The Luxury Travel Magazine
The Luxury Travel Magazine
Stari Grad town is home to the newest boutique resort on the Croatian island of Hvar, the five-star Maslina Resort. The island is known for yachts which fill its harbors in the summer, a robust nightlife and lively bars as well as being a haven for health and wellbeing. It now welcomes Maslina Resort, a brand-new, Relais & Chateaux mindful luxury resort that will open this summer. Located near one of the oldest towns in the Eastern Adriatic, Stari Grad, Maslina Resort, is surrounded by olive groves, terraced vineyards and overlooks the crystalline Adriatic Sea.
The concept for this luxury resort began back in the summer of 2017 and has been “continuously evolving,” says Pejovic. Starting with the basic premise of respect for nature, but also for the community, the team at Maslina Resort has been perfecting their concept of creating a mindful luxury resort, adding and adapting elements to make sure that all the stakeholders, especially team members and partners were in agreement. To create this mecca of sustainable or responsible hospitality Pejovic and team were careful to make sure that these principles combined into one philosophy which he calls ‘mindful luxury’.
Maslina Resort has 50 rooms and three villas and stretches across two hectares of lush pine forest creating an aura of wellbeing, family, culture and authenticity at its heart. Starting at 42 square-meters, with the largest being 144 square meters, each one of its accommodations is well-appointed and spacious in size with unparalleled views of the crystalline Adriatic Sea. From the seven Garden Suites, to the Pool Suites, to the Two-Bedroomed Family Suite and the Three Bedroomed Family Suite, the meticulous design of Maslina has also been created for families with children of all ages in mind.
Three spectacular villas – two four-bedroom villas and five-bedroom villa – complete Maslina Resort, each with private pools, gardens, plenty of privacy, incredible views and great amenities. The five-bedroomed villa is simply exceptional. Inside, its elegant dining and sitting room creates a warm and luxurious atmosphere while a 55 square-meter private infinity pool, fitness area, Finnish sauna, Jacuzzi and travertine stone terrace with BBQ kitchen, creates a tranquil outdoor space.
Present in every detail of the resort, wellness is at the core of everything will present to their guests. According to Zoran Pejovic, Development Director of Maslina Resort, “it is more than wellness, it is wellbeing, and that is being translated throughout everything we do, and plan to do.” Taking note from the beauty that surrounds the resort, the island of Hvar is literally a health sanitarium and although it isn’t widely known, “the Hvar Health Society which was founded on May 15, 1868, is considered to be the first organized tourism in Europe, based on health and recuperation, rather than historical sites,” adds Pejovic.
One prime example is the Pharomatiq Spa Center, which is based on the mantra of garden to skin. The full-service spa showcases a modern fitness room, beauty salon, and relaxation areas as well as a dedicated Aqua Thermal area including a Finnish sauna, aromatherapy steam bath, Turkish Hammam, and cold plunge pools. Specializing in restorative experiences using home-grown, organic herbs and locally sourced essential oils allow therapists to formulate customized oils and blends tailored to the needs of the individual guest, which present themselves in seasonal à-la-carte treatments and immersion programs. Guests have the choice to choose one of their restful five indoor treatment rooms or one of their two outdoor ‘salas’, which fully immerse each guest in the natural surroundings.
Two-Michelin Star chef Patricia Yeo joins Maslina Resort as Head Chef presenting healthy Mediterranean food with vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free dishes created for guests upon request. With its ‘zero-kilometre’ approach to dining, food presented to diners is produced in the immediate area including olive oil, vegetables and fruit. On property, The Restaurant seats 80 guests and has an array of choices for breakfast and dinner while the just steps from the beach, The A-Bay Beach Bar presents an all-day dining concept doubling as a boulangerie and café bar in the morning and trattoria and konoba fusion for lunch and dinner. Alongside the pool, the Bar’s expert mixologist creates cocktails, using fruit, herbs and spices grown in Maslina’s organic garden ensuring each guest is fully experiencing laid back chic at its finest. It is also a perfect place to watch the sunset with a chilled glass of house champagne.
While Pejovic’s team is working on some great wellness immersion programs, especially for long-term stays, the resort offers an array of authentic experiences allowing guests to immerse themselves in local culture. Through their Wine and Culture Club, guests can have their expert concierge create a bespoke experience on the island. The concierge can prepare a special experience to learn about the long history of winemaking on Hvar while strolling through their pristine garden. Choose from a list full of award-winning local and international wines and a cigar menu to create a one-of-a-kind experience.
With six UNESCO World Heritage protections in the surrounding area, there is plenty to see and do around the resort. The Stari Grad Plain is one of the best-preserved systems of Greek field architecture in the Mediterranean while the nearby Grapčeva Cave has the largest number of prehistoric drawings found in Europe dating back to 4,000 BC. Guests can also choose from a plethora of marine-based activities – from snorkelling, stand up paddle boarding, windsurfing and kitesurfing – in the crystal-clear waters of the Adriatic, while private speedboat excursions to the nearby islands can also be arranged. Maslinica Bay is a picture of peace, but partygoers can enjoy the fact that 15 minutes away, Hvar town welcomes all socialites.
As Croatia and especially Hvar has been a recent tourist hotspot, Pejovic wanted to make sure that the resort was warmly welcomed in the community. “We have been successful explaining our unique approach to hospitality and proving said approach through talking with plenty of local suppliers and vendors to create long term cooperation with them, especially winemakers, olive oil producers, but also vegetable producers, local fishers and so on,” says Pejovic.
Paradox Hospitality, the managing company behind Maslina Resort, was able to keep the mindful luxury philosophy ever-present through its conceptualization which is visible in architecture and design throughout. Using non-intrusive structural design and combining the use of organic and native materials, Croatian architect Tomislav Alujevic created a place where a sense of wellbeing and a connection to nature and community are omnipresent. Perfectly complementing the ecological and contemporary resort is a minimalist, yet refined styling and artisan craftsmanship from renowned European interior designer Léonie Alma Mason and landscaper Thomas Seconde. The peaceful and elegant atmosphere allows Maslina Resort to blend seamlessly into its natural surroundings creating a place of pure pleasure, allowing guests to enjoy and share magical moments throughout its breath-taking landscape.
Pejovic concludes that, “Wellbeing and wellness do not reside in one building or one department of the Maslina Resort; it is integral to all thoughts, activities, and plans. Add to that the principles of mindfulness, and you have a great recipe for wellbeing.”
