ZAGREB, 8 March 2021, 2021 - Liburnia Riviera Hotels (LRH) said last Friday that they were rapidly preparing for the start of the new season -- Opatija's Hotel Palace Bellevue opened on 5 March, and if the epidemiological situation permits nearly all LRH Group facilities should open in the first half of May at the latest.

The press release from LRH underscores that the hotel group has preserved business continuity and jobs and that it is entering this year with optimism, annonuncing new projects and investments, despite the uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

They said that they had managed last year to get the most out of the tourist season, generating 149,824 overnight stays in accommodation establishments in Opatija.

"In order to enable stability and quality of business in the upcoming tourist season, despite a marked drop in operating income last year, the LRH preserved all jobs with the same level of wages and nearly all other material rights of workers. The government's support to the tourist industry has greatly helped us to achieve this goal and the LRH Group is thankful for that," the press release said.

At the end of 2020 and at the beginning of 2021, the LRH hired new workers, an advertisement for additional jobs in hotels was posted in February, and in accordance with the plan to open facilities, it is planned to hire up to 500 new workers.

The LRH also said that it was preparing numerous projects and investment, such as the reconstruction of the Kvarner hotel which is already under way.

As Novac writes on the 28th of August, 2020, Liburnia Riviera Hotels are proud of their long tradition of providing superior services and an outstanding experience to all of its guests, as well as care for the safety of guests during the current coronavirus pandemic, while at the same time offering a pleasant and carefree stay in Kvarner.

In order to provide all residents and guests in the region with the most reliable and accurate testing for the disease caused by the COVID-19 virus currently available on the market, with their donation worth 1.3 million kuna, Liburnia Riviera Hotels enabled the purchase of RNA isolation devices and reagents to the Institute of Public Health of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County.

The results of this test are available within 24 hours of sampling, and in emergencies - within just five hours. Such a possibility of testing for COVID-19 in Croatia and the country's immediate region is extremely important because Kvarner and the Liburnia Riviera Hotels are traditionally the favourite destinations of tourists who tend to come from an environment of up to 600 kilometres away. These visitors are generally from Slovenia, Italy, Austria and Hungary - and the anti-epidemic measures taken in these countries have tightened. If necessary, Liburnia Riviera Hotels will provide its guests with PCR testing inside their facilities, and thus make the whole process even safer, faster and more comfortable for guests.

On the occasion of the recent presentation of the donation, Primorje-Gorski Kotar County Prefect Zlatko Komadina said that this is a commendable gesture and expressed his satisfaction that the leading hotel company in Opatija has received a new ownership structure now dominated by experienced hoteliers who show that they want to invest. He emphasised that Opatija has great prospects for investments not only in hotel facilities but also in infrastructure and along the coastline. He welcomed them and said that in all their plans and further investments they can count on the help and support of the County.

The director of NZZJZ PGZ, Vladimir Micovic, emphasised the importance of public health and thanked Liburnia Riviera Hotels on behalf of all employees of the Institute who continue to work diligently not only during the epidemic, but also for the preservation of the of health of the local population and of tourists.

"It is in our interest that testing for citizens and guests is prompt, done on time, with the best possible technology, and your donation will certainly help us in that. We'll procure an automatic nucleic acid isolation device to help us speed up the process, which also complements our infrastructure. We'll also procure a large amount of tests in the amount of 900 thousand kuna,'' Komadina stated.

During the current tourist season, which has been heavily influenced by the spread of the coronavirus, nine of the 23 accommodation units belonging to Liburnia Riviera Hotels were opened. Furthermore, a total of 582 employees are currently providing top quality services to all guests, while applying strict security measures in all open hotels, accommodation units and restaurants to best protect health and provide the necessary safety. In addition, this hotel group has increased the frequency of cleaning, especially in the case of frequently used areas. The prescribed hygienic means used meet European standards and don't endanger human health.

Given the current coronavirus pandemic, the cancellation policy has been adjusted and guests have been offered the greatest possible flexibility in changing the length of their stay during these demanding times, as well as a 30 percent discount on normal prices.

''The coronavirus pandemic is continuously changing the circumstances in which we live and affects all aspects of life, including the ways in which we do business and how we travel. We're grateful to all of our guests who are currently staying with us, and their safety, as well as the safety of our employees, is a priority. With this donation, Liburnia Riviera Hotels wants to ensure the safety of the City of Opatija and the region as a tourist destination, and to provide residents and guests with the most reliable and fastest way of testing currently available on the market. As a long-term investor in the region, we're committed to creating long-term socially responsible partnerships, such as the one we have with the Thalasso Therapy Opatija team led by prof.dr.sc. Viktor Persic. Like all of our socially responsible activities, this donation is an investment in a partnership with the local community that has lasted for decades,'' said Waldemar Hirn, CEO of the Liburnia Riviera Hotel Heimo.

In addition to this significant donation, Liburnia Riviera Hotels presented the naval rescue ship "Nis Randers" a little earlier on this year, which will be used in the area of ​​Opatija and Kvarner as a whole. "Nis Randers" will contribute to the diversity of the tourist offer in the region.

The boat is available for rent to all tourists who are interested in a unique sailing experience on a naval lifeboat. However, if necessary, the ship will also be made readily available to local emergency services, and will greatly help them reduce the consequences of danger on the high seas and thus improve safety in the entire Kvarner region.

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