December 27, 2020 - Construction on the Westgate Group's Dalmatia Tower in Split, which will house the first Marriott Hotel in Croatia, should be complete by the end of 2021.

Slobodna Dalmacija writes that this year, in the list of the top 50 tallest buildings in Europe, Split's Dalmatia Tower is in 22nd place, standing tall at 135 meters, just two less than Romania's Sky Tower, which ranked higher.

The project, which created a new architectural value in Croatia and enriched Split's urban value, has reached its full height this year. Residents of nearby buildings and those who often drive on Domovinskog rata Street, during the first six months, followed the tireless work of crane operators on the country's highest construction crane and counted the number of floors from week to week until the final 27th floor was erected.

As is already known, Dalmatia Tower is part of the Westgate project consisting of two towers; the first, which has been the seat of the Management Board of Splitska banka since 2016, today OTP banka. Their offices are located on 12 floors while four underground floors are reserved for employee parking spaces. The modular approach to design has enabled users to adapt the office to their own needs and the criteria of a "green building," a pleasant and energy and cost-effective work environment.

Today, four years after the move to "Tower A," the conclusion is that the recognition of the 2017 project was justified when the first prize for the best high-rise business project in Europe arrived in Split - and it won among a few thousand applications from 115 countries.

On that occasion, architect Otto Barić considered it necessary to point out that the recognition itself does not refer exclusively to the architecture of one of the most challenging projects in his rich career but is also related to development skills.

Therefore, investors point out; there is no doubt that apart from the height of Dalmatia Tower, it will also impress with its contents and functionality, which is key to feeling comfortable in any space.

This will soon be confirmed by guests of the first Marriott hotel in Croatia because not only do the hotel rooms offer a fantastic view of Diocletian's city and the sea, but there is also a wellness area, indoor pool, restaurant with terrace, conference rooms and other facilities. 

Courtyard by Marriott - a brand of the world-renowned group Marriott International will be located on the upper floors, from 16 to 27, and with four-stars, will fit perfectly into the tourist offer of Split in the segment that the city lacks the most.

Just under a month ago, the prestigious British edition of The Times & The Sunday Times declared Croatia among the top three international destinations in the "Best Country award 2020" category, positioned just behind Italy and New Zealand. It's no surprise that the Brits value the diversity of natural beauty and a rich tourist offer the most.

Official Eurostat data on tourism trends for the past season confirmed Croatia's leading position in the Mediterranean, which confirms the stable position that Croatian tourism enjoys internationally and an additional encouragement for the Marriott Group's business in Split.

The hotel's location in a busy, dynamic part of the city, only fifteen minutes by foot to Diocletian's Palace and twenty minutes by car to Split airport, makes it an ideal choice for accommodation for business reasons or a relaxing holiday.

Modern but warm interior design will certainly be an additional lure, and as a "green building," there will be rational water consumption and reduced CO2 emissions, which makes living conditions in interiors more comfortable. With the international energy certificate LEED, all users are guaranteed a healthy and stimulating work environment and a pleasant, relaxing holiday, somewhere between the sea and the sky.

After Dalmatia Tower's exterior construction was completed and the glass facade was almost completely set, we have to wonder: "When will it be finished?".

"If everything goes according to plan, at the end of 2021," said the Westgate Group.

"Although the reinforced concrete construction of the tower is the most visible part of the work for the public, the most complex part of the project related to the installations and the interior is in front of us. Installation and construction-craft works are in progress, and the project is financed by the Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development," they added, and finally concluded:

"Unpredictable is the real name by which we can call 2020, which we are slowly leaving behind, so we are cautiously predicting what the next one might bring. However, as the works on Dalmatia Tower were not stopped during the lockdown but continued with respect to epidemiological measures, we believe that the remaining part of the work on the Split tower will go according to plan. That New Year's wish could come true for us!"

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January 10, 2020 - A number of new hotels will open in Croatia this year. A look at five unique luxury hotels that should open this spring or at the start of the tourist season. 

According to the eVisitor system, more than 1,170 hotels with about 172,000 beds are registered in Croatia.

Of the total accommodation capacity, which amounts to about one million beds, hotels account for only about 12 percent.

However, five hotels will improve that ratio somewhat. A look at the new luxury hotels opening in Croatia this year, courtesy of T.portal. 

Hotel Costabella, Rijeka

The five-star Costabella Hotel Complex is set to open this summer. It will have 280 rooms with a total of 560 beds, a large area for wellness, fitness and a private sandy beach.

All rooms and suites will have views of the Kvarner Bay. The resort will offer six restaurants, a beach bar, and a rooftop restaurant.

Costabella Simulation / Facebook

The investment is worth as much as 80 million euros. The investor is JTH Costabella. The resort will be part of the Hilton hotel chain.

Hotel Ambasador, Split

The new Ambassador Hotel is expected to have four-plus stars, with 101 rooms and suites, 240 restaurant seats, a spa, a gym, a nightclub and an underground garage with 59 spaces.

The Ambassador is seeing an investment by one of the world's most famous shoemakers, Klaus Alex Birkenstock, who announced that he was planning to build a new favorite tourist resort for tourists from the United Kingdom, Germany, Austria and France from the once dilapidated building on the Split waterfront.

Ambasador Simulation

Birkenstock has invested around 17 million euros in the new hotel.

Hotel Armerun, Šibenik

The Armerun Hotel will have 17 accommodation units, 14 of which are in the property itself, while three are in a separate property that can be rented as a villa. It will have two categorizations, one with four stars and as a heritage hotel.

Screenshot

On the ground floor of the hotel, there will be a restaurant for outside guests to enjoy.

The hotel is scheduled to open in the spring of 2020. The total value of the investment is around 2 million euros and the main investor is the company Stanovi Jadrana.

Amfora Resort, Split

The Hotel Amfora by Zvonko Kotarac, a businessman from Split, was supposed to open last year, but due to construction problems (and an invalid building permit), the opening has been delayed. 

Amfora Simulation

The total investment is over 26 million euros. The investor insisted that the hotel would have 207 rooms and suites, a 500-seat congress hall and 2000 square meters of wellness.

Courtyard by Marriott, Split

Courtyard by Marriott, the business brand of the renowned Marriott International Group, should also open this year. The hotel is located in the Dalmatia Tower, the tallest building in Croatia, standing 115 meters tall. 

Courtyard by Marriott will be located on the building’s top floors, from the 16th to 26th, allowing guests a spectacular view of the city, and because of the specific shape of the building, each of the 190 rooms and four suites will have sea views.

Westgate Group 

In addition to the conference facilities, the hotel will feature a wellness area, a gym, a restaurant and a bar.

To read more about travel in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

What's the latest with the second Westgate tower and home to the future Marriott hotel?

Franchise is supposed to be located in one of the West Gate towers