Hvar gets a fierce competitor – Solta gets a super-luxury resort worth €40 million

When the luxury resort “Secret bay project” comes to life in Maslinica, in the western part of Solta, Hvar island will have a fierce competitor in the fight for the tourist Dalmatian flagship. A fund from Mauritius, managed by wealthy investors, has recognized the beautiful Sipova Bay as a position for its 40m-euro project. The cornerstone should be laid in September next year.

The Mayor of Solta, Nikola Cecić-Karuzić, shows us the outlines of a planned paradise on earth in 3D documentation. The extent of the project is evidenced by the fact that it will employ about 200 people throughout the year.

It is an incredibly significant project for our island, for Maslinica, for a place with 90 inhabitants who live there even in winter. The place has already been determined in this sense in its tourist direction and the initial step was given to it by the owners of the former old castle Martinis Marchi who renovated it and turned it into a representative boutique hotel. With the content in the bay of Sipova, Maslinica will become a representative of high tourism.

Cecić-Karuzić

Open all year round

A dispersed complex of 82 hotel suites, each measuring 120 square meters, 21 hotel suites, five extra luxury villas, hotel reception and a beach restaurant will spring up in the steep sandy bay of Sipova. There will be no high-rise construction or group accommodation, the units will be incorporated into space in the correct order and in separate units. They will be accompanied by green grass roofs, outdoor overflow pools and relaxing lounge areas. Attractive accompanying facilities will justify the idea of pure luxury for the guests of the resort who will enjoy five planned stars in every inch.

In addition to the existing facilities, there will also be a small marina, a berth for yachts and a sailboat. We will also have a thermal spa center, ponds, as a basis for something very important, a year-round offer. The resort will not close its doors with the end of the off-season, it will work most of the year because the plan is to function as a luxury spa. This means that it will be open in the winter months when accommodation will be offered at lower prices than in the summer. As investors have told us, there is no such facility anywhere in our country so far. We look forward to the start of construction and the first guests within the planned two years.

Cecić-Karuzić

The resort will have a total of 360 beds of which 125 in hotel accommodation, through scattered facilities to which guests will be driven by electric vehicles. The fact that investors quietly came to Solta on two occasions and considered even the smallest details speaks volumes about the seriousness of the plan. The financial structure on their part has been completed and as far as the Municipality is concerned, it is ready to do its part.

“I hope you got Solta!”

Preparations are already well in the process. In a few months, the access road to Sipova will go, investors are already financing it in advance from the communal contribution. And we will provide everything necessary for the infrastructure through spatial planning documentation. The issue of training people is also being addressed. A Croatian teacher from Split, who is already in Mauritius, where the management of the future resort is learning our language, was accepted in the announced competition.

Cecić-Karuzić

But not only the language, but also our culture and tradition. I got the impression that they want to be integrated into every segment of work and lifestyle to make it easier to realize what they set out to do. And I was pleasantly surprised that they had already presented their knowledge of Croatian to us at a video conference. Along with her, several of our architects are staying in Mauritius, strengthening their project team. They leave nothing to chance.

Investors will be looking for the youth of 18-30 years old, a workforce of all profiles, and among the questions that will be asked to candidates are those about knowledge of foreign languages. All this opens the possibility for the labour force that will come from the mainland to create a potential home on Solta. Is there still a trace of that slightly mocking saying “I hope you got Solta”?

That mockery in such a connotation has long since lost its meaning. “God forbid you got Solta” now has a whole new meaning. Resort means a huge thing for us. And we are very happy that they chose us as the place to realize the project. How, why us? I think it was crucial that the leading man of the fund is so in love with our Dalmatia and Maslinica that it was there that he decided to realize the idea.

Cecić-Karuzić

Source: Slobodnadalmacija.hr