HIDDEN GUEST: AC Hotel Split

AC Hotel Split welcomes guests on the upper floors of the tallest Croatian skyscraper, the Westgate Tower. Nomen est omen – the hotel is located on the western gates to the city, where investor Josip Komar, owner of Westgate Group, erected the elegant 135-metre highrise. The Westgate Tower comprises two buildings: the lower one houses the headquarters of the local OