In the first half of May, the Heritage&Resort hotel Monumenti in Pula will commence operations and welcome its first guests, making it one of the most anticipated five-star hotels in Croatia, with a total value of 85 million euros.
According to the announcement, this investment is backed by Kermas Istra, which several years ago obtained a 50-year concession for the construction of a marina with 450 berths and a hotel on the islet of St. Catherine in Pula. The newly built tourist complex is located on the site of a former Austro-Hungarian barracks and protected cultural monuments that have been renovated in accordance with conservation guidelines.
The uniqueness of the new resort lies in the fact that all rooms have a sea view. On one side, the view stretches to the center of Pula and nearby beaches, while on the other, it overlooks the Brijuni National Park. Additionally, the property consists of two renovated buildings that will be designated as “heritage” and a completely new “deluxe” building.
The hotel’s interior design evokes the cultural heritage and military and aviation history of Pula. For instance, the former Austrian officers’ garden has been transformed into a green oasis with flowers, gazebos, and fountains, serving as a future venue for cocktail gatherings or business events.
In one part of the renovated barracks, there are 58 rooms measuring 33 square meters. In another renovated building, there will be a conference hall with its own bar and meeting spaces, accommodating up to 400 guests.
On the other hand, there is also a modern, newly built, and glass-enclosed part of the building that will feature 40 rooms measuring 40 square meters and an additional eight apartments ranging from 70 to 120 square meters. The hallways and all rooms will be tastefully, pastel, and soothingly decorated, radiating the vibrancy of bygone eras through photographs, antiques, and other symbolism.
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The hotel also has a special wing on two floors with an indoor heated pool, spa center, wellness area, saunas, jacuzzi, and fitness center, while the central restaurant will feature one of the most modern kitchens, offering a menu in line with the traditions and ingredients of Istrian gastronomy. It is also worth noting that the complex includes a beach with top-notch amenities and a sunbathing area of about 1500 square meters, they announced.
The project initiator, Danko Končar, is pleased that a team of around seventy employees has been nearly fully assembled, with a large majority being local workforce from Istria.
– We are thrilled that in times of a shortage of quality labor in tourism, we have managed to attract local workers. This was one of our main missions. Generally, our plan is to have the hotel open in a month so that we can enter the season prepared. Currently, fine work is being done in the hotel, and the interior is nearing completion, which will soon shine in its full potential. Our comparative advantage is that we offer guests a unified customer experience. Everything is in one place. So, we are not just a hotel. We are also a marina, a gastronomic center, a conference center, and a luxury destination located by the sea, which at this moment offers the highest per capita space per tourist in Croatia. It is precisely in that comfort and the amount of premium content that I see what domestic tourism has desperately lacked, which is investment in high-quality tourism and attracting guests with higher purchasing power, ” emphasized Končar, adding that the grand opening of the hotel with a reception and ceremonial protocol will take place in the fall.
The hotel’s general manager, Tomislav Korošec, revealed that operations in the cold start phase have already begun, along with many inquiries for reservations.
– We are ready in all aspects, and we wish to start operations as soon as possible. We have participated in a number of international tourism fairs and received the best possible reviews from agencies and tourism professionals. Our booking will open soon, but since it is already April, it is worth emphasizing that we will place additional focus on promoting the off-season as an important aspect of Istrian and Croatian tourism, ” says Korošec, concluding that the target emitting markets at this moment are Austria, Germany, Slovenia, Italy, France, and the USA.
