Croatia: Adriatic incentive array

DIRECTORY CROATIA
Tourist Bureau Croatian National Tourist Office
Contact: Meri Matesic, 020 8563 7979
Email: info@croatia-london.co.uk
Web: http://gb.croatia.hr

Zagreb for large groups

The Croatian capital isn't yet a major player in the C&I sector. Positioned between the big-name cities of Eastern Europe and the sunny glamour of the Med, it's accustomed to being overlooked, largely because most people are unsure of what it offers. However, Zagreb can easily rival a number of its European neighbours as a conference city, especially since the opening of the Hypo Expo XXI Conference Centre two years ago.
This new venue can accommodate groups of up to 1,500, but it's far from being the only major event space. Three of the city's leading properties - the 378-room Westin, the 396-room Sheraton and the lavish 209-room Regent Esplanade - have sizeable facilities of their own for dinners and meetings for large groups. T-Mobile, Uefa and Glaxosmithkline are among recent visitors to the city.
"First-time arrivals tend to be surprised by what they find in Zagreb," says Margarita Maruskic, area manager for local DMC Kompas. "People come expecting a typical ex-communist city, but find it modern and lively with a real international spirit."
It's an attractive city too, both in terms of architecture and atmosphere. The mediaeval Old Town is perched on a hill above the city and below, spacious squares sit surrounded by stately Habsburg townhouses. Its trams and cafe culture make it a far cry from the cities on the coast, and this old-world mood also gives it some interesting incentive options. Activities can be themed around the Middle Ages - archery competitions and costumed team-building are possibilities - while there are some stunning period venues to incorporate. The Croatian State Archive and Mimara Museum are particularly impressive.

Dubrovnik for luxury
Arguably Croatia's most popular tourist destination, Dubrovnik is a compact walled city set on the Adriatic coast. And given its popularity with overseas visitors, there's scope for some genuinely high-end itineraries.
Five-star group hotels are numerous. Among the best is the newly remodelled Rixos Hotel Libertas, which has welcomed the likes of Sony Ericsson and offers an extensive spa complex. As noteworthy is the 308-room Dubrovnik Palace, which counts L'Oreal and BMW among past guests and enjoys a quiet out-of-town location. Both properties offer good bases around which to plan a luxury programme - typical activities include day cruises, beach picnics and wine-tasting sessions.
"Even compared with just a few years ago, the infrastructure in Dubrovnik has really moved on," says Beyond Certainty operations manager Donnie Kat. "The hotel stock is great and there are some strong options for private dinners and incentives - the island of Mljet is brilliant for team-building."
The city itself will always feature strongly in any itinerary, not only for its rich history - which stretches from its roots as an independent republic to its role in the Balkans conflict - but for its range of restaurants and venues. Upmarket places to eat include Nautika and Gil's, while the Franciscan Monastery provides a unique gala dinner venue. On a more active note, a walk along its ancient wall is a great way to take in the city's charms, and adventurous groups might even be tempted to include a trip to the countryside of nearby Montenegro.

Split for history and heritage
Split's town centre is located within the walls of a vast fourth-century palace, a complex that was once the holiday pile of Roman Emperor Diocletian. As well as that, it's the largest city on the Adriatic coast. The Venetians once decamped here for almost 400 years and Unesco has much of the city under World Heritage protection.
But while its history is one of its most obvious selling points, its appeal as a C&I destination is largely due to a more recent development. Le Meridien Lav opened a short distance from town in late 2006, and was voted Leading European Conference Hotel, Leading Croatian Hotel and Leading Croatian Spa Hotel at the World Travel Awards. The five-star, 381-room resort has made a significant splash in the MICE industry, attracting clients as diverse as Ericsson, Speedo and the American Chamber of Commerce.
"The Le Meridien is for conferences - it's one of the best hotels I've worked with," says Lavinia Tomlinson, director of 1 Call Company, which took a group there in 2007.
In incentive terms, much of the appeal lies in Split's coastal location. Island-hopping, sailing and water-sport activities are common choices, and this allows for real variety when coupled with the historical element of the old town and the lively city nightlife. There's also a fine selection of gala dinner venues, from the Mestrovic Gallery Park to the gothic City Museum.

Hvar for retreats
Accessible from Split by an hour-long catamaran ride, the pretty island of Hvar has become one of the most fashionable boltholes on the Adriatic and is rapidly building a St Tropez-like reputation among high society, and IBM was among last year's corporate visitors. It measures about 40 miles from tip to tip, so there's a fair amount to explore, although for most visitors the appeal lies in its coastline and sunny weather. Things can get extremely crowded in peak season, but the likelihood is that visiting C&I groups will find a quiet, laid-back destination with a well-oiled visitor infrastructure.
The capital, Hvar Town, tends to be the main focus for the more swish properties. The Suncani hotel group has something of a monopoly in this respect, with three properties - The Riva, a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World; The Adriana, a member of the Leading Hotels of the World; and the 324-room Amfora. The latter two both also offer Sensori spas.
The town itself is small - there are just 4,500 inhabitants - and characterised by a Venetian Renaissance feel. This Italian influence stretches to its restaurants too, and groups can expect some high-standard seafood and pasta dishes. The town's other big selling point is that it sits immediately opposite the hugely popular Pakleni Islands, renowned for their beaches. Boats cover the short distance every half hour.
"Croatia has a great mix of landscape and culture," says Zari Islam, director of Venuefind. "For groups that are perhaps slightly older and not just looking for nightlife, it would work really well."
Elsewhere on Hvar, group activities include jeep safaris, sea kayaking and rock-climbing. Bike tours, taking in the island's lavender fields, are also popular.

Istria for gastronomy
Although it has become a popular package holiday destination, the Istrian peninsula in the north-west of Croatia still retains a very definite character, evident in its Roman ruins to its small, cosmopolitan towns.
Trieste in Italy is a possible entry point, although flying into Pula is the most natural option - the city boasts an international airport. The best hotels, however, tend to be around Rovinj, Porec, Novigrad and Umag, slightly further up the coast. In Umag, the Sol Melia Coral is a four-star property with event space for 350, and Rovinj's Hotel Istra is another good choice.
The area has great potential for outdoor itineraries - from wildlife tours to island cruises - and gastronomes will be similarly well catered for. Gourmands flock to Istria for its truffles, and many of its restaurants serve Med-influenced dishes and fine wine.
"Istria's food and drink is definitely one of its key selling points," says Mario Grbic, sales manager at DMC Adriatic Luxury Services. "The wine, the truffles, the seafood, the olive oil - they're all excellent."
Meanwhile, the imminent opening of the Kempinski Adriatic is set to give fresh impetus to the region's C&I appeal. Located an hour from Pula, the 186-room five-star resort will provide conference space for up to 230 in addition to an 18-hole golf course, a 3,000m2 spa and three pools. It will also offer sailing options.