Island of Hvar

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Fodor's 100 Hotel Awards 2011: Hotel Adriana on Hvar, Croatia

Last week, Lonely Planet's Destination Number 5 for 2012. This week, Suncani Hvar's Hotel Adriana is in Fodor's Top 100. Interest in Hvar is increasing.

The was more good tourism news for the island of Hvar on November 10, 2011, with the announcement that the luxury Hotel Adriana in Hvar Town had been included in the prestigiousFodor's Top Hotel Awards for 2011.

Hotel Adriana's Seafront Location

"On the seafront, looking across the busy harbor toward the Old Town, the Adriana reopened in June 2007 after total renovation," states the Fodor review. "The rooms are decorated in minimalist style in subtle earthy shades with dark wooden floors, flat-screen TV, and bathrooms with glass partitions.

"There is a rooftop pool and sophisticated cocktail bar affording stunning views onto the sea and Old Town, and a chic ground-floor restaurant serving Mediterranean cuisine on the harbor front. The luxurious Sensori Spa offers seven types of massage, beauty treatments, yoga and Pilates."

Hotel Adriana: Casual Chic

Hotel Adriana was placed in the chic casual category, and tribute was paid to its prime seafront location, beautifully designed interior and luxury spa.

The Adriana is one of a number of hotels in the town belonging to Suncani Hvar (literally "Sunny Hvar), a company which was transformed by the investment of the ORCO group in 2005. Several hotels have been stylishly and expensively renovated, lifting the quality tourism offer of the island, which is known for its party atmosphere, pristine beaches, and endless sunshine.

Given its prime location at the heart of the town, the hotel is very popular and enjoys healthy occupancy during the season, but it also has several lesser-known offers during the quieter winter months, including a luxury spa New Year's package. The hotel also opens its facilities to local residents during the quiet months.

Hvar's Awards Show No Sign of Abating

The award is the latest piece of good news for Croatia's premier island, which has been in the headlines throughout the year, most notably due to Prince Harry's swimming pool antics at top nightclub Veneranda, and Beyonce's baby bump on display at the Hula Hula Beach Club.

Away from the celebrities, however, the island has been racking up the plaudits, including Lonely Planet's number five destination for 2012, the Conde Nast Readers Awards naming it the eighth best island in Europe, and national newspaper Vecernji List naming it the top destination in Croatia after an undercover survey of Croatia's tourism hotspots. In addition to this Hvar Town's mayor, Pjerino Bebic, was also recently nominated as the best mayor in Croatia at the Days of Croatian Tourism Awards.

Fodor's 100 Hotel Awards 2011: Hotel Adriana on Hvar, Croatia

Last week, Lonely Planet's Destination Number 5 for 2012. This week, Suncani Hvar's Hotel Adriana is in Fodor's Top 100. Interest in Hvar is increasing.

Hotel Adriana's Seafront Location

Hotel Adriana: Casual Chic

Hotel Adriana was placed in the chic casual category, and tribute was paid to its prime seafront location, beautifully designed interior and luxury spa.

Hvar's Awards Show No Sign of Abating

Wines in Croatia: Zlatan Otok from Hvar Top Producer at Sabatina

There was more recognition for the wines from Hvar at Sabatina 2011 in Zadar, as Zlatan Plenkovic's Zlatan Otok wines win top prize for both red and white.

Further recognition of the quality of the wines from the island of Hvar was provided at the 21st Sabatina international wine festival in Zadar on Saturday November 5, 2011, as the island's leading producer Zlatan Otok took first prize for both the red and white wine categories.

Zlatan Otok, First Winner of Best Wine for Both Red and White

The winery, owned by Zlatan Plenkovic and based on the southern side of Croatia's sunniest island in the picturesque village of Sveta Nedjelja, won best red wine with its 2008 Zlatan Plavac Grand Cru, while the winning white wine was the 2010 Zlatan Posip. It was the first time in Sabatina's 21-year history that both categories were won by the same producer.

During a small ceremony before the official awards, Plenkovic told reporters that he was particularly proud of the recognition for the white Posip, according to a report in Zadarski List. Its vineyards are located near Makarska and are only five years old, and he was pleased to be able to produce such an award-winning wine from a young vineyard without the use of artificial fertilisers.

