LUXE Travel Magazine Being in the Balkans

LUXE TRAVEL MAGAZINE

BEING IN THE

BALKANS

ed By Radisson Blu

RADISSON BLU RESORT & SPA SPLIT, CROATIA

Overlooking the Adriatic Sea with the ritzy islands of Hvar and Brac directly in front of them, this hotel puts you at the heart of Dalmatia. Based in the historical city of Split, including Diocletian's Palace built in the 3rd century, this location offers wonderful vacations, a lot of history, and a perfect destination for meetings and incentives.

Situated within the bustling Mall of Asia Complex, Conrad Manila is the premier haven for smart luxury amid panoramic views of Manila Bay and its famed sunsets while being just minutes away from the domestic and international airports, business and leisure districts.

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THE HEART OF DALMATIA

The resort features 252 elegant guest rooms and suites, all with free high-speed wireless internet. In their 3 restaurants, you can enjoy their super breakfast buffet, Dalmatian cuisine, international cuisine, and Mediterranean cuisine beachside.

Relax in the brand new Spalato Spa, a spacious, modern, and unique wellness centre that covers over 2,600 square meters of indoor and outdoor space overlooking the Adriatic Sea.

To the west of the hotel, stands the palace of the Roman emperor Diocletian, one of the most noted sights in Croatia. Now a UNESCO World Heritage site, this massive complex built at the beginning of the 4th century ranks as one of the most imposing Roman ruins. Stroll along its mar bled streets to visit city-center shops and restaurants as well as the City Museum of Split.

Elegant sea-inspired rooms with beautiful views on the beach in Split. Heavily influenced by its Italian ancestry, Dalmatian cuisine features rich culinary tradition and the bounty of Mediterranean flavors. With a total of five on-site restaurants and bars at the hotel, you’ll have the perfect intro duction.

ELEGANT AND SEA-INSPIRED

UNINTERRUPTED SEA VIEWS

Ananti Resort, Residences & Beach Club is a 5 star luxury resort that offers a selection of inde pendent villas and luxury suites.

Set in an untouched natural environment, the resort reveals uninterrupted sea views with sunsets that melt beyond the horizon.

Encompassing exclusive and spacious villas and suites complimented by a plethora of amenities including Private Beach, Mediterra nean TerraMar Restaurant, Panorama Caffe, SPA & Wellness and GYM – all nested in the quaint and charming inlet of Rezevici.

Ananti is centrally located in the heart of the Budva Riviera, in the secluded inlet of Rezevici. Its exclusive location allows guests easy access to the entire Montenegro, histor ic cultural sites and magnificent encounters with Montenegro’s beauty.

UNTOUCHED AND NATURAL

Such a beautiful name for a resort of this magnitude, could you share the story behind the name; Ānanti?

Located near the Sveti Stefan island, Ananti resort offers beachfront living at its most stylish and luxurious. Its contemporary Mediterranean and Asian design is seamlessly crafted into the land scape, gently flowing from verdant down to the beautiful sand beach, with panoramic views across the open Adriatic which gives guests a sense of peace, therefore Ananti is named after Shanti and Ananda, which means inner peace and happiness, and that's the name of the two wings in which 14 apartments are arranged.

As such a remote location, what challenges could one in your position face daily?

There are many challenges. We live in such a fast-moving world, the biggest challenge is to keep up with new trends and to adapt to them. Our business is constantly evolving, for exam ple, the booking industry has changed. Guests have many choices nowadays; we have to keep up with the changes. We have to be present in all sales channels. Also, the season in Montene gro lasts only 6 months, one of the challenges is to keep the hotel open throughout the year. Ananti is unique. A tranquil escape, far from the busy world. The stunning private beach and privacy of the villas, spectacular location, stunning architecture, comfort, and outstanding service. Luxury villas and apartments offer privacy to guests to disconnect from everyday life and enjoy the incredible view offered by each accommodation unit in Ananti resort.

From a personal perspective, what are your favorite aspects of Ānanti Resort Residences & Beach Club?

Would you say that Montenegro is slowly becoming one of the world’s top luxury travel destinations?

Arguably the best luxury destination in Europe is Montenegro, which is displaying one of the highest growth rates in the continent. Since breaking from Serbia in 2006, the Balkan country has reinvented itself as a must-see destination for wealthy travelers seeking an unspoiled escape. Even though Montenegro is tiny, tourism there is booming as modern jet-setters, celebrities, and discerning tourists fall in love with its undiscovered beauty.

