MEET, WORK AND STAY
LOCATION
The hotel is located in the middle of the green lungs of the city of Ilidža. This is where Slovenian company Terme Čatež built the Thermal Riviera years ago but were taken over by the Mrkulić Company in 2014. Almost simultaneously they also started the construction of the luxury hotel Hills began. The hotel is among the biggest in the city and offers 261 rooms and can be classified as a resort due to the connection with the Thermal Riviera. Along with the Hollywood Hotel in ownership of the same company they offer over 700 rooms and are the biggest congress complex in the city. The location is ideal for classic congresses and teambuilding programs as well, as there are many green surfaces appropriate for various activities in the area nearby.
ACCESSIBILITY
The hotel is not in the city center, never the less everything is very close because of the closeness of the tram-car*. The ride to the center of Sarajevo will only take you about 15 minutes. The taxi rides in Sarajevo are also very cheap. For guests arriving by car a spacious parking lot is available, that is a big advantage of the hotel. The airport is only 2km away and can be seen from the higher hotel floors. The hotel is easily accessible.
COLD APPETIZER - Architecture and Aesthetics
The hotel facility leans on Terme Ilidža, standing out from its surroundings with its pyramidal architecture. The hotel architecture is fairly classical and subdued to functionality. Straight lines dominate the interior. The minimalistic style with bright shades is backed up by natural wood and gray and brown shades of walls and interior furniture. A lot of attention was put into the lighting. Just nearby more condo apartments will be built in the future, primarily attracting Arabic guests. With this, the construction in this area will logically come to an end and the final result will be a true hotel resort based on thermal water.
WARM APPETIZER - Staff and catering
The hotel has a varied culinary offer. The breakfasts are rich with a self-service offer. Just the size of the gigantic breakfast room seems somehow over-dimensioned and not enough intimate. The culinary is mostly local Bosnian dishes. The minimalistic hotel restaurant is based on local culinary and classic international selection. The thing we did miss though was a bit richer wine list. If the hotel scene doesn’t fit you-you can go to Ilidža, known for its many restaurants. The personnel needs a bit more training, to get the feeling of a five-star hotel. They are correct and kind though but do need some training to get the five-star status.
MAIN DISH - Conference hotel service
The rooms are well equipped, attractive and modern, as expected for a five-star hotel. The rooms from the higher floors offer great views. Pastel colors prevail and the Congress Center is impressive and excites with tall ceilings in the big hall for 1,500 participants. As big as it is, it can host even the most-difficult events, and many have been held since the opening. Other congress halls are smaller and can hold up to 100 to 180 participants. The lobby for smaller shows is also very well set and stretches on 500 m2. After what we have seen this has to be the best congress hall in Sarajevo, what demanding corporate buyers quickly realized.
DESSERT – The extras
Hotel Hills is a part of the Thermal Riviera Ilidža, covering the complex of covered pools a well as a pool complex outdoors.
FLOP – NEGATIVE SURPRISES
We are a bit less excited by the reception. The super-slow check-in and check-out kind of ruin the overall great impression of the hotel. Maybe the reason was in the big group, just leaving the hotel at that time.
TOP – POSITIVE SURPRISES
A remarkable congress center, one of the best in the region as from the functional design as well as the technical equipment and professionalism.
OVERALL IMPRESSION AND CREDIBILITY
Overall along with the thermal riviera and the neighboring Hotel Hollywood, it is a very attractive combination, allowing it to host major congress events. Definitely, it deserves credit for the interior, may it be hotel rooms or public spaces. If we look at the hotel resort from the side, then we really get a lot for the money or practically the most in the region. It seems, that the new hotel entered the market at just the right time. Hotel Hills is by our marking just behind the top hotels. To get the highest grades it only misses a few tiny details.
FINAL GRADE: 4.71 SILVER 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
