The long since neglected Dubrovnik riviera resort is set to finally get a make over of grand proportions.
Kupari is Dubrovnik's hotel graveyard. The unassuming little beach resort close to Dubrovnik barely attracts tourists in comparison to its neighbours and the beaches are usually populated by locals and some tourists from neighbouring Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Marked by formerly extravagant, now entirely ruined hotels, Kupari isn't exactly an attractive site when compared to the Pearl of the Adriatic and the rest of the stunning southern Dalmatian coastline. A prime location left to go to waste for a great many years as arguments over the delapidated old hotels went on and on, it seemed to many that Kupari's day would never come. It seems now that Dubrovnik's rather uncomfortable ''other face'' is about to get a much needed makeover.
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 7th of December, 2017, the resort will be managed by the ultra luxury brand of one of the world's best hotel operators. Who, you ask? That still hasn't been revealed.
In the new and probably final version of the Kupari project, agreed upon by the Avenue Group investor and the state, which grants the location of the former military resort as a long-standing concession, the complex will consist of hotels, aparthotels and a Grand Hotel building, conceived as the heart of the future high end resort. The investment is worth about one billion kuna.
As Poslovni learned, the number of accommodation units is more than halved compared to the earlier version that would have to work in conjunction with the Ritz Carlton brand, so the new Kupari resort will have fewer than 200 accommodation units, and the units will be more luxurious and significantly larger. The smallest accommodation unit in the hotel will boast 50 square meters, the largest, presidential suite will be almost 200 square meters, while the apartment units will be between 135 and 200 square meters respectively. As it is known, Ivan Paladin resigned from the helm of IGH to dedicate himself to the Kupari project, and Oliver Kumric is the new chairman of the Institute's administration.
''We deeply believe that Croatia, Dubrovnik and Kupari have the potential for ultra-luxury tourism and ultra-luxurious guests and that such offers are safe in Croatia. Kupari's location and potential offers great opportunities, and of course, we'd like to utilise them in the best possible way. In 2018, a lot of events will be taking place, with the confirmation of the final concept, aside from the selection of the main project manager, 3LHD started the process of contracting other associates for the design of the future resort,'' Ivan Paladin stated, before going on to explain how various surveys are set to be carried out to further develop the project.
The plan is to maximise the engagement of Croatian companies in the Kupari project, but for some parts of it, it will be necessary to engage world-renowned and well-known companies from outside. As for the interior and landscape project, they plan to hold an architectural bid in the first half of next year, to which some of the most renowned and famous will be invited. The plan is to engage several interior designers. Around 20 project designers and consultants across various sectors will be involved in the development of all the projects.
"At the beginning of 2019, we're going to finish all of the major projects and get construction permits to begin construction in the first half of 2019," stated Paladin.
"What I can say at this point is that the resort will be run by an ultra luxury brand from one of the best hotel operators on the world level. Selecting and negotiating in a hotel business has its own natural course and lasts for a while, so we're not in a position to communicate who the operator is right now,'' stated Paladin.
