April the 28th, 2025 – The very first Marriott island hotel in Croatia finally opened its doors on the gorgeous Kvarner island of Cres a few days ago.
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, on Thursday, The Isolano hotel, which belongs to the luxury line of Autograph Collection by Marriott hotels, was officially opened on Cres. It’s the very first Marriott island hotel on not only Cres, but Croatian territory. It’s also the first Autograph Collection hotel in all of Croatia.
The Autograph Collection denotes boutique luxury hotels categorised with five stars, which emphasise authentic local culture and pay proper tribute to architectural, interior and tourist artistry. The Autograph Collection otherwise boasts of over 300 hotels in its portfolio located in the most beautiful locations in as many as 50 countries around the world. Now, Croatia is also very firmly on that map, which overlaps with efforts to attract large tourism investments and transform Croatian tourism into a sustainable, structured and luxury industry.
The first Marriott island hotel located on beautiful Cres is the result of a massive 17 million euro investment that began three years ago. It was backed by the company Valdarke d.o.o., of the successful hotel manager and Cres island native, Nikola Avram.
At the Hotel Isolano opening reception, where the prestigious Rose from the Dalmatian winery Markus was served, the women’s klapa Teha and the folklore group Orlec performed. In addition to visits from various government and ministry figures, the presence of Pankaj Birla, Vice President of Marriott International for Central and Eastern Europe, was particularly important.
“When we embarked on this project a few years ago, we had to decide which segment within the Marriott family we’d specialise in. There was no doubt that it would be the Autograph Collection. That’s because our mission from day one has been to combine local and global values. We wanted every single stone in the hotel to tell the story of the island of Cres, the Croatian coast and its tradition, but in a contemporary and modern way that befits this still unexplored pearl of the Croatian coast.
I think we succeeded in doing precisely that. We’ve managed to construct a complex that is sustainable, green, employs local people, uses 95 percent of ingredients from Cres in its menu. It also boasts an interior and exterior design that pays a kind of homage to the island where I was born and spent some of the most beautiful moments of my life. It’s with this approach that we’re raising Cres as a destination and following the key strategy of Croatian tourism, the main pillars of which are sustainability, quality, and authenticity.
We’ll be placing special emphasis on preserving local identity and environmental protection, as well as strengthening and affirming activities that will benefit all those who live on Cres. I’d certainly like to mention the importance of the Marriott brand, which now opens up a global presence for us and is why we’ll successfully raise the pre-season and post-season on the island,” said owner Nikola Avram.
State Secretary Robert Pende emphasised that such projects are desperately needed in Croatian tourism.
“This is what we’re promoting, this is a business story that didn’t turn towards the state, but was realised by the investors themselves. Cres and Croatia need more of this kind of content, therefore I’d like to congratulate everyone who is responsible for this magnificent project. We at the ministry will always be at your service,” said Pende.
The brand new and first Marriott island hotel on Cres boasts has 49 spacious, elegantly decorated rooms in five categories. There are two outdoor heated pools, a beach bar, an event hall, several different gastronomic locations, as well as a modern wellness and spa centre. In addition to all of that, the hotel’s guests will be especially delighted by the exclusive access to the beach, just a few steps from their rooms.
The design evokes authentic Croatian Adriatic charm. The hotel contains stone from the island of Brač, carefully incorporated into the architecture and decor, so that guests can feel the history and tradition of the entire coastal Croatian climate from the very moment they arrive. The interior design also bears the signature of celebrated Croatian designer Kristina Zanić.
The hotel’s exterior is surrounded by untouched landscapes and hidden beaches, offering direct access to the coast and breathtaking views. It is also located a mere ten-minute walk from the town of Cres. Special attention has been paid to preserving the traditional looks of the hotel, where you can feel the mighty Venetian Empire’s architectural influence that has remained present on the island for centuries.
General Manager Mario Ivić said that hotels under the Autograph Collection brand are known for providing unique experiences to their guests, which sets them apart from standardised luxury hotels. They combine superior comfort with a local character, promoting the cultural heritage and authenticity of the destination in which they’re located. As for the gastronomic offer, each dish celebrates the vibrant culinary heritage of the Adriatic coast. At it’s helm is Aleksandar Kerekes, a talented chef known for his very innovative culinary creations and dedication to using local ingredients.
