THE LARGEST CONVENTION HOTEL IN THIS PART OF THE ADRIATIC
LOCATION
The location of Grand Hotel Bernardin, part of the St. Bernardin resort, by the sea on the green cape between Piran and Portorož, is one of its main competitive advantages. The resort derives its name from 15th century St. Bernardin’s church which stands in the centre of the resort. The resort has a total of 731 rooms in three hotels – the flagship five-star Grand Hotel Bernardin, the four-star Histrion Hotel and the three-star Villa Park which comprises rooms and apartments. In addition to its location, the diverse range of facilities available within the resort is the second important competitive advantage of Grand Hotel Bernardin.
ACCESSIBILITY
Piran is the leader among Slovenia’s tourist municipalities. Despite the fact that Portorož has a small international airport, there are no regular scheduled flights and therefore it could hardly be described as a flight destination. Most tourists, therefore, arrive by road thus access to the town for those without their own transport can be quite problematic. However, those guests arriving at Grand Hotel Bernardin under their own steam are well catered for as there is ample parking.
COLD APPETIZER - Architecture and Aesthetics
The hotel’s architecture dates from the time of the greatest boom in tourism in the former Yugoslavia. At that time, rather than entrusting the work to Edo Mihevc, the architect of the original manor, it was awarded to an American architect from the TAC Group from Cambridge, Boston. The hotel was built on a flysch cliff and its modernist construction connected Piran and Portorož. An exceptional resort was formed, the biggest in the country, which combines three categories of hotels, a marina, a convention centre, a private beach and numerous other facilities (bars, sports facilities etc.). There are often comments that the hotel’s architecture isn’t the best, but the fact is that a superior resort was created, the functional value of which has been proven over time.
WARM APPETIZER - Personnel and cuisine
Grand Hotel Bernardin has had its ups and downs, now, however, it seems that a new period of prosperity is ahead. In addition to renovation of the hotel’s rooms, positive steps have also been taken in the area of service and its personnel in general. Service is fast and efficient and it appears that the hotel’s imperfections in the area of friendliness is now a thing of the past. There is no waiting an eternity for the bill and the price list has also seen some new innovations. There is still room for improvement in the area of cuisine, though it isn’t necessary to deviate too far. The standard in this area is dictated by Lifeclass and Kempinski. If tourism is about people, then it is in this area that the Bernardin Hotels have the greatest room for improvement.
MAIN DISH - The hotel's congress services
Following recent renovations Grand Hotel Bernardin has become the largest convention hotel in this part of the Adriatic, which is its main trump card during both the low tourist season and the high congress season. The hotel’s convention centre functions smoothly and is spatially very well balanced. It is practically the only convention centre of its kind in Slovenia that offers such a ratio between its size and the different categories of rooms available. There are a total of 16 halls, the largest of which can accommodate up to 1,100 participants, making it the largest conference hall in Slovenia. Events organisers will be delighted by the news that this year 160 rooms have been entirely renovated, whilst 80 have been partly renovated. The renovation includes the extension of rooms with bathrooms and balconies. The design is modern with renovated floors and walls. This has greatly contributed to addressing one of the greatest flaws in one of the best congress hotels in Slovenia.
DESSERT – Extras
The very diverse range of facilities and services including three hotel beaches, a wellness centre in Hotel Histrion and the Laguna Bernardin marine park. Commercial Street, a water sports centre, tennis courts, a diving centre and a smaller lagoon are just part of the rich range of facilities at this tourist resort.
FLOP – NEGATIVE SURPRISES
Congress guests tend to prefer four-star hotels. As a five-star hotel, therefore, Grand Hotel Bernardin is saddled with a heavy burden. We believe that because of the high expectations of a hotel of its category, it is for this reason that some guests might leave unsatisfied.
TOP – POSITIVE SURPRISES
Still one of the best, technically superior and spacious convention centres in the region, with a flexible design, good service, and modern multimedia equipment.
OVERALL IMPRESSION AND CREDIBILITY
Renovation of the hotel’s rooms was long overdue. Following the renovation works, the biggest regional congress hotel has again got the wind in its sails. The Europe congress hall, which has a capacity for up to 1,100 participants, remains its greatest asset and constantly attracts organisers of events. Together with the numerous smaller halls and outside areas, Grand Hotel Bernadin is one of the best choices on Slovenia’s coast.
RESULTS | MARKS |
---|---|
1. LOCATION | 4.90 |
2. ACCESSIBILITY | 4.52 |
3. FIRST IMPRESSION | 4.73 |
4. LOBBY | 4.63 |
5. EMPLOYEE ATTITUDE | 4.80 |
6. RECEPTION | 4.53 |
7. HOTEL ROOM | 4.63 |
8. HOTEL BED | 4.67 |
9. BATHROOM AND RESTROOM | 4.61 |
10. HOTEL BREAKFAST | 4.64 |
11. BARS AND RESTAURANTS | 4.53 |
12. CONGRESS HALL | 4.99 |
13. ADDITIONAL OFFER | 4.59 |
TOTAL: | 4.67 |