This week, the Bluesun Kaj in Marija Bistrica held a three-day annual meeting of Croatian businesses in the sector of travel agencies, hotels and tourist resorts. At this year’s meeting, nearly 130 participants from 8 countries participated, with annual awards granted for the best tourist events and tourist stories. The awards were organized by the Association of Croatian Travel Agencies and the magazine Way to Croatia.
HRTurizam reports that the ‘Simply the Best Awards’ for creativity and improvement of the Croatian tourist offer was granted in six categories: 1. Hospitality; 2. Events; 3. Destination for Religious Tourism; 4. Travel Agencies; 5. Innovative Projects; 6. A Person. The awards were received by 37 individuals and companies from 278 nominees. Plaques were presented to the winners by Boris Žgomba, president of the Association of Croatian Travel Agencies, and Maja Šimenc, director of DMK Vall042 and Exchange PUT.
Here are the winners by categories and groups:
Category: Catering facility (69 nominations)
Groups that offer traditional food and drinks in rural areas, the winners are: Restaurant Kaštil Slanica, Podašpilje; Zlatni klas Otrovanec and Stari fenjeri, Turnić.
Groups that offer food and drinks along the main road, the winners are: Restoran Gradina, Josipdol; Gostiona Putniku, Kikovica, and Restoran Villa Zelenjak-Ventek, Kumrovec.
Groups with accommodation facilities that offer programs for active holidays, the winners are: Hotel Maki, Gospić; Villa Neretva, Metković; Zagreb-kamp, Rakitje and TC Mirjana&Rastoke, Donji Nikšić.
Category: Events and happenings (74 nominations)
Groups with content inspired by local customs and traditions, the winners are: Feral ki je pušćal sinjal, Jelenje; Ižimača, Beravci, and Jakovlja – smotra boškarina, Kanfanar.
Groups that have themed festivals and events for a duration of several days, the winners are: BIG festival, Baška; Samoborski fašnik, Samobor, and Štruklijada, Krapinsko zagorska županija.
In the group of Christmas Advent the winners are: Božićna priča obitelji Salaj, Grabovnica, Advent in Zagreb, Advent in Split and Advent in Vir.
Category: Tourist destination of religious tourism (7 nominations)
The municipality of Marija Bistrica is the winner.
Category: Travel agency – cooperation with the local community (6 nominations)
The agency Uniline, Pula is the winner.
Category: Innovative project in tourism realized from 9.2015 to 9.2016 (93 nominations)
Istria Tourist Board for application Gourmet Wine Lovers; Municipality of Nijemci for the Center for bird watching; Hotel Park in Split for project Chef’s Table; Croatian Design Superstore Festival for the project Design District Zagreb; TZ Rogoznica for the project Mobile Visitor Center; TZ Opatija for multimedia 3D Waterscreen; Hotel Park in Split for the project Responsible for pure business world; Ruby and Igor Montanari Knez for the project Montys Dog Beach Bar & Crikvenica; Gardens lunskih olives, Lun for arranging observation-amphitheater; Ivan Katalinić for project Lookout bar Providenca, Mali Losinj; PZ Gospoja, Vrbnik for project Vinoteo Gospoja and Jasna Petak for the project Zelinska ogrlica.
Category: Contribution of individual development of tourism in the local community (29 nominations)
Mijo Pavelko-Mikeš for longtime creative contribution to the development of tourism facilities of the local community inspired by the traditions and customs of the Virovitica Region.
Marija Dejanovic for creative implementation of a number of tourist attractions as director of the Tourist Office and Tourist Board Nin, she shaped positioning for Nin as distinctive for Croatia as a European destination of excellence and the most beautiful romantic destination in Europe in 2015.
Branko Kovacic for inventiveness in the realization of investment and creative design project construction aquapark Istralandia which significantly influenced the content and recognition of a new tourist offer of Istria, and Croatia as a whole.
Congratulations to all the nominees and winners of the awards!
