Dear Reader,
Welcome to the 2024 summer edition of The Collection – where we bring the finest offers of the region to the world, and the world to the region.
We are the only print and online magazine covering the entire region where we know the whole is so much greater than the sum of the parts.
There is an old Chinese saying that goes “may you live in interesting times”. Well, we certainly are blessed in that respect.
Although the region has much in common, the diversity of economies, cultures and approaches - always ensures there is never a shortage of interesting topics.
For instance, real estate in Croatia and Serbia is booming. Dubrovnik for example recorded price growth of over 20% in the last 18 months. The top of the market in Serbia seems not yet to be within reach. Expo 2027 will certainly put more wind beneath the wings of the market.
Albania is no longer the last secret. It is becoming the talk of the town. The number of branded mixed-use leaseback resorts coming to the market is breathtaking. Without a doubt, the standout leader in the field of gastronomy and all-around visitor offer and experience, is Slovenia.
Montenegro is struggling and juggling – namely development versus infrastructure and has a long way to go to find the right balance which is reflected in sales absorption rates this year. Yet, the previous years’ successes in attracting a solid base of top hotel brands continues to ‘hold the fort’ in terms of attracting high-end tourism. Porto Montenegro and Lustica Bay continue to be the main points of interest.
The entire region is plagued with labour shortage in the hospitality sector. Your chef, employed for a month, will receive a better offer from your neighbour and leave, and the cycle is endless. Oddly, each country is surprised every year at this time with the labour shortage crisis.
In this edition, we take you on a journey through our rich region’s offer. We visit the first 5-star hotel on Hvar – Palace Elizabeth, the timeless landmark of luxury and elegance. We present Belgrade’s Sava Centar, now fully refurbished and offering a tremendous array of cultural programs this year, to please all genres.
Warm congratulations from us to our partner hotel in Zagreb, Esplanade, which celebrates 100 years of operation – and just gets better every year. Considering tying the knot? We feature four expert wedding planning companies in the region to ensure your special day runs like clockwork. We also write about The Forza Group, a family’s success story in Montenegro who have delivered the most divine boutique hotels for A-list celebrities to enjoy.
It’s a funny old world. Elections abound, Germany was knocked out of the Euros, the sitcom playing out in the US and so much more. I guess we should find some consolation in the words of the wise Heraclitus from the 6th century BC, who stated that “the only constant in life is a change.” And so, we must embrace, adapt and move forward.