HIDDEN GUEST: Keight Hotel Opatija, Curio Collection by Hilton

Hilton’s brands have been mushrooming across the region. Keeping abreast of the latest openings is thus often difficult. There are disparate differences between individual brands, and understanding the promises of each sub-brand resembles detective work. Among all the hotels within the portfolio, those not owned by the hotel chain, with a franchise agreement, are unique specimens. In Opatija’s case, the hotel is owned by the established tourist agency Katarina Line and managed by Zagreb City Hotels. The latter brand already manages Hilton properties in the Croatian capital. How the hotel got its name is a well-kept secret. Keight is the alias of the legendary owner of the hotel, Katica Hauptfeld, the founder of Katarina Line. The eight adorning the entrance to the hotel is her lucky number, symbolising good fortune in business and finances. Her story is inspiring, and we have no doubts the new hotel will flourish like a green bay tree. Keight Hotel Opatija’s location is spectacular, right in the heart of Opatija, adjacent to the central bus station. Although some argue the whereabouts are far from alluring, they quickly change their tune upon entering the hotel. Its lobby has transformed into the city’s living room in no time. Guests begin appreciating the location when they walk out onto the stunning terrace, from where they can enjoy the scenic vistas of the Kvarner Gulf and the colourful rooftops of Opatija. The layers of this elegant Croatian tourist town, steeped in history, unravel from the terrace. We must sign praise for the hotel and the role it played in revitalising this formerly deprived area, once a parking lot overgrown with weeds. We commend them on the sustainable revamp.

Should you arrive at the destination by public transport, you will likely exit at the very entrance of the hotel. The central traffic crossroads goes right by the hotel. The location is also fantastic as a starting point for strolling on the legendary Lungomare promenade connecting Lovren, Opatija and Volosko. Guests arriving by car will need to reach into their pockets. The daily parking fee is 30 EUR or 25 EUR at the nearest outdoor parking lot. If you arrive with an electric vehicle, be prepared to charge your EV elsewhere. The absence of charging stations is one of the hotel’s drawbacks.

You will need some forty-five minutes for the forty-kilometre journey to the Rijeka Airport. Still, you will likely need to rely on the more frequented airports in Pula, Ljubljana or Zagreb. Sustainably oriented guests can travel by train to the central train station in Rijeka. From there, taxis and buses drive to Opatija nonstop. The taxi prices are acceptable, too. We missed a bicycle rental stop, although we are sure they will sort this out soon, considering the hotel only opened a few weeks ago.

When an architectural studio such as 3LHD stands behind a hotel’s design, you can expect nothing less than exceptional style. The architect faced a predicament because of the relatively narrow and miniature piece of land. Despite the challenge, they excelled, architecturally transforming this part of Opatija. The facade is a modern reinterpretation of famed tourist buildings strewn across Opatija. It is characterised by a rectangular grid that seeps into the surroundings. The architects stated it joins the best of both worlds – the sea and land. They used ocean hues, sky shades and earth tones to bring them together. The hotel also pays homage to the history of tourism in Opatija. You will feel the pulse of Opatija in the hotel corridors and rooms. You can explore it everywhere in the hotel. Once, opulent hotels in Opatija convened dignitaries from far and near. In this hotel, the lobby revives those times with an atmosphere reminiscent of the legendary coffee shops in Vienna and Opatija. What the architects succeeded in realising on such a liliputian space is admirable. The interior design crafted by Croatian designers is no less impressive.

Assembling a world-class hotel team demands time and an excellent coach. It seems the hotel is on its charted path, yet not all team players are pulling in the same direction. Some polishing is needed to keep the hotel on a five-star level in terms of service. At the reception, we were positively surprised by an incredibly friendly receptionist, yet disappointed at her reserved colleague who seemed ambivalent towards making personal contact with the guests. The situation is similar in other fields, where the staff members must harmonise in the future. Still, the direction of the hotel is praiseworthy. Breakfast was a case in point, standing out from mostly generic hotel breakfasts. We were well impressed by the selection of cold cuts, fruit, pastries and the five-star array of a la carte dishes. However, a hotel of this calibre should offer guests freshly squeezed orange juice and proper espresso instead of instant coffee. Also, they should label the dishes in the buffet part. The a la carte menu will satisfy most guests, though. The management should address some challenges in the hotel bar, where we waited well over ten minutes for the coffee we ordered. But again, we should give the hotel a hundred days to sort out the initial flops.

