March the 11th, 2024 – The huge Croatian hotel company Valamar is constructing a new facility on Rab island, with 54 million euros being poured in in the first phase alone.
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, a new contract was recently signed between Imperial Riviera and the construction company Radnik d.d. which will be in charge of the construction of the new Valamar Collection resort in Suha Punta on Rab island.
The first phase of the investment worth 54 million euros includes the renovation and repositioning of 190 accommodation units of the former Eva Hotel and the Suha Punta tourist resort, 24 new family rooms and investments in beaches and numerous amenities. The opening of the new summer resort under the premium Valamar Collection brand is planned for the summer of 2025, it will employ 235 employees and will provide Rab island’s residents with the opportunity for career development with a leading employer in tourism.
This year’s investments otherwise amount to more than 38 million euros
“This summer resort will firmly position Rab island among the best destinations for family holidays on the Adriatic. It will also provide rich publicly accessible facilities to Rab’s locals, given that we want to contribute to the quality of life in the local community here. This year, Imperial’s investments amount to more than 38 million euros and include the construction of a new Bike Centre in Poreč, further investments in the Lacroma hotels down in Dubrovnik, Imperial and Padova, and the Padova camp site on Rab. On top of all that, we’re going to be working more on digitisation and the reconstruction of the sanitary facilities in our San Marino camping site, as well as the arrangement of a new zone for the accommodation of our employees in Dubrovnik”, said Alen Benković, President of the Management Board of Imperial Riviera.
The Valamar Collection 4/5* resort in Suha Punta will offer an all-inclusive service for families, with plenty of facilities for children of all ages on an area spanning 1,000 m2. This includes Maro Smart Play, Maro Club for children from 3 to 12 years old, a multimedia area, playrooms and a children’s playground, as well as indoor and outdoor pools.
Sustainable tourism and renewable sources
The resort will use electricity from renewable sources, offer food and drink of local origin, and take care of the natural environment. Special attention will also be paid to improving the overall offer and services at Suha Punta beach. This is so that it can be specially adapted for families with children and also be enjoyed by local residents of Rab island.
Suppliers, partners and subcontractors from across Croatia
“Cooperation on this project is significant for Radnik d.d. as well as for a large number of our partners, subcontractors and suppliers from all over Croatia, especially for those from Rab island, Kvarner and central Dalmatia. Our goal is to realise this project to the satisfaction of all involved stakeholders and according to the highest standards by which we’ve been internationally recognised for many years now.
I’m pleased that as of April the 1st, according to the collective agreements concluded with our social partners, we’re increasing wages by about 10%, and we’re continuing to work on improving working conditions and further increasing wages in the interest of the entire Croatian construction industry. Investment projects like these additionally contribute to the status and development of the domestic construction industry, as well as the entire economy.
Up to 300 workers will work on this project during the construction period. I’d like to thank the management of Imperial for the opportunity and the trust they’ve placed in Radnik d.d. as a contractor in such a large and significant project”, said Mirko Habijanec, President of the Management Board of Radnik d.d. and the president of the Association of Croatian Builders at the Croatian Employers’ Association (HUP).
“With this year’s significant investment in tourism of more than 50 million euros, Rab island can definitely rank alongside leading tourist destinations across Croatia such as Dubrovnik, Poreč and Makarska. On Rab island this year, we’re set to celebrate the anniversary of 135 years of organised tourism. Investments in quality, this destination and sustainable tourism should be especially appreciated from the perspective of developing a better quality tourist product, strengthening competitiveness and providing greater opportunities for further professional development, which is a guarantee for people planning to stay and remain living on Rab island.
This investment is a driver of the economy in a broader sense, from construction onward, and especially our shipping company – Rabska plovidba. We’d like to congratulate the owners, investors and contractors as well as all the employees of Imperial Riviera on this fantastic step forward, which in 2025 will mark the first glorious 60 years of Imperial’s existence in the best possible way,” said Nikola Grgurić, Rab Town’s mayor.