Arrival of Croatian Wines on the International Scene

Croatian wines have been relatively unheard of on the international scene, but things are changing fast. The art of wine-growing on Hvar dates back to the arrival of the Ancient Greeks in modern-day Stari Grad, and the adjoining Stari Grad Plain - under UNESCO protection - is the largest cultivated field on the Adriatic, with wine and olive production continuing uninterrupted for 24 centuries.

After a devastating phylloxera attack in the first half of the 20th Century and a lack of infrastructure during the Communist era, Croatian wines are beginning to take the international wine world by storm, with some 65 Croatian wines winning awards at the 2011 Decanter Wine Awards, for example.

The Wine Producers of Hvar

Leading the way is Plenkovic himself, the only producer of a Grand Cru in Croatia. A cursory glance at the awards page on the Zlatan Otok website gives an indication of the international pedigree of the winery's wines. Not that Plenkovic is the only quality producer on Hvar; the wines of Andro Tomic in Jelsa, Vinarija Caric in Svirce, the Plancic winery in Vrbanj, and the mercurial reds of Ivo Dubokovic in Jelsa are all worth seeking out.

One of the best ways of doing this (and seeing the island at the same time) is by taking one of the excellent wine tours offered by local travel experts such as Secret Hvar or Hvar Adventure. Expect to hear a lot more about the wines from Croatia in general and Hvar in particular in the coming months.

Agro-Tourism in Croatia: Local Entrepreneur Workshop on Hvar

Hvar's celebrity attractions and stunning beaches are only part of the story. Lonely Planet's number 5 for 2012 has plenty to offer in agro-tourism.

Hvar's celebrity summer and recommendation by Lonely Planet as its top five destination for 2012 will have many tourists planning a trip to Croatia's premier island, but away from the bright lights, there is a growing movement to develop agro-tourism on the island, a fact endorsed by the announcement on the Stari Grad Tourist Board website of a free workshop on agro-tourism on November 5, 2011.

The workshop, organised by the local Faros College, is an attempt to engage interested parties in agro-tourism and local entrepreneurship, and is intended to take place on Hvar and the neighbouring islands of Brac, Korcula and Vis.

The main objective of the project is to empower the entrepreneurial sector and to promote employment on the islands in the sectors of tourism, hospitality and agricultural activities. The project is divided into four main sections:

Training for the Heads of Agro-Tourism Businesses

The training, verified by the Ministry of Education and Sports, covers the principles of tourism and marketing, fundamentals of the soil, principles of organic agriculture, the importance of herbs in tourism, viticulture, the basics of running a farm, development of indigenous souvenirs, and the characteristics of rural tourism on the Adriatic coast, in addition to more general training on computer basics and safety at work.

Project of "Croatian Island Production"

The concept of developing labelling of high quality island products was launched by the Ministry of Sea, Transport and Infrastructure in 2007, with the aim of promoting the island's original and quality products. The course will look at the research and development of such products, including innovations to determine a product's quality.

Local Business and Rural Tourism

This section of the training covers a range of practical areas, from tax, applying for and using local and government funds, and Pre-Accession issues. Legal, sanitary and veterinary regulations are explored in detail, as well as development individual strategies in line with the development plans of local and central government.

Energy Efficiency and Cooperative Production

The project offers a series of lectures on responsible and environmentally friendly energy management and resources, exploring the economic factors which can bring about sustainable development.

In addition, there will be help in preparing the advertising and presentation of products, protection of indigenous products, the role of tradition in making deals, and training on cooking and serving food and wine in the rural economy.

Although no date has been set for the course, it will be free and more information can be obtained by emailing uciliste.faros @ gmail.com

Revival of Inland Villages on Hvar

The proposed training is in line with several initiatives to expand agro-tourism on Hvar, and to revive older traditions. Some of the island's inland villages are undergoing something of a renaissance, and there are fascinating festivals to attend throughout the year, such as the annual Lavender Festival in Velo Grablje and the eclectic Dormouse Festival in Dol. Hvar also boasts the largest cultivated field in the Adriatic, the Stari Grad Plain, 80 hectares of agricultural tradition, preserved over 24 centuries from the time of the Ancient Greeks, and now open to be explored by guided tours from a new agency existing for that very purpose.

