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25. 11. 2025.

eKapija interview

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Media: Business portal eKapija

INTERVIEW: VLADIMIR POPOVIĆ, General Manager of Carine

1. The Carine company is building a complex in Baošići that will, according to announcements, be the largest hotel in Montenegro and the region. Can you tell us more about this project (area, number of rooms, capacity, facilities)?

- Our new resort in Baošići will have over 800 modernly equipped rooms, 5 restaurants with a diverse gastronomic offer, an outdoor and indoor pool, a private beach with all amenities, as well as rich wellness and fitness facilities - a SPA center and a gym. The resort is located on the seafront and 80 percent of the rooms will have a direct or partial view of the beautiful Bay of Kotor.

Special attention is paid to families and the youngest, so the complex includes an indoor park and several playrooms. The resort is also designed as a place for business gatherings - there are congress halls, business premises and a multifunctional hall with an area of ​​1000 m2, as well as a garage. The resort is located on the seafront and 80 percent of the rooms will have a direct or partial view of the beautiful Bay of Kotor.

2. How is the construction progressing? At what stage are the works and when do you expect the hotel to be able to welcome its first guests?

- Construction is progressing faster than planned, so we expect the hotel to welcome its first guests as early as June next year. The rough works were completed in a record time of just 12 months, which is an exceptional achievement for such a demanding project. Currently, craft works, installation of the facade and exterior decoration are underway, while interior decoration will begin at the end of this year. Our goal is for the hotel to be ready not only in terms of construction, but also fully equipped and functional for all the facilities we plan to offer.

3. How many jobs will be created in the new hotel? Do you expect to have problems finding qualified labor?

- Finding quality workforce is a challenge that is becoming more pronounced year after year, but we are pleased that the employees have shown that they have recognized the stability and perspective of our company – the vast majority have been with us for five or more years.
We plan to employ around 400 workers in the new resort and, as before, we are confident that we will attract the best staff from Montenegro and the region thanks to the quality working conditions and professional opportunities we offer. We are aware that some of the workforce may need to be hired from more distant markets, but we believe that our brand and reputation will be a strong magnet for talented people.

4. In addition to the hotel in Baošići, a project in Kumbor is also active. What will be built within that complex? What facilities will it have?

- Currently, our focus is on completing the project in Baošići, in order to open the hotel before the high summer season. However, a project in Đenovići and Kumbor, on an area of ​​around 75,000 m², is also being developed in parallel, which is planned to be built in three phases. The first phase covers a plot of 20,000 m².

This is a mixed-use complex that will combine hotel facilities and apartments for sale, with the possibility of a time-share model. In addition to standard hotel units, the offer will also include one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, and the entire project will be accompanied by a rich offer of commercial facilities, which will enrich the living and tourist standard of this location.

5. When do you expect the completion and opening of this complex?

- The first phase of the complex is planned to be completed and opened by the end of 2027, while the remaining two phases are scheduled for 2029 and 2031. This way, the project will be implemented in stages, so that each phase is fully functional and ready to offer the highest level of service.

6. What is the value of the projects in Baošići and Kumbor? Will the new complexes be positioned as classic hotels, facilities with an “all-inclusive” offer, or are they also moving towards a residential model?

- The total investment value in Baošići is around 80 million euros, and approximately the same value is planned for the first phase of the complex in Đenovići and Kumbor. The resort in Baošići will be positioned as an all-inclusive destination, but with an additionally enriched and diverse offer of restaurants and bars, which will make it unique in the region. On the other hand, the complex in Đenovići and Kumbor will be mixed-use - in addition to hotel capacities, it will also offer residential units, including apartments and the possibility of a time-share model.

7. What will set these resorts apart from other facilities on the Montenegrin coast? Is cooperation with some of the world's hotel brands perhaps planned?

- The resort in Baošići will stand out with an exceptionally rich and diverse all-inclusive offer and will satisfy the needs of all guests. Both projects will be implemented and managed under the Carine brand, which makes us particularly proud because in the era of globalization we manage to provide the highest level of service in an authentic way. Our reputation and guest ratings on online platforms are the best indicator that this approach is correct.

 

8. Within the framework of Carina, the Park and Delfin hotels in Bijela, and the Kumbor hotel in Kumbor are also successfully operating. How satisfied are you with this year's season and what business results do you expect by the end of the year?

- This season, the growth trend has continued compared to previous years, which makes us particularly happy. Constant investments in quality and service improvement are giving clear results - guest satisfaction has become the best recommendation for tour operators, who ask us for additional capacities every year. We expect to end this year with successful business results as well.

9. How do you assess the development of the hotel industry in Montenegro? Is there room for the development of new hotel capacities and where do you see the greatest potential?

- Tourism has long been the most important economic sector in Montenegro, but we have unfortunately missed the chance to fully connect it with agriculture, which was once planned. However, there is absolutely room for the development of hotel capacities, especially those of high categories. Globally, people are traveling more and more, and Montenegro offers a rarely rich combination of natural beauties, national parks, historical monuments and old towns. When this offer is combined with quality accommodation and service, success is inevitable. This also opens up space for other sectors – travel agencies, local producers, transporters. However, the key prerequisite for everything is quality infrastructure and good connections to the source markets.

10. What are your company's plans for the coming period? Is there any announcement of the development of a similar project outside the Herceg Novi Riviera?

- In the coming years, we will primarily focus on the development of projects in Baošići and Kumbor. Herceg Novi and the Herceg Novi Riviera have become our home and we are pleased that our projects contribute to the development of the local community and that we have the support of the citizens and the Municipality.

In the near future, our focus will be on hospitality, construction and logistics, and later we will carefully consider the possibility of expanding beyond this area.

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