OPEN SECRET
LOCATION
The hotel is located between 4 streets in the very centre of Subotica, which is easily mastered and memorized on foot. The striking 5 storey building fits in well with its surroundings as the building has extended purpose, with a small shopping hall, offices and dental centre. It is all connected by a covered atrium, which could become a unique concert venue, conference hall or juncture for the people of Subotica. The height of 25m gives it a special charm and with the size being 1,300 m2 it is one of the biggest meeting spaces in Serbia.
ACCESSIBILITY
Subotica is located on the very north of the Republic of Serbia, just by the Hungarian border and is easily accessible by great road connections, as well as by train. It is interesting that it is placed approximately 200km from the airport in Belgrade and 200km from the airport in Budapest. Currently, most of the guests are regional and come by car, which is why the spacious underground parking is appreciated. The access to Subotica is far from complicated and surprises with flowy traffic in the city and easy access.
COLD APPETIZER - Architecture and Aesthetics
The hotel takes up a whole city quarter and blends nicely with the veduta of the city. The genius is the hotel’s roofed atrium, which acts as an extension of the city streets where you can spontaneously wander to the central fountain or the unique beer hall. It is a thought out multifunction space, which gives the hotel a purpose and defines it. We could say that it is the hotel’s catedral. The visual image of the hotel lobby is classic with a glimpse of elegance, which continues in the interior design of the rooms and restaurants and is the crest of the hotel’s style. Amongst other areas, the hotel’s breakfast room is a pleasant surprise. It is located on the top floor and gives you an amazing panoramic view of Subotica.
WARM APPETIZER - Staff and catering
The professionalism of the staff is certain and visible from the first touch with the reception until the checkout and immense hospitality seems to be the standard in these parts of Serbia. The most obvious thing is the good upkeep of the hotel and all of the public areas. The culinary offer is truly wide. If we start with breakfast, the offer is typical, but I missed some more locality and authenticity. On the bright side, the views from the breakfast room are priceless and make for a great start of the day. A more complex authentic cuisine is offered in restaurant Panorama, which impresses with quality service and a good selection of wine.
MAIN DISH - Conference hotel service
Most of the guests are businessman and participants of congresses and seminars. All of the rooms are above average in size and equipped with stylish furniture. For a hotel of this class, the furniture is also above standard and most of all well maintained. In the standard rooms, the only thing that bothers is the slightly cold-looking bathroom, which has all the expected amenities. The hotel offers 7 conference halls, with the biggest being capable of welcoming 400 guests and is mostly used for weddings. The halls are arranged in floors, which complicates the logistics, but the two elevators offer a pretty efficient solution. The before mentioned atrium is a unique multifunctioning venue and definitely a game-changer for the hotel.
DESSERT – The extras
A true surprise when staying at the hotel is the trendy hipster beer hall called “Samo Pivo”. You will be introduced to the complete offer of the best craft beers from Serbian, aswell as the best European brewery’s. It could also be an amazing venue for a congress after party.
FLOP – NEGATIVE SURPRISES
The wireless internet has some bugs and doesn‘t work throughout the floors.
TOP – POSITIVE SURPRISES
The pedantic upkeep of the hotel together with an immensely friendly and professional staff contributes to the overall sense of contentment.
OVERALL IMPRESSION AND CREDIBILITY
The hotel is an interesting crossover of content, which sets the pace for the congress industry of Subotica. It is an investment that has shown how to smartly enliven the city centre. It’s main assets show in the multifunctional offer, which looks very convincing as a package. It seems as a hotel, where you get a lot of space, quality services, and priceless Pannonian hospitality for the paid expense. This hasn’t gone unnoticed as the famous New York Times has proclaimed the hotel the best 4**** hotel in Serbia in 2014.
FINAL GRADE: 4.38 BRONZE CITY MEETING HOTEL
GOLD final score from 4.81 to 5.00
SILVER final score from 4.61 to 4.80
BRONZE final score from 4.41 to 4.60