From partying with Prince Harry to learning the secrets of Dalmatia's olives, lavender and grapes, there is a very diverse tourism offer on Hvar.

Tourism in Croatia: Hvar Tourist Board Published Events for 2012

The island of Hvar, recently named in Lonely Planet's top five destinations for 2012, has published its preliminary event calendar for next year.

After another successful season filled with the celebrity antics of Prince Harry andBeyonce, and basking in its nomination as Lonely Planet's fifth top destination for 2012 and among Conde Nast's top ten islands in Europe, the Hvar Town Tourist Board published its preliminary list of events for the 2012 season on November 5, 2011.

The calendar of events reflects the diverse nature of the tourism offer on Croatia's premier island, whose long tradition of hospitality includes it offering the oldest organised tourism in Europe.

Island of Hvar Confirmed Events for 2012

February 26: Costume Ball

March 8: The Annual Carnival before Lent, as the island's various kindergartens dress up and perform on the island's squares.

April 1-8: Week of festivities over the Easter period, the most important of which is the 500 year-old UNESCO-protected Easter Procession, known as Za Krizem (Behind the Cross).

April 9: Hvar Match Race, one of several regattas which take place in the Adriatic every year.

April 16-18: Gariful Hvar Women's Tennis Open, an annual event sponsored by leading local restaurant, Gariful, which also happened to be Prince's Harry's gastronomic choice during his short stay.

May 2-6: The 39th "Days of Croatian Theatre."

May 6-11: "Prix Marulic", the 16th international festival of radio plays and radio drama.

May 10: Festival of St. Prosper, a gastronomic extravaganza.

June 1: The 51st Hvar Summer Festival, a collection of theatre an concerts throughout the summer.

June 29: The 4th Lavender Festival in Velo Grablje, once the centre of lavender production in Dalmatia, and a unique event, including delicious lavender ice cream.

July 2: Olive Oil Fair "Summer with Olive Oil", a presentation of all aspects of olive production, one of the staples of the local economy.

August: The 37th Faros Marathon in Stari Grad, a 16km swim in the Adriatic, regarded as one of the toughest swimming races in the world.

August: The Jelsa Wine Festival, which is one of the most eagerly-awaited nights in the summer programme in Hvar's third biggest town. It takes place on the last weekend in August.

September: The 2nd Hvar Half Marathon, a challenging run up the hill from Stari Grad to Hvar Town, and arguably the most scenic run in Europe.

September 16: Festival of St. Kuzme and St. Damian in Velo Grablje.

October 1: Hvar Town Wine Festival.

October 2: Festival of St. Stephen, Patron Saint of Hvar, Brac and Vis.

October 6: The 2nd Traditional Sailboat Festival, "Festa Forske Pulene."

October 7: The 7th Island Regatta, a race from Hvar to Komiza on Vis and back.

December 24: "Hvar Bakalar", a culinary festival with the traditional dried cod dish.

December 28-31: The 36th International New Year traditional sailing regatta "Europa Cup."

December 31: The 32nd Navigation Regatta, "In memory of Zdenko Roic."

The list of events will be added to, as more concerts are confirmed, and will include the usual cultural summer offerings from the towns of Jelsa, Stari Grad and Vrboska, as well various traditional celebrations in Hvar's villages, such as the eclectic Edible Dormouse Festival in Dol.

Flights to Croatia: More 2012 UK Flights to Dubrovnik Announced

Monarch Airlines announced a major Mediterranean expansion, with 14 new routes to Greece, Italy and Croatia, with Dubrovnik served by three new routes.

The growing interest in Croatia as a tourist destination for British tourists was boosted by the announcement by Monarch Airlines of three new routes to Dubrovnik in a press release on the airline's website on November 3, 2011.

Monarch Airlines Flights from Manchester, Birmingham and Gatwick to Dubrovnik

Announcing the flights - which will depart from Manchester, Birmingham and London Gatwick - Kevin George, Managing Director of Monarch Airlines, Kevin George said: “The strategy for Monarch Airlines is now firmly focused on its scheduled operations and we are delighted to be adding these new routes to our already extensive network of leisure destinations across Europe.

The announcement is good news for consumers, as British interest in Croatia's stunning coast in increasing, with Croatia featuring in the top ten most popular destinations for British holidaymakers, according to a report by top booking company, Skyscanner, earlier this year.

