April the 26th, 2025 – Over a billion euros of hotel investments intended for Croatia are on the horizon, with big names like Hilton, Hyatt, Accora and Marriott involved.
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, over the next couple of years, over one billion euros in hotel investments are expected to be poured into Croatia. The current plan is to invest eye watering sums into brand new, high-class hotels.
Numerous highly respected global hotel chains such as Hyatt, Marriott, Accor and Hilton are entering the Croatian market, and some hotels are going to operate year-round. This is key to sustainable tourism on the coast, which has posed a burning issue for decades now.
from old army barracks to a luxury resort
In the popular Istrian coastal city of Pula, former Austro-Hungarian barracks, long neglected and abandoned, has been transformed into an incredible luxury tourist resort.
This investment was truly monumental, bringing together a combination of the old that has been revitalised and the ultra-modern, brand new. Danko Končar is the owner of Pula’s Heritage & Resort Hotel Monumenti, and it is already proving to be a hit. He added that most of the complex’s capacities have already been booked, and there is no shortage of interest for later phases, as reported by HRT.
hotel investments in croatia reach zadar
Zadar will soon open its very first five-star hotel – Hyatt Regency Zadar, located in the former iconic Maraska factory. Representing a staggering sum in the wider scheme of hotel investments for Croatia, this is otherwise the first hotel from this prestigious chain to ever open its doors in the country.
“We’re now about to open, we already have a lot of reservations from foreign visitors for the hotel with 130 rooms and suites and high end amenities. In addition to the guests, the hotel is also aimed at the local population and we’re looking forward to catering to that,” revealed hotel director Valentin Rottger.
hilton makes ugljan home
Hilton will soon open its very first island hotel on Ugljan, in Preko. This brand new Hilton hotel opens up the possibility for young people to work and stay on the islands all year round, a difficult task otherwise.
“We’re working to keep young people living and working here on the islands. The reservations we’ve received start in June, and the last ones that came were made even in November. These are mostly foreign guests. No one would probably ever come to Ugljan if it weren’t for Hilton because the reservations came through Hilton’s channels,” pointed out Josipa Jutt Ferlan, the director of Zagreb City Hotels.
too many apartments, but not enough hotels
Despite the importance of tourism, Croatia has only 10 percent of accommodation capacity in hotels, and those with five stars are around 70. In fact, the Croatian accommodation structure was recently rated the worst in the entire Mediterranean. This has further highlighted the need for hotel investments in Croatia and far more balance.
“Some countries have over 60 percent of their beds located in hotels. Croatia has got about 182 thousand hotel beds. Due to the effects projected by hotel and hotel investments in Croatia, that number should double in the next five to seven years. That will allow Croatia to maintain its tourism competitiveness,” explained Veljko Ostojić, director of the Croatian Tourism Association.
In addition to Pula, Zadar and Ugljan, hotel investments are also underway elsewhere in Croatia. New hotels are on the cards in Split, Poreč, Rijeka, Ičići, Novi Vinodolski and Plitvice. Optimistic tones can also be heard coming from the profession itself, with everyone involved hoping that this investment wave will last.
