increase in capacity we managed to have a 15 % growth in revenues year on year .
Additionally , we are in the remarkable position of having an owning company who is 100 % committed to a business model which is driven by growth through quality and not volume and whose key shareholders have a strong passion for architecture and design and are blessed with very good taste and the willingness to experiment and take risks . This allowed us to work together with remarkable local and International Architects , Designers and Artists and take a completely new and different approach for each property . In order to avoid competition between each of our new hotels , we start each project from scratch trying to differentiate not only the design but also concept , service , amenities and the overall concept . This can be a very timeconsuming and exhausting process but is also very rewarding .
As Monte Mulini was the first Luxury project of Maistra and the company didn ’ t have a lot of experience in this segment , Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo ( WATG ) was chosen due to their solid track record as architects of Luxury developments . LHW was the obvious choice as an umbrella brand to add the necessary standards , reputation , and network .
Having gained the first experiences , the following developments became more daring and avant-garde . Hotel Lone was built 5 years ago , by the up and coming Croatian Architecture Team of 3LHD , who since then were able to build a solid portfolio of International Hotel projects for themselves . After establishing Monte Mulini as International Luxury Hotel , the ambitions for Lone were to satisfy the niche of Modern Luxury and create a unique showcase of contemporary Design , Art and Architecture . 3LHD managed to gather a group of young Croatian Artists and Designers around them with whom they created a 100 % Croatian design concept , including all art , uniforms , furniture , graphic design , etc ….
Following the success of Hotel Lone , a similar approach , but with different concepts was taken for Hotel Adriatic and Amarin .
For our new project , scheduled to open in 2018 , we are trying to lift the bar even higher regarding design , architecture and unique concepts . Using once again the local expertise of 3LHD , we decided to additionally engage Lissoni Associates in order to create an interior design which should satisfy the taste of the most demanding and experienced traveler and set new standards for the entire region .
What local experiences are you making available to your guests ?
Bearing in mind that Rovinj and Istria are one of the cradles of modern European Tourism , going back to the turn of the 19th century when this region was developed as a prime leisure destination for the upper class of the Austro-Hungarian Empire , similar to the French Riviera for English and French upper class , there is a long history of tourism and hospitality . This historical fact , combined with an even longer history of agriculture and culture ( going back to the Roman emperors who got their olive oil from this region ) mean that there are endless possibilities , be it gastronomic , cultural or nature .
We are fortunate in that we don ’ t face the challenge of having to create a local experience but how to make the existing experiences available and accessible to our guest .
We don ’ t see our hotels as the keeper of local tradition and authenticity but as a base from where our guest can set out , explore and make a 100 % authentic local experience . We , of course , offer local wine , olive oil and cheese tastings for our guests on property , as well as purchase most of our products from local producers , but we don ’ t try to copy certain local aspects , which are better left to the real people whose families have done it for generations . As we are a 100 % local company there is a natural bond between the local community and businesses which we try to use as best as possible to provide this local and authentic experience , in the form of packages , programs , and contacts .
But the main vehicle to make these very unique experiences available to our guest are our employees , who are mostly from this area and have tips , can share anecdotes and recommend places you will not find in any guide . With our hotels , we try to provide the logistics and the re-assurance that our guests have a great hotel room , all essential services , and a place to rest and relax . In our restaurants , we are trying , instead of copying and competing with local , private family businesses ( and we all know what a great job hotels do in competing with private restaurants ), to provide amenities and food they may struggle to find outside the hotel . This includes good vegetarian and vegan options , gluten free alternatives , or just a healthy light meal . Even if the grilled octopus , the homemade seafood pasta , and the fresh seabream , which you ate the last 5 days , was the best you had in your entire life , after 5 days you may just wish to have a simple salad and your kids a big burger .
How do you connect with your guests ? Where have you been most successful ?
Looking at it from a technology point of view , we still have a lot of catching up to do . We are working on our websites , apps and other technologies , but are still behind some of the global players . Being a small company we often just don ’ t have the budgets and expertise to keep up with certain developments .
One exception is Facebook , on which we managed to establish ourselves 5 years ago , and via which we share and communicate a lot . Hotel Lone , for
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