Hotel rooms

The elementary hotel room we stayed in would be advertised as a suite in other hotels. We were not only taken aback by its size but by its incredible interior design. Upon setting foot in the room, guests will be impressed by the massive cherry wood furniture. The compact wooden flooring is superb, too. The imposing entry doors open in an unusual oscillating motion. What rounds off the design is the throne in the form of an elegant master bed. Complementing the design is the lighting, reminiscent of the Golden Twenties. Each room is adorned with pictures and graphics that connect the hotel with the history of tourism in Opatija. Guests can comfortably slip into quality-made hotel slippers (for a change) and head to the spa cloaked in a hotel bathrobe in an unusual light brown hue. You can also purchase the slippers and the robe, should you be convinced to take them home. We listed the bathroom as a speciality among the hotel’s desserts. Its earth-grey tones act as a beautiful light contrast to the otherwise dark-coloured room. Together, they form a harmonious whole.

Meetings centre

The conference hall can accommodate up to 80 guests in a theatre setting. It is harmoniously balanced with the number of rooms. Event organisers can reserve it for world-class incentives. Although the hall is on the basement floor, the architects still ensured some daylight floods the hall, fostering a pleasant ambience for work. Even more impressive is the terrace with a smaller pool and bar. It seems perfect for business launches, evening events or more casual lectures.

DESSERT – The extras

The architects and designers assigned a visible role to the bathroom. It hides behind massive wooden doors, the wood almost indistinguishable from the rest of the walls. The spacious bathroom has three functions, featuring a separate toilet, a sink and another separate area with a walk-in shower and bathtub concealed by a glass surface. The natural light flooding the space through a vast glass surface is a rare sight in hotels.

FLOP – NEGATIVE SURPRISES

You may hear loud guests returning from a city escapade should you stay in the interconnected room. The doors, unfortunately, cannot mute all the rattle and hum. We suggest you request a room that is not interconnected. Our search for hotel amenities typical of luxury hotels was in vain (they could offer at least a vanity kit).

TOP – POSITIVE SURPRISES

What adds value to the hotel is the Spa centre crowned by an elegant 25-metre pool. A spacious zen room and two saunas provide enough serenity and comfort to make guests feel pleasant even in winter. We were most impressed by the light emitted by the underwater half-moon-shaped lights dotting the pool. Given the number of hotel rooms, the spa is above standard.

SUSTAINABLE ENDEAVOURS

Apart from the generic hotel messages to save energy and reuse towels, we did not notice any other sustainable initiatives. Sustainability is managed by Hilton’s pledge “Conserve to Preserve”. Still, the hotel has a long way ahead to make its offer more sustainable. Guests no longer foolishly believe such slogans.

The hotel is positioned high in terms of stars and price policy. The expectations are thus as high as the prices for staying here. In many ways, the hotel meets those expectations. However, to justify the prices and five-star level, Keight Hotel Opatija will need to run like a well-oiled machine. The design itself is superb. The hotel boasts a refined interior, while the exterior blends with its neighbouring buildings. As hotel guests, we cannot desire more architectural extravaganza from a boutique hotel. Although our remark is utterly subjective, we thought the hotel exuded exclusive elegance with a hint of subtle drama, so typical of the 3LHD architectural bureau’s projects.

Yet, the design is only one side of the coin. We must give the hotel more time to calibrate its service. Even though we were not disappointed by the service, we expected more, as do demanding clients, whom the hotel aims to attract. Regardless, Keight Hotel Opatija is poised to become a world-class hotel and gem Opatija desperately needs amid a flood of mediocre accommodations. We should give it some time to fulfil its promise.

FINAL GRADE: 4.92 THREE MEETING STARS⭐⭐⭐ Boutique Meeting Hotel 

3 MEETING STARS⭐⭐⭐ final score from 4.81 to 5.00
2 MEETING STARS⭐⭐ final score from 4.61 to 4.80
1 MEETING STAR⭐ final score from 4.41 to 4.60