Croatia to Get Its First Diffused Hotel?

The project of a diffused hotel, which would gather service providers in tourism in the old town core, was presented today at an initial forum in the City Hall of the City of Šibenik.

It is based on the Italian model where 62 such hotels currently operate. The Ministry of Tourism recently adopted the Strategy for the Development of Croatian Tourism until 2020, which prioritizes diffused hotels in the development of private accommodation. By introducing this form of integration of accommodation and hospitality capacities, Šibenik would be the first city in Croatia to launch such an initiative. 

– We have realized projects such as Banj Beach that have yielded significant results for the development of tourism, and this has encouraged us to take a step forward. The greatest advantage of this model is that it allows for a hotel without new construction within the city core, but based on existing resources that are further valorized – emphasized the mayor of Šibenik, Dr. Ante Županović. 

The project is aligned with the Strategy for the Development of the City of Šibenik and the development of entrepreneurship in the old town core. It is also synergistic with current projects of the City of Šibenik such as Banj Beach, the summer stage at the fortress of St. Michael, and the Jewel and Intermodal projects for which the City of Šibenik has successfully applied for European funds and which directly relate to the old town core and tourism. 
Šibenik finished the last tourist season with an increase in overnight stays of as much as 28%, and it is undeniable that projects like Banj Beach contributed to this result. Organizing a diffused hotel will further contribute to increasing accommodation capacities and prolonging tourists’ stay in the city. 

This model is characteristic of historical cores. The basic idea is to put buildings within the core into function by giving them new value through tourist services and connecting the existing offer of private accommodation. The goal is to encourage the development of authentic services while preserving and popularizing traditional culture and generating income for the entire community.
Accommodation in such a hotel is organized in several different, mutually unconnected facilities. There is a central reception and a central restaurant, as well as a networked system of other services such as tourist guides, souvenir shops, parking, and so on.
Managing and organizing this type of hotel is possible through the association of owners of individual facilities who create a common management structure. The management structure can also be organized by the local government through a special organization that will gather owners of accommodation units as a diffused hotel. 

– I support the idea of networking, but the bearer of such a project must be the City of Šibenik, which will improve the conditions for renters in this way. This way we will compete more seriously in the market and solve problems such as parking or reception and create a perspective for the development of health, cultural, and sports tourism even in winter – emphasized Šibenik renter Anton Dobra.