With five national parks, five UNESCO World Heritage Sites, six nature parks, two marine pro tected areas, three Ramsar sites, and numerous lakes, Montenegro is known as a country rich in natural diversity in a tiny region. In addition, it has a rich cultural, historical, and multicultural heritage and authentic gastronomy. Still, its potential is not entirely and sufficiently realized thus far, meaning it has excellent scope to develop into a year-round luxury destination.

Ānanti has an incredible offering, could you tell us more about the planning for guest arriv al?

Simply pre-arrange your stay through the Personal Preference which is sent by our reservation department along with the confirmation letter. There is nothing else to worry about as our expe rienced staff will make sure to provide you with a request for private car pick up at the airport. We also prepare everything for your arrival and, if desired, book your spa treatments or roman tic dinner before your plane lands in Montenegro.

Elaborating on that, what do you believe makes a successful experience for a guest at Ānanti?

We are a resort with only 8 villas and 14 apartments, therefore a small team makes guests feel at home in our hotel. We try to fulfill all requests and we are maximally dedicated to each guest. Everything is included in our room rates such as the Internet, coffee, and sunbeds on the beach and pool. We don't use words like check-in and check-out. Whoever comes to our resort is a guest—not a customer or client.

Could you tell us more about your journey to being at Ānanti?

I've always had a passion to work for luxury resorts especially if it's in the country where I grew up. In this way, I will promote the country I love and know best as a dream travel destination, which I believe it is.

With such an interesting and innovative offering at Ānanti, what could you tell us about what the future holds for the resort?

I am addicted to non-traditional concepts, so my vision for Ananti is for it to be recognizes for personalized service and quality standards and to be consistent in the promotion of elegance, creativity, and future development. We pride ourselves on truly customizing every stay to suit each of our guests. I also hope we will open more hotels and bring the Ananti concept to other countries — especially outside of Montenegro. I would love to open one in Croatia or Greece. It would be a great challenge but rewarding experience.

MILLENNIUM SPA & WELLNESS CENTRE BULGARIA

Provided By Millennium Spa & Wellness Centre

Millennium Spa & Wellness was born of a sincere understanding and passion for the essentials that matter in life – you and your physical, mental, and social wellbeing.

Let them take you on a voyage through the 5 elements. The earthy tones, organic materials, and natural colors combined with splendid light and sense of space in the interior design perfectly harmonize with the belief of achieving harmony with nature. On this voyage, you will recharge your energy and balance your mind, body, and soul by experiencing with all your senses the vitali ty of each element incorporated in the aqua and thermal area, and treatments rooms.

An urban oasis of tranquility inspired by the philosophy of the 5 elements of nature in Ayurveda culture: earth, water, air, fire, and ether, it takes you on a world-class spa journey through the light-filled panoramic aqua and thermal area including a saltwater pool, marine bath, 3 saunas, a relax area and oriental hammam. Escape from the daily routine and pamper yourself to an exclusive spa experience in one of the 3 luxurious private spa suites.

AN URBAN OASIS OF TRANQUILITY

THE SPOT

AT THE CHEDI LUŠTICA BAY

THE PLACE

Whether you’re after a leisurely brunch, a light snack, an alfresco lunch, a casual dinner or cocktails on the terrace, The Spot restaurant is the

The Spot Restaurant at Chedi Luštica Bay is a relaxed dining option featuring hearty cuisine, signature cocktails and sweeping marina views. By day, drift in from the beach, soak up the relaxed ambience of the marina promenade, and enjoy endless sea vistas. When evening falls, head in for dinner and cocktails, served into the night with a menu built around locally foraged herbs and blended by the master mixolo gists.You’re also invited to opt for a sampling of regional wines, or a special selection of international whiskies and cognacs.

By The Spot

The food they serve in their restaurants is based on Mediterranean cuisine with the influence of northern Montenegro. They use a lot of organic foods and a lot of fresh herbs. The combi nation of traditional flavours with different ways of preparation and presentation is passed through the menu. A warm and stylish space to enjoy.

