Investors Sought for Hotel Near Zagreb Airport

Zagreb Airport has issued an international public call for investors interested in constructing a new hotel and commercial-business center in close proximity to Franjo Tuđman Airport. The project envisions the construction of a hotel of at least midscale international category or higher, along with additional facilities such as restaurants, conference rooms, clinics, and other commercial spaces intended for airport users.

The investment is estimated at 40 million euros. As previously emphasized by the director of ZLZ Ranko Ilić, the project fits into the concept of an “airport city,” where airports are developed into broader business and tourist centers, rather than just transportation terminals.

For the realization of the project, the selected investor will receive a construction right for 50 years, with the possibility of extension for an additional 49 years. The site covers an area of approximately 18,000 square meters, located next to the buildings of the old Zagreb airport. According to spatial planning documentation, the location allows for the construction of a hotel with up to 500 beds, with a maximum of six above-ground floors, while at least ten percent of the area must be arranged as public park space.

Zagreb Airport has already prepared a conceptual design in two variants, and for one, a location permit has been obtained. The investor will be able to adjust the project with the consent of the landowner. The selected partner is expected to commence work no later than one year after the issuance of the building permit and to complete it within three years. The fee for the construction right is planned to be in a fixed and variable part, with the variable depending on the revenues of the project itself.

The competition will be conducted in two phases – first, an expression of interest, and then the submission of bids by selected investors. The participation fee is five thousand euros, while in the second phase, bidders will need to pay a deposit of one hundred thousand euros or provide an appropriate bank guarantee.

In the investor selection process, the financial criterion will carry the most weight, accounting for 70 percent of the points, while the remaining 30 percent will relate to non-financial aspects – the quality of the hotel brand, the presence of the chain in the international market and at European airports, and the proposed additional facilities alongside the hotel.