Hilton's most prestigious award, the Connie Award, has arrived at Keight Hotel Opatija

Keight Hotel Opatija received the most prestigious award within the global Hilton network, Connie Award. This recognition is given to hotels and teams that set the highest standards and rank among the top one percent in the world.

In these the exclusive one percent now also includes the Keight Hotel in Opatija, and the recognition is a confirmation of the continuous work, standards and dedication of the team who create an experience that guests can count on every day. The award is based on quality and real guest experience, so it clearly confirms the top level of service and consistency in every segment. 

Josipa Jutt Ferlan, cluster director of the Hilton Group in Croatia in the destinations Zagreb, Opatija and Ugljan, expressed her great satisfaction with the award.

"We are pleased that this relatively new hotel has recently won a number of smaller but still significant awards from Hilton. This award came shortly after our head chef won the award for the best individual within the Hilton group. Now the most prestigious award has arrived - the Connie Award - which has criteria that none of us can influence and is not subject to subjective assessments.", reveals Jutt Ferlan. 

She explained that there are really serious parameters by which a hotel is viewed from multiple aspects. First is quality control by Hilton twice a year, and includes cleanliness, brand standards, service, staff, whether the staff is trained and similar. Another thing is, he continues, a rating from guests, and the analysis is done on a fairly large sample. Namely, after leaving the hotel, the guest receives an email inviting him to an anonymous survey about the hotel's service. 

"The survey is so specifically worded that it needs to be answered specifically, not just with 'da' or 'ne'. These two parameters are combined to arrive at a rating that measures success. Curio hotels were awarded one each in Canada, the USA, China, and one in tiny Croatia.", reveals the cluster director of the Hilton Group in Croatia. 

This will greatly increase the visibility of Opatija as a destination, but also of the entire country, because Hilton sends this information to members in the loyalty program both externally and within its communication channels. Through these awards, people, hotels and destinations are promoted, he says, and it is the greatest recognition for the team for their work and effort.for everything that is not part of the employment contract, but something more".

The greatest value is people

"As a group, we are a fairly homogeneous team, we all deal with employees, including myself. When a problem of any nature arises in one of the hotels, if I need to get involved, I definitely get involved. In addition, I want everyone else in management to see this, because only by example can we show the right direction. Similar to the role of a parent - we can talk as much as we want, but if we don't show by example, there is no good foundation for moving forward.", vividly describes Jutt Ferlan.

"Management looks at business results and costs, of course, but people are what we primarily deal with, and I'm glad that this has been passed on to the younger generations. The director of the Keight Hotel, Davor Kovčalija, is a good example. He got the opportunity to come to Opatija from Ugljan and is showing all his qualities here. This shows that people here can grow.", he says, adding that the greatest wealth is when employees are motivated to stay and continue to develop their careers within the company.

"Without satisfied people, there is no successful hospitality. Everyone in this business must know that the meaning of hospitality is to entertain, which means creating beautiful memories for them through creating unforgettable experiences. That is our only job, where you will be more beautiful", Jutt Ferlan summarizes with a smile.

Davor Kovcalija, Director of the Keight Hotel, confirms that this most prestigious award within the Hilton brand means a lot to them.I am personally proud and our entire wonderful team is very proud because we have already won such a valuable award in our second year of work. It includes one percent of all the best hotels in Hilton, and the way it is obtained says a lot. Guest ratings are respected, internal control is quite rigorous, and access to the local community is also taken into account. It means a lot when we see that Hilton appreciates our efforts. Being recognized in a destination like Opatija in a very large world is truly a reason to be proud", said Kovčalija sincerely, emphasizing that the award belongs to the dedicated team.

With a good team, there are no limits.

The culinary story of Pierrot restaurant is written by the chef Miroslav Janjic whose work has also been recognized within Hilton through the CEO Light & Warmth Award, one of the highest individual awards presented by the company's CEO, Christopher J. Nassetta, which highlights employees who embody Hilton's approach to hospitality on a daily basis.

"The award came unexpectedly. And after a few months I can't believe it even came to Croatia, let alone to me. It is a huge recognition for all the work that has been invested all along. It is very important to me personally and to the entire team because it means that our work has been recognized. It is not an award for one person because one person could never do it alone, the team has your back. A lot has been invested, there are many hours of separation from family, but when the result is positive, you don't regret it", says the chef. 