Once the second most popular destination after Spain, with 440,000 British tourists arriving annually to former Yugoslavia - the bulk of them on packages with Yugo Tours to the Croatian coast - the region's tourism industry was devastated by recent war and break-up of former Yugoslavia.

The Croatian Tourist Board has worked hard to promote the country's tourism effort under the highly effective slogan, The Mediterranean as it Once Was, and tourists are once more flocking to its coastal resorts.

Island of Hvar: Lonely Planet Top Destination Number 5

Dubrovnik remains the most popular destination, but many visitors choose to spend their holidays on some of the 1185 islands that are liberally scattered in the Adriatic's waters. One of the most interesting is Hvar, which was last week named as the fifth best destination to visit by influential tourism company, Lonely Planet.

Croatia's coastal airports of Dubrovnik, Split, Zadar, Pula and Rijeka have seen a large increase in budget airline and charter flights in recent years, with Dubrovnik in particular now connected to numerous international destinations.

Increased International Interest in Flights to Dubrovnik

National carriers have also started flying directly to the city, with Aeroflot commencing direct flights from Moscow, for example, while Finnair has announced a direct route from Helsinki in 2012, driven by strong interest from their passengers in Asia.

With the Croatian Tourism ministry's stated strategy of exploring eastern markets to attract more tourists - notably Japan and China - the current raft of announcements of new routes to the city known as the Pearl of the Adriatic shows no sign of abating.

Tickets for the Monarch routes to Dubrovnik went on sale this morning for flights up to October, 2012.

Lonely Planet Top Regions 2012: Hvar Island in Croatia Number 5

The increasing popularity of the island of Hvar is recognised by Lonely Planet, who name Croatia's premier island in their top 10 destinations for 2012.

Influential travel website Lonely Planet announced their top ten recommendations for tourist destinations on October 27, 2011, with the Croatian island of Hvar making the list at number five.

Hvar: Celebrity Attraction

It is the latest piece of positive publicity for the island, which has enjoyed a high profile season, with the celebrity antics of Prince Harry and Beyonce in particular. Footage of the British prince jumping fully-clothed into a swimming pool at top outdoor nightclub Veneranda was beamed around the globe, quickly followed by images of American popstar Beyonce revealed her baby bump at the Hula Hula Beach Club in Hvar Town.

"Come high summer, there’s no cooler place in Croatia to get your groove on than Hvar Town on its namesake island. Fabulous suntanned bodies flock to this drop-dead gorgeous spot for round-the-clock fun. Think après-beach parties as the sun dips below the Adriatic horizon, full-moon shindigs and designer cocktails sipped seaside to fresh DJ-spun tunes," wrote Lonely Planet contributor, Anja Mutic.

While Hvar's vibrant nightlife and expensive yachts draws most of the headlines, this only tells part of the story of Europe's sunniest island, which was also voted in the top ten islands in Europe at the Conde Nast Readers' Choice Awards earlier this month.

Hvar: Superb Climate and Aromatic Nature

The island is well-known for its excellent recuperative climate, and boasts the oldest organised tourism in Europe, with the founding of the Hvar Health Society in1868. Away from the main towns, which include Stari Grad - the oldest town in Croatia, founded in 384 BC by the Ancient Greeks - the fields of Hvar are an aromatic delight, with rosemary and lavender prevalent, the latter celebrated by the annual Lavender Festival in Velo Grablje.

"For island bliss unmarred by glitz and bling, get into your birthday suit on the Pakleni Islands just offshore and – bikinis back on – explore the island’s coastline and dreamy interior, with its endless fields of lavender, stretching sea vistas, towering peaks, scenic canyons and abandoned hamlets," continued Mutic.

Top of the Lonely Planet list was Coastal Wales, which may raise a few eyebrows, as did the top recommendation in 2011 - Albania. The Welsh Coast was followed by La Ruta Maya in Central America, Northern Kenya (whose popularity may have been affected by recent events) and Arunachal Pradesh in India, all above Hvar.

The list was completed by Sicily in sixth, the Maritime Provinces in Canada, Queenstown and the Southern Lakes in New Zealand, Borneo and Poitou-Charentes in France.