6 minute read
One&Only Portonovi, Beyond Just Luxury
BY RUDINA HOXHA & JOSE PINTO
Tomislav Hrala, Director of Sales & Marketing at One&Only Portonovi Hrala told Trailblazing that One&Only brand was created exclusively for the ultra-luxury market and conceived as a hallmark of excellence.
In this exclusive interview, Hrala details the extraordinary concept that permeates One&Only Portonovi Resort positioned at the entrance of Bay of Kotor, Montenegro.
"One&Only Portonovi will set a new standard for ultra-luxury in the region with unrivalled service, spectacular accommodation and experiences that transport the guests to the heart of the destination," Hrala said, adding "Around the world, our resorts offer ultimate privacy and seclusion, with dedicated spaces for couples, families or groups - there is a place for everyone to let loose and live life to the full.”
The resort, due to be inaugurated on Spring 2021, is a perfect gateway for the Albanians, Hrala said.
“Since Montenegro is a neighboring country to Albania, it is easy to access our resort and experience its ultimate luxury. Offering pioneering wellness, destination dining and chic, Riviera-style living, One&Only Portonovi will be a perfect getaway for Albanian guests,” he said.
Read the full interview below:
For those of us who aren’t so familiar with One&Only Portonovi, can you make a brief company profile in Montenegro and elsewhere and the properties you have?
One&Only Portonovi sits at the entrance of the beautiful Bay of Kotor, a sheltered idyll on Montenegro’s Adriatic coast. The
first One&Only in Europe, this ultraluxury resort will be home to Chenot Espace, a state-of-art wellness concept, as well as Sabia by Giorgio Locatelli, a world-class restaurant by one of the finest Michelin-star Italian chefs. Located in the exclusive Portonovi community, the resort is adjacent to a 238-berth superyacht marina and helipad, surrounded by lush gardens, serene sea, and magnificent mountains. With its impressive design, 11 pools and a golden-sand private beach, it is set to become the finest destination of the Mediterranean.
The One&Only brand was created exclusively for the ultra-luxury market and conceived as a hallmark of excellence. Our resorts are set in some of the most beautiful locations in the world, offering distinctive style, genuine hospitality and unrivalled energy borne of the local cultures. Our exclusive collection includes One&Only resorts in the Maldives, Mauritius, Rwanda, Dubai, Los Cabos in Mexico, Cape Town in South Africa and Wolgan Valley in The Blue Mountains of Australia. This year also brings the openings of One&Only Desaru Coast in Malaysia and One&Only Mandarina in Riviera Nayarit in Mexico. There are additional resorts in development including One&Only Kéa Island in Greece, One&Only One Za’abeel in Dubai as well as communities of One&Only Private Homes around the world. “It is set to become the finest destination of the” Mediterranean.”
One&Only is becoming especially well-known for its contemporarystyle brand and the intertwining of all the aspects a holiday maker wants in one resort. What is driving the demand for this brand, or the type of very high-end, luxury experience that it offers?
One&Only Portonovi will set a new standard for ultra-luxury in the region with unrivalled service, spectacular accommodation and experiences that transport guests the heart of the destination. Around the world, all our resorts offer the ultimate privacy and seclusion, with dedicated spaces for couples, families or groups - there is a place for everyone to let loose and live life to the full. One&Only Portonovi will be brimming with life and energy, offering unparalleled glamour on the new Riviera, complemented by elegant design, fine dining and pioneering, year-round wellness. Our guests seek new, authentic experiences and an escape that goes beyond just luxury - the vibrant charm of the surrounding UNESCO World Heritage sites, amazing nature and rich culture to discover make One&Only Portonovi a captivating destination.
What are the geographical sources of your main clientele? Are they locals, from the region mostly or from elsewhere?
One&Only Portonovi is a yearround destination. From October to April, mostly regional and guests from Russia are expected to visit to experience world-leading wellness journeys at Chenot Espace or indulge in our fine dining. In summer months, our guests are expected to be mostly from Western Europe, as well as the USA, CIS and GCC countries.
What are you offering for the Albanian market in particular?
Since Montenegro is a neighbouring country to Albania, it is easy to access our resort and experience its ultimate luxury. Offering pioneering
wellness, destination dining and chic, Riviera-style living, One&Only Portonovi will be a perfect getaway for Albanian guests.
To celebrate our highly anticipated opening, we have carefully put together our ‘One&Only Journey to Vitality’ special offer. The first guests that discover our new Montenegrin retreat can enjoy a complementary resort ritual, a Journey to Vitality with our resident health and wellness experts, Chenot.
What are the other activities the resort is providing to extend stays?
Besides being a nautical playground, abundant with cruising, and sailing opportunities through the clear, calm waters of the bay, One&Only Portonovi is surrounded by World Heritage sites, abandoned fortresses and hidden beaches waiting to be explored. Montenegro’s diverse landscape is compact and easily accessible, and guests can enjoy a variety of activities and scenery within just one day. Many activities for guests of all ages will also be available within the resort itself. Those include KidsOnly and One Tribe for children and teens, a Tennis Club with two floodlit courts for tennis enthusiasts, a Fitness Centre with private oneon-one training sessions, as well as movement and exercise classes. Alternatively, signature experiences and adventures are curated for the ever-curious – ones willing to discover more and create everlasting memories. Tailored programmes by Chenot Espace are targeted for longer stays, such as the iconic and transformative one-week Advanced Detox programme, which induces a deep purification and detoxification of the body and is a signature pillar of Chenot’s pioneering philosophy.
Please explain more what are the health and safety assurances of One&Only in the new normal era?
At One&Only, we hold a firm commitment that the health, safety and wellbeing of our guests and colleagues is our utmost and
prevailing priority. We have always had a robust and comprehensive sanitation programme, in line with the World Health Organization and local health officials, and we will continue to adjust as new data becomes available and ensure a higher visibility for guests. All of our team are required to complete specific COVID-19 Training and re-certification of health and safety protocols prior to returning to work so they can execute their roles with confidence. We have appointed a new COVID-19 dedicated Health, Safety & Hygiene Coordinator, responsible for the implementation of our enhanced health and safety programs. Besides impeccable hygiene and sanitation measures throughout the resort, thermal cameras and digital infrared thermometers are in place for discreet and private temperature checking. We will also offer to sanitize guests’ luggage on arrival and will provide a welcome kit with protective and sanitizing products for each guest to use throughout their stay. We have developed tools to enhance our guest experience without social contact, innovating with new contactless and digital platforms to communicate with our guests and provide easy access to resort information. We were also the first brand to introduce a global ‘Hand on Heart’ gesture – a heart-warming welcome which acknowledges each of our guests elegantly, without the need to shake hands. It demonstrates that we serve from the heart, it is personal, meaningful and is rooted in our mutual respect for guests and colleagues, while at the same time it guarantees space and distance, for both, our guests and colleagues. We remain in very close contact with the local authority, in order to match and exceed all health and safety requirements.