The team is generally quite young and they understand each other well, they are tolerant, there are no frictions, communication is very smooth, both horizontally and vertically. The hotel director is only a few years older than chef Janjić, so they are close in that regard. It is also very important that they have a good background because it gives them security. 

The event was attended by numerous guests, including the Deputy Prefect of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County. Toni Štimac, Mayor of Opatija Fernando Kirigin, director of the Opatija Tourist Board Suzi Petričić, director of the Tourist Board of the City of Rijeka Petar Škarpa and director of the Matulji Municipality Tourist Board Marijana Kalcic who took this opportunity to congratulate the winners on their award and emphasized the importance of such successes for strengthening the destination.

"First of all, I would like to congratulate the great Hauptfeld family who are behind this project and who truly had a vision. They were persistent and consistent in order to achieve such great results in the end. This is a great award for them, but also for Opatija, because with it the city gains even greater visibility and recognition, and what we always strive for, which are excellence and quality. We hope that this award will motivate others as well", she said Suzi Petričić, director of the Opatija Tourist Board.

Numerous benefits for employees

Anamaria Hauptfeld Schweitzer, a board member of Katarina Line & Keight Hotel Opatija, says that not even in their wildest dreams did they hope for something like this so soon.The hotel has been operating for less than two years, and it is simply wonderful. I would draw a parallel with the Katarina Line ships that cruise the Adriatic. We have different boats and we have seen time and time again that a team makes the biggest difference. Namely, we used to have much better results on inferior ships than on the best or newest ship. I want to say that we can make the best facility, but the most important thing is that the guest is satisfied with the service, that he feels that he is in the first place. Our team fulfilled this to the maximum and I am really most proud of the people who work at the hotel, they deserve this award", says Hauptfeld Schweitzer, to which we couldn't help but comment that without a good backroom, the people probably wouldn't be so good.

"There was a certain synergy. The Hilton group also contributed to this because it gave people an element that is perhaps not often found in Croatia. Namely, the hotel is open all year round, and our people have two days off a week, but they also undergo various training courses through Hilton. They are also part of the Team Member program, which allows them to stay at any Hilton hotel at special prices and thus travel all over the world. The most common prices are 50 euros for a room - bed and breakfast - during periods when hotels are less busy. For a young person, this is a really big benefit. In this way, they broaden their horizons, see how things are done elsewhere, think about what they could do differently or better, but also what they themselves are better at than others. At the same time, these trips mean a lot to them because they enrich them", describes the board member Katarina Line & Keight Hotel Opatija. 

Josip Jutt Ferlan emphasizes that this award is not just recognition for them, but confirmation of the values ​​they live every day through Keight: attention to the guest, authenticity of the space and a strong connection to the destination.Being among the top one percent within the Hilton network is the result of continuous work, but also the shared vision of everyone involved in creating this hotel.", concludes the cluster director of the Hilton Group in Croatia.

Pierrot Restaurant

At the very end of the press conference, the audience was addressed by the artistic duo Đurđa and Franko, the popular theater and comedy couple from the hit plays Casabianca and Four Funerals and a Wedding, which they created and perform. Irena Grdinić and Mario Lipovšek Battifiaca. As a recognizable, humorous married couple who can't stand each other, but can't live without each other, they made the audience laugh through a series of everyday situations and small jokes. In their own style - with a dose of irony and sharp humor - they also announced a new play, whose premiere scheduled for May 29th on the rooftop terrace of the Keight Hotel.

Finally, let's mention that the spring-summer season in Keight brings new creations in the Pierrot restaurant under the leadership of chef Janjić, along with special offers on the occasion of the biggest event in town - Retro Opatija. The program is further enriched by a wine & dine quiz, pilates on the rooftop, food & wine evenings and a series of carefully designed surprises. Weekends are still reserved for favorite rituals - Saturday brunch and Sunday lunches for families and friends.

Keight Hotel Opatija Curio Collection by Hilton, is a contemporary boutique hotel that combines the historic charm of Opatija with modern design and personalized service. Located in the heart of the city, it offers 54 elegantly decorated rooms, Rooftop Lounge Bar with a view of Kvarner and a recognizable approach that fosters creativity, local stories and a sense of community.

Pierrot Restaurant brings an innovative fine casual concept under the leadership of Chef Janjić, where traditional techniques meet a modern approach and seasonal ingredients. In addition to the existing offer, the restaurant is enriched with a selection of Asian dishes, while the elegant interior and carefully selected wine list make Pierrot one of the most interesting gastronomic destinations in Opatija.