Princess International founder Sudi Özkan dies at 87

Sudi Özkan, the founder and chairman of Princess International Group and a longtime investor in St. Maarten, has died at age 87. His death was reported on Thursday 1 October.

Özkan's business interests included Princess Port de Plaisance Resort and Casino in Cole Bay. According to Princess International's corporate information, the group operates in 16 countries and has 16 hotels, 28 casinos, more than 100 companies, over 60 real-estate holdings and more than 15,000 employees.

Born in Adana, Turkey, in 1939, Özkan began in real estate and automobile trading before moving into construction and tourism. He opened his first casino in Istanbul in 1985 and was operating 19 gaming establishments in Turkey before casinos there closed in 1998.

Özkan was associated with the development and operation of Princess Port de Plaisance. His businesses also supported the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, Childfest Foundation and Art Saves Lives Foundation.