REBEC 2022: Vision and Concept Influence Hotel Success – Leisure Destinations Suitable for Investments

A hotel can only be successful if there’s a vision and if a true concept is found, Veljko Antonic, the general manager of Hotel Indigo, said at the panel “Belgrade and Serbia Hospitality Potential” within the REBEC 2022 conference.

– It needs to be determined what it is that the market lacks and it is necessary to have a flexible brand. Many hotels today lack a concept – he added.

He also highlighted the importance of the need to follow the development of technology, which he said, is not easy for investors.

Uros Vukomanovic, the general manager of Soravia Real Estate Development, said that the year 2021 was a record year and that hotels had the best performances, but that, in 2022, one of the problems of the hotel industry was the lack of staff.

Leisure destination “survive” crises more successfully, said Jovan Mladenovic, COO of Alpha Hospitality Management, and added that they needed to be invested in.

He talked about the big project in Vranjska Banja and mentioned the growth of spa tourism in the preceding 10 years.

– Vranjska Banja is very unique, surrounded by beautiful nature, and it is easily accessible from the highway and the Nis Airport. It is characterized by the historic heritage and geothermal waters. A resort and spa center are planned here – he said.

Goran Petkovic from the Faculty of Economics in Belgrade believes that a larger floor area of the capacities is also more attractive, drawing in more visitors. Still, he believes that the environment is important as well.

– Kopaonik and Zlatibor are examples of this. The development of skiing infrastructure has led to an increase in the number of hotels and private accommodation facilities, and the attractiveness of the location itself grows as well. When Sava Centar is renovated in Belgrade, it will also attract more visitors. Said Vranjska Banja is near Besna Kobila, for which there are development plans, and together they will contribute to a higher number of visitors in the future – he said.

Petkovic also believes that money is not invested in real estate, but in the experience that is being sold and which the users will take with them.

At the panel “Trends & Brands – The Newest Development in Hotel Business Incl. Mixed Use, Hybrids, Hostels, Glamping”, the general manager of Hotel Mama Shelter, Dejan Majic, pointed out that the personal moment was very important, securing a “sanctuary” for the visitors and sending the message – “welcome home”.

Andreja Marolt from Kristina Zanic Consultants agreed with this and said that it was the details that could create the feeling of being at home and provide a personalized experience.

The same opinion is shared by the executive director of Alpha Hospitality Management, Nikola Avram, who says that the service changes and adapts to the guests, in order to realize a personal relationship.

– The connection between business and pleasure is increasing and that will continue being a trend for at least another 10 years. There’s an increasing demand for spas, pools, wellness, saunas, gyms, massages, and the hotels that don’t have those have a problem – he said.

Dilek Sezer, the director of development for southeast Europe at Accor, believes that, in order for a hotel to be successful, it should also attract local people, and not just the arriving guests.

– Also, it is necessary to pay attention to passengers who travel alone and provide them with all the luxury in a smaller space – she said.

Life is faster than us, the expectations are bigger and we always need to keep up, considers Murat Ozel, the director of development of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts for Turkey and the Balkans.

– The demands for leisure destinations have increased. We try to focus on local values and establish a relation with local brands – he said.

Sustainability – a popular word which requires big investments

Special attention was paid at the panels to the questions of sustainability and environmental protection, and Goran Petkovic said that those topics had become important in the preceding two to three years.

– Generation Z is especially aware of the problems. It is ready to ask questions and demand for certain standards to be met. Investors now need to think much more about heating, air-conditioning, leftover food – he said.



Antonic said that clients expected hotels to take care of the environment, but that it was sometimes difficult for investors, as it required a lot of money, but also compliance with various regulations.

– It is difficult to achieve sustainability in existing hotels – Nikola Avram believes.

Jovan Mladenovic believes that sustainability is popular, that it has become a mantra. He adds that it is certainly important, but that the support of institutions is needed as well, that is, for all segments to follow it.

Uros Vukomanovic believes that sustainability should also bring economic benefits to investors.

Mama Shelter plans to fully eschew the use of plastic by the end of the year, and Dejan Majic believes that eco hotels are the future in the coming years.

Andreja Marolt also pointed out that a big change was noticeable in interior design when it comes to sustainability and the development of sustainable products.

Dilek Sezer said that sustainability was nothing new:

– It’s in our DNA and we have a responsibility from the construction to the selection of furniture, to the purchase of energy.

Aleksandra Kekic

Soravia Management d.o.o. Beograd

ALPHA HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT DOO Beograd

Ekonomski fakultet Beograd

REBEC

REBEC 2022

Soravia Real Estate Development

hotel Indigo

hotel Mama Shelter

Kristina Zanic Consultants

Accor

Wyndham Hotels and Resorts

Veljko Antonić

Uroš Vukomanović

Jovan Mladenović

Goran Petković

Dejan Majić

Andreja Marolt

Nikola Avram

Dilek Sezer

Murat Ozel

Besna kobila

Belgrade and Serbia Hospitality potential

Trends and Brands The newest developments in hotel business incl Mixed use hybrids hostels glamping

leisure destinations

spa tourism