Dario Matić at Hilton Rijeka Costabella, Andrijana Mladina at the helm of Le Méridien Lava

The beginning of March brought two important managerial changes in the premium segment of the Croatian hotel industry, in Kvarner and Dalmatia.

To the head of the hotel Hilton River Costabella Beach Resort & Spa was appointed Dario Matic, an experienced hotel manager with more than 20 years of experience in international hotel systems. He built his career within companies Hilton i Marriott International, and his professional journey began in the hotel Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik, where he built a strong operational base.

Before coming to Rijeka, he held the position of general manager of the hotel Sheraton Dubrovnik Riviera Hotel, further strengthening its strategic and operational competencies in managing complex hotel systems.

"Returning to Hilton in this position has special meaning for me. I look forward to this new opportunity and am proud to lead the Hilton Rijeka Costabella Beach Resort & Spa team and continue to position the resort as one of the leading destinations on the Adriatic.", said Matić. The focus of his management is employee development, high service standards and long-term results, with a strong emphasis on teamwork and clearly set goals.

At the same time, with March 1st Andrijana Mladina She took on the position of director of a luxury resort. Le Meridien Lav in Podstrana near Split.

The appointment represents a logical continuation of her career within the resort, where she has successfully served as Director of Sales and Marketing.

During her professional development, Mladina built strong expertise in hotel management, strategic positioning, sales development and destination promotion, while significantly contributing to strengthening the market position of the resort and improving the guest experience. With this appointment, she becomes the first domestic manager at the head of a high-class Split hotel since its post-war renovation and reopening in 2006, when the former Hotel Lav began a new chapter under the global Le Méridien brand.

"It is a great honor for me to take on the role of Director and continue the development path of the resort that we have been building together for many years. Le Méridien Lav is not just accommodation, it represents a complete resort experience created by diverse amenities and a strong connection to the destination, creating authentic experiences for our guests. I look forward to further developing the resort in line with the expectations of the modern traveler, while continuing to cultivate partnerships with the local community, as Lav forms an important part of the identity of Podstrana and Split", said Mladina.

Her appointment was also welcomed by Mike Saran, CEO of ODIEN Group and owner of the resort, emphasizing that he believes that her professional experience and previous contributions will further improve the quality of service and the overall offering.

Le Méridien Lav Resort is one of the largest and most famous luxury resorts on the Adriatic, with a rich offer of accommodation, marina, congress facilities, wellness and spa facilities and diverse gastronomy. This year marks the 55th anniversary of the construction and opening of the former Hotel Lav, a symbol of the development of tourism on the Split Riviera, which today combines heritage with the concept of a modern luxury resort.

These are not just personnel changes, this is a message to the market.

The Croatian premium segment is becoming less and less dependent on the "import" of management knowledge, and is increasingly showing that domestic experts, with international experience within the Hilton and Marriott systems, can manage complex resort operations at the highest level.