like to use hints of tangerine in the lobby as the fruit has a strong link with Bodrum. It has been grown in the region for generations and is even used in some of the hotel’s drinks and desserts, so it’s nice to have that continuity.”
Caresse, Bodrum is characterised by lighting in a warm, amber hue, which complements the property’s pared-down decor. Severoz knows just when to light a candle and when to dim the lights.
“Caresse, Bodrum is what’s known as a ‘smart’ building – I can control the lighting, climate, music and more using apps on just one computer,” he adds.
“This gives me an exceptional level of influence and a detailed picture of what’s happening and where, although I also stroll around the building to check everything is just right. If the flowers are wilting, I’ll be sure to notice and let our florist know.”
A former DJ who has worked in some of Turkey’s hottest nightspots, Severoz pays close attention to the playlist. His carefully crafted compilations can be heard throughout the property, with styles and genres varying from room to room and matched to the moods he aims to create. Even the spa has its own bespoke soundtrack, which is understated, calming and blissfully free of beauty lounge clichés – no wind chimes or whale noises there. Utilising the property’s state-of-the-art technology, Severoz can tweak the thermostat to his liking rather than rely on a timer.
“When guests arrive, I want them to feel comfortable right away, and I make a guess, based on their country of origin, about what might suit them best. For instance, travellers from the UK and Saudi Arabia have very different perceptions of temperature; Americans tend to crank the air-conditioning up in summertime and turn the heating high in winter; Europeans prefer more consistency.”
He adds: “There should never be more than 10°C difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures – not in Turkey, anyway. We don’t have the Gulf’s scorching summers!”