June 16, 2019 - There are few more people in demand in the hotel industry than the head concierge. A snapshot of life through the eyes of Suncani Hvar Hotels concierge, Ana Stambuk. 

1. Being a concierge on Hvar must be a demanding job - tell us about a typical day?1. Being a concierge on Hvar must be a demanding job - tell us about a typical day?

It is a very demanding job and you are pretty much always on the move. When I arrive at Amfora, I am in constant communication with my guests. This doesn’t only mean communication at the concierge pult, but also through the phone, messages, e-mails. So very often I find myself scattered around, either in my office, pult, or on the move to other hotels where we have concierge services.

2. What are the most common requests you receive from guests?

Guests that arrive in Hvar often want to explore the entire island and further. This is when I recommend different tours to Paklinski islands, Blue Cave or suggest them to go and explore the other side of the island. Many of them like to go wine tasting, since the island is very well known for its different wine sorts. They like the entire experience – of going to the vineyards, and then tasting the wine that came from those fields.

3. There is lots to do on the island, and there are an increasing number of specialised tours. Give us a flavour of some of the lesser known things you recommend to guests?

Our favorite (and new) tour this summer is the Vis experience tour, which includes Blue Cave, Green Cave, Stiniva, Paklinski islands and Jeep safari on Vis. We also recommend the 6 top Beaches on Hvar, which is starting to become a very popular choice for our guests. Moreover, we have a new boat available for daily rent, Pershing 46, a 14.72 m yacht with 3 cabins and suitable for 6 people, a very popular choice for day cruising.
 
 
4. Hvar attracts some very famous and wealthy visitors, and I assume there have been some rather unusual requests over the years. Any funny ones you would like to share?

There are really no unusual requests. But what I can say is that each guest requires a personalized treatment. In this business it is very important to be a good listener and have a lot of compassion towards each guest.
 
 
5. Palace Elisabeth will open its doors this summer, the first 5-star hotel on the island. How important is this for the island's tourism in your opinion?

We are so excited for the opening of Palace Elisabeth! I believe it is a very important project for Sunčani Hvar, but also for Hvar island as well. After all this will be the first 5-star hotel on the island which will definitely attract high end clientele who are eager to discover tailor-made programs and enjoy individualized experiences.
 
 
6. And finally, where does the Sunčani Hvar concierge go to relax? Where is your favourite place on the island, and why?

I love to go to Paklinski islands and Vis and experience the nature there. However, my favorite place on Hvar is my home town Vrboska where I go to relax with family and friends. There are also many nice places to swim and taste wine.

Learn more about what is on offer at Suncani Hvar Hotels.

To learn more about the island, visit the Total Croatia Hvar in a Page. 

June 1, 2019 - The eagerly-awaited opening of Palace Elisabeth, Hvar's first 5-star hotel, is getting closer, with the external renderings now complete. 

Some nice things are happening on the island of Hvar. 

The island with the most sun in Europe and the most UNESCO heritage of any island in the world, is focusing more attention on its rich cultural heritage, and 2019 has already seen some significant milestones.

Having celebrated 150 years of the oldest organised tourism in Europe last year (after the founding of the Hvar Health Society in 1868), last month saw another significant event - the reopening of the oldest public theatre in Europe. Built in 1612, the Hvar Public Theatre had remained closed for almost 20 years for renovation. Since its reopening, the theatre has already hosted a range of cultural and fashion events, as TCN reported recently. 

Looking to put the location of the theatre in context? Check out this excellent drone footage by Jaksa Kuzmicic, which starts overlooking the main square of Hvar Town, below.  

But while much of the attention so far this year has been focused on the theatre and the imposing Arsenal building where it is housed, there is another fantastic heritage story unfolding just across the square. 

The former 2-storey Hotel Palace is undergoing a total transformation and will reopen later this summer as the luxury 5-star Palace Elisabeth, hvar heritage hotel, the first five-star hotel on this elite island. 

Palace Elisabeth takes its name from Empress Elisabeth 'Sisi', a benefactor of the original hotel which is located on the spot were organised tourism in Europe began way back in 1868. And there are not many places in the world (actually only Hvar!) where you will be able to enjoy a pre-theatre cocktail on the terrace where organised tourism began in Europe, before strolling across Dalmatia's largest square for a performance at the oldest public theatre in Europe. 

As you can see from the lead photo, the exterior facade has now been completed. Work is ongoing inside (the above pictures are renderings of how the hotel will look), and things are on schedule for an August opening. 

