ITB Berlin News #3

I SPECIAL FEATURE I LUXURY ACCOMMODATION & TRAVEL I
ROMANCE AND
LUXURY IN
CROATIA
2019 was the busiest year ever
for Hilton Luxury Group, with the
opening of 11 new properties. We
asked Dino Michael, recently named
as Global Head, Waldorf Astoria
Hotels & Resorts and Conrad Hotels
& Resorts, to tell us more.
We’ve had some key openings this past year,
with Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal,
Waldorf Astoria Dubai International Financial
Centre and Waldorf Astoria Maldives
Ithaafushi, along with six Conrad openings
including Conrad New York Midtown, Conrad
Washington, DC and four more openings in
China. So, for us, 2019 has been an exceptional
year.
What is changing in the way you do business
and the way people perceive your properties?
The landscape is becoming very crowded with
a lot of great operators; a lot of competition.
It is always possible to build a great hotel, but
you need to get the software right, you need
to get the service right, and get the personal
Dino Michael
Global Head,
Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts
and Conrad Hotels & Resorts
Waldorf Astoria, LXR and
Conrad take bigger strides
With record new openings, the top-end
brands are driving Hilton to new highs
connection right. In luxury, technology lives to
make the stay easier, without friction, but that
human touch continues. We put a lot of focus
on culture, on development, on making sure our
team members understand the arriving guests
to offer an anticipatory yet graceful service
that is truly unrivalled. Each Waldorf Astoria
property has dedicated Personal Concierges
that work tirelessly to anticipate our guests’
needs to make their stay frictionless and highly
personalised.
Could you tell me a little more about your new
property in Mexico?
The new Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal
is situated on Cabo San Lucas’ most coveted
parcel of land – an extraordinary, 24-acre
site at the southernmost tip of Mexico’s Baja
California Peninsula. The conversion of Waldorf
Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal reflects Hilton
Luxury Group’s commitment to expand our
portfolio and bring our True Waldorf Service
to the world’s most sought-after and inspiring
destinations. Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos
Pedregal debuts as the premier offering in the
region, with an array of best-in-class facilities
and immersive experiences
Less than a year since its April 2019
opening, the Grand Park Hotel Rovinj
in Croatia has joined The Leading
Hotels of the World.
Rovinj, in Istria, is one of Croatia's most romantic
spots, and its physical beauty is exhilarating. The
pastel houses crammed onto a peninsula catch
the sunlight during the day and shimmer with
light at night. The Venetian bell tower of the St
Euphemia Cathedral extends like a punctuation
point to the sky.
The Grand Park Hotel Rovinj is part of the Maistra
hospitality group, which also includes the Monte
Mulini Hotel in Rovinj. Known for its exclusiveness,
the Monte Mulini Hotel became a member of the
LHW in 2012.
“The membership in The Leading Hotels of the
World, which is considered to be a guarantee
of quality for luxury hotels, is yet another
confirmation of the exceptional status the
Grand Park Hotel enjoys," said Tomislav Popović,
Maistra's CEO.
Worth the equivalent of about $100 million, the
hotel represents the largest single investment by
the tourism business subdivision of Adris Group,
which owns Maistra.
The hotel is is situated across from the old town of
Rovinj, with a view of the Church of St Euphemia
and the island of St Catherine.
There are 209 rooms and suites in the six-storey
venue, where guests can enjoy restaurants, bars, a
wellness and spa centre, and a plaza that includes
numerous shops
The Grand Park Hotel Rovinj's stunning pool view
ITB BERLIN NEWS • THURSDAY 19 TH MARCH 2020 • 23