The Spot is an all-day brasserie serving fresh, healthy, and satisfying fare in a rustic atmo sphere. A warm and stylish space, the restaurant plays with outdoor elements combining textured stone walls, rustic wood-beamed ceilings, and soft pendant lighting, which provides a luminous ambience at night. Indoor tables are treated to the culinary theatre of the show piece open kitchen. Executive chef Željko Knezović, who trained at Noma in Copenhagen, delivers sophisticated Mediterranean dishes on the waterfront, with emphasis on Adriatic food, although meatlovers won’t be disappointed with the likes of slow-cooked melt-in-the-mouth meat.

Provided

SPLIT, CROATIA

Recharge your body, mind & soul at SPALATO Spa.

Feel at ease in their new Mediterranean oasis – a spacious, modern, and unique wellness center that covers over 2,600 square meters of indoor and outdoor space overlooking the Adriatic Sea.

Refresh in their 20 - meter long pool and relax in their saunas, steam room and plunge pools whilst enjoying the most beautiful views of the Adriatic sea. 7am - 10pm. Let your stress and worries float away in 8 x 20 m pool. Enjoy treatments for your face, hands, and body using selected Elemis prod ucts, with active ingredients. Spalato spa treatments and massages will awaken and replenish your energy sources from deep within.

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ALL THINGS MIND, BODY AND SOUL.

As a Luxury Travel Influencer, how did you get to where you are today?

The secret is a great desire to show people the most beautiful places and motivate them to travel more. It's not about becoming an influencer for privileges and opportunities for myself, but about being an inspiration to others. Honestly, I have never positioned myself as a Luxury Travel Influencer. I don't go exclusively for luxury hotels because real luxury is finding unique places and experiences. I think the audience feels this approach and trusts my advice and choice. The career of a travel influencer offers great prospects for a unique experience. Working with brands and tourism boards from all around the globe allows me to see places and cities from unique angles. The status of a travel influencer is a ticket to places and locations that are difficult for tourists to get to. Therefore, this is exactly what I value the most: the opportunity to get a great travel experience and show it to my audience.

What is your favorite aspect of being a travel influencer? Name your favorite country you've traveled to and tell us why?

It is tough to name only one country! But since it's autumn, I want to highlight my favorite fall travel destinations: Austria, Norway and South Tyrol. These are stunning places for autumn travel and their beauty is amazing.

List the top 3 countries on your bucket list and why?

Iceland, Portugal and Peru. These are the countries that I have been dreaming about for a long time and where I planned to go but could not because of the pandemic. I hope my travel dreams will soon come true!

If you could pick a celebrity to travel with, who would it be and tell us why?

Gordon Ramsay. Our views on delicious food as part of the perfect trip are definitely the same.

Without giving away too much, what does your daily work routine look like?

My job as an influencer is not only to create content for my social media and brands, but also to create travel guides for my audience. Therefore, part of my day is always occupied by writing texts, researching and working on the design of guides. A big part of my day is devoted to emails and discussions about future and past collaborations with brands, as well as planning future trips. So when it’s not about press tours and shooting for brands, the work of a travel influencer is quite a lot of time on a laptop and email.

Tell us why you love what you do.

I love discovering new things and constantly exploring this world! Social media provides a great opportunity to live experiences with other people, share advice, inspire people to new discoveries, and make new friends in different countries.

Do you have any exciting trips coming up and could you tell us more?

Of course! It's a wonderful part of being a travel influencer - you always have exciting plans and plane tickets! But I prefer to keep upcoming destinations in silence, so it's intriguing. It allows me to surprise my followers!

The Official 2022 LUXE Global Awards held at The Chedi Luštica Bay, Montenegro was an incredible success; celebrating travel, luxury and the finer things in life. The 2022 Awards season yielded some great results, and with those results came the best of the best:

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SPAS IN EXOTIC LOCATIONS

Sky Lagoon is an all-new oceanside thermal spa minutes from downtown Reykjavík. Immerse yourself in warmth as the dramatic North Atlantic Ocean stretches out before you.

The first step of our signature 7-step Ritual therapy is step ping into the warm geothermal waters and then one after the other our cooling, warming, exfoliating, and rejuvenating steps refuel your body and spirit. Our philosophy is at its core bringing our guests on a journey through Icelandic bathing culture, whilst honor ing history and heritage with stunning architecture, an unfor gettable experience and even traditional local cuisine. A jour ney through Sky Lagoon is unforgettable

TO OUR COLLABORATORS