You can learn more about this luxury addition to Hvar tourism on the Suncani Hvar website. 

To learn more about Hvar, check out the Total Croatia Hvar in a Page guide. 

Palace Elisabeth is not the only luxury upgrade Hvar's hotels have seen in recent times. For arguably the best views of all, the three penthouse suites of Hotel Adriana, above, take some beating. 

More recognition for Suncani Hvar Hotels at Days of Tourism 2018, as Hotel Adriana wins the Best Wellness Hotel in Croatia award on October 25, 2018. 

It has been quite a year for the island of Hvar. Just six years after celebrating the 400th anniversary of the oldest public theatre in Europe, built way back in 1612, Hvar is this year celebrating another European first in 2018 - 150 years of organised tourism in Europe, following the founding of the Hvar Health Society, on May 15, 1868. 

So it was somewhat fitting that Hotel Adriana, just a few metres down the road from the original accommodation for Europe's first organised health tourism, was the 2018 winner of the category of Best Wellness Hotel in Croatia at last week's Days of Croatian Tourism awards. Hvar has so much to offer with its tourism - beaches, nightlife, culture, heritage, food and wine - but last week Hvar tourism turned full circle after 150 years with its focus on health tourism. 

“We are honored to receive 1st prize for the best wellness hotel in this particular category. This award additionally confirms our continuous efforts to conform to world trends in the spa industry”, emphasized Dubravka Novak, general manager of Adriana, hvar spa hotel. “We are honored to receive 1st prize for the best wellness hotel in this particular category. This award additionally confirms our continuous efforts to conform to world trends in the spa industry”, emphasized Dubravka Novak, general manager of Adriana, hvar spa hotel. 

After undergoing complete refurbishment of all public spaces in the previous year, Suncani Hvar Sensori Spa now has 8 luxurious treatment rooms, VIP couple’s room with private Finnish or infrared sauna, 4 types of saunas (two Finnish saunas, one of which is with a panoramic view of the city, steam, salt sauna, infra-red), Relax room, Spa lounge, Vitality bar, a brand new fitness studio with possibility of private lessons from experienced instructors, weight training and yoga classes. Moreover, it received a new indoor pool with possibility of aerobic classes.

And while Adriana has been winning numerous national and international wellness awards in recent years, it is not the only wellness option in the Suncani Hvar offer.

Bonj les Bains, the 1930's colonnade in front of another Suncani Hvar hotel, Amfora, is another historic setting in this town which oozes heritage at every turn. And what a setting! The Suncani Hvar wellness experience at Bons les Bains comes with an unbeatable waterfront view, complete with private cabins and massage services. Relaxation with a view!

The wellness facilities on offer at Suncani Hvar are part of an increasingly enticing selection of facilities and activities on Croatia's premier island, which are helping Hvar position itself as a more diverse destination than the stereotype of summer sun and beaches. Hvar's Mediterranean diet was inscribed as UNESCO intangible heritage back in 2013, the fifth UNESCO attraction on Hvar, making Hvar the island with the most UNESCO heritage in the world. Hvar's wines are now exported all over the world, and a series of new adrenaline and sporting events is positioning Hvar as an increasingly important adventure tourism destination.  

And when you have the best wellness hotel in Croatia, you know where to come to relax! 

For more information about Hotel Adriana and its wellness offer, click here. 

For the latest news from Suncani Hvar, check the dedicated TCN section.

October 25, 2018 - The movers and shakers (and one fat foreign blogger) from the Croatian tourism industry descended on the island of Hvar for this year's Days of Croatian Tourism gathering. Some thoughts on visiting the sunshine island in late October with up to 2,000 other delegates. 

Hvar in the shoulder months of the tourist season has always been one of the jewels of tourism in Croatia. Come in peak season, and one may found the crowds and heat a little oppressive. Come in winter and there is little open as the locals take a well-earned rest. But from Easter to June, September to October, this most picturesque of destinations - a destination which truly has it all - shines, aided a little by that endless sunshine. October is such a good month to visit - there are a number of key events in the tourism calendar, as Hvar Town has worked to extend the season, and with much less tourists around and locals able to breathe after the stress of peak season, the town has a relaxed calm and can be explored at leisure.  

But how would Hvar cope with the influx of up to 2,000 visitors for the 2018 Days of Croatian Tourism, the most important tourism industry gathering in the country, and one which this year was hosted by Hvar Town, which was celebrating 150 years of organised tourism in Europe?

I had never been to Days of Croatian Tourism before, and I have always been curious about the event. I had assumed it was mostly about self-congratulatory back-slapping, which is why I avoided it. But I was curious to see how Hvar would showcase itself, and so I applied for my press accreditation. And while the element of self-congratulation was strong, it was outweighed by the networking opportunities and insights into the Croatian tourism industry. TCN will be taking an in-depth look at Days of Croatian Tourism issues beyond the bright lights and awards in the coming days. 

"But Hvar really is beautiful," remarked my Croatian colleague as he settled into his first coffer of the day at Hotel Adriana's newly revamped ground floor bar. 

I like visiting Hvar with Croatians from the mainland. While I have my perspective as a foreigner who lived there for 13 years, 

I love the ground floor of Hotel Adriana. While most people rave about the views fromTop Bar (which ARE fantastic), the ground floor is the best living room in the town, superb for people watching and total chilling. I once stayed at the hotel, and the buffet breakfast experience remains one of my favourite things to do in the town. Open from 07:00 to 11:00, the outdoor terrace is so close to the water that you can hear the waves lapping against the harbour wall. It is a superb place to unobtrusively observe the relaxed pace of life, and to watch the town waking up - the fishing boats, the early catamarans, the kayakers, the speedboat transfers and the super yachts. Each has its own pace and agenda. Different world existing in perfect fjaka harmony.  

Hvar has a wealth of historic buildings, which have sadly not been put to the best use in recent years. The Austrian entrepreneur who created Hula Hula and took it to the top 50 beach bars in the world (in the days when Hula Hula was truly amazing) tried to get the local authorities to give him a concession to take the Arsenal, Veneranda and the Spanish Fortress under concession to build up Hvar as a premier European destination of culture, with high end events. HIs vision didn't get very far, but it good to see some of these venues are being used more creatively these days. And what fantastic locations they are. The first discussion panels took place in the Arsenal, on the corner of the main square. Above, the oldest public theatre in Europe, dating back to 1612, below, Roman ruins excavated a year ago. And the  Arsenal itself - a magnificent welcome to Hvar. 

Outside for a glimpse of those divine Hvar sunsets.  

And then up to Veneranda for the awards ceremony. Seven years ago, Veneranda was the thumping nightclub where a certain young British prince fell into the nightclub swimming pool. The nightclub is no more, and these days Veneranda hosts a range of cultural events - a welcome upgrade in quality.  

We will be covering the awards in a separate article, but the event is being followed today by the Croatian Government holding a special session, with a focus on development of the islands. Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic was at last night's awards, and was on hand to present the award of best destination to Zagreb to Mayor Milan Bandic (captions for the above photo, courtesy of Hvar Tourist Board, more than welcome). 

The conference over, the Arsenal was reorganised to host dinner, with food prepared by Suncani Hvar Hotels.  

My favourite Nikola Tesla quote aside, there was plenty of interest in Hotel Amfora, which offers the premier conferencing facilities on Hvar. We will be looking at some of the content and lessons learned from some of the panels in subsequent articles.  

Among the most thought-provoking was a presentation from Joska Stella, Director of the Central Dalmatia Tourist Board, on a feasibility study on how to manage the surge in tourism numbers. The conclusions and findings were fascinating. More soon.  

Hvar continued to shine, and the final evening highlight after dinner was a spellbinding concert by Klapa Intrade from Zadar on the main square. Although I quite like klapa on occasion, I had never heard anything like these guys - they were sensational. I felt a little self-conscious taking my beer onto the main square, having written extensively about the fines promised by Hvar Mayor Riki Novak for drinking in the street, but I was in good company. It was a truly fine evening with plenty of crowd engagement. 

48 hours in Hvar Town in October, and I had fallen in love with it. Again. Visit Hvar in October - it is a truly delightful experience. 

Special mention to Suncani Hvar Hotels for the conferencing and catering facilities, as well the accommodation for many of the delegates, of course. A strong hotel chain working in tandem with the tourism authorities is a powerful combination, and the future of shoulder season Hvar looks very bright indeed. To learn more about Suncani, click here. 

Follow all the news about Days of Croatian Tourism on the dedicated TCN page.

The hotel will have 5 stars and will be the first heritage hotel on Hvar.

Who's ready for squid?

While traveling the island of Hvar, there are already so many things to make you feel luxurious, comfortable, and high class. Whether it be the lavender swiftly blowing in the wind or the olive oils in their purest forms, the island somehow emulates a spa paradise. Fortunately visitors to the island can enhance their island oasis even further; therein lies Sunčani Hvar Hotels.