MK Group, the Serbian-based diversified holding company with significant interests in tourism, real estate, agriculture and energy across Southeast Europe, has signed new hotel management agreements with global hospitality operator Minor Hotels, marking a strategic expansion of luxury tourism offerings on the Adriatic coast. Under the arrangement, two existing properties in Croatia and Slovenia will be integrated into Minor Hotels’ portfolio, bringing some of the world’s most recognised hotel brands to these rapidly growing Mediterranean destinations.
The partnership sees MK Group commit €20 million in upgrades and repositioning efforts for the Adriatic Istria Resort in Savudrija, Croatia, and the Hotel Palace in Portorož, Slovenia, as the hotels transition to operations under Minor Hotels’ management. Both properties will continue operating through the 2026 tourist season before undergoing substantial refurbishments and relaunching in the first quarter of 2027 under the luxury Anantara and Minor Reserve Collection brands, respectively.
This marks a notable milestone for Minor Hotels, which currently oversees over 640 properties globally and has chosen Croatia and Slovenia as its debut markets in the Adriatic region as it deepens its presence in European resort destinations. Under the agreement, the Slovene property in Portorož will be rebranded within the Minor Reserve Collection, a luxury soft brand focused on unique and character-rich destinations, while the Croatian Adriatic Istria Resort will relaunch as an Anantara property, signalling an uplift in luxury positioning.
In practical terms, the transformation will introduce elevated wellness, spa, dining, and resort amenities aligned with global luxury standards, designed to attract higher-yield international travellers and strengthen the Adriatic’s appeal in the premium tourism segment. Portorož is already recognised for its spa and health tourism heritage, while the Istrian Peninsula in Croatia has emerged as a leading Mediterranean leisure destination with strong demand from European and intercontinental markets.
For MK Group, this collaboration with Minor Hotels represents a strategic move to reposition its assets within the upper tier of the hospitality market, leveraging Minor’s global distribution channels, loyalty programmes and brand equity to boost occupancy, average daily rates and revenue per available room (RevPAR) over the long term. The repositioning also aligns with broader regional trends toward premium tourism development in the Adriatic, where rising international visitation is driving demand for higher-end accommodation offerings and diversified tourism products.
The initiative complements ongoing efforts to enhance tourism infrastructure and service quality across the region, and comes at a time when destination competitiveness increasingly hinges on the presence of internationally recognised hotel brands capable of delivering both leisure and MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) demand.
By bringing Minor Hotels into Croatia and Slovenia through this strategic partnership, MK Group aims to elevate the region’s position on the global tourism map and unlock new opportunities for inbound tourism growth through stronger brand recognition, diversified product offerings and enhanced hospitality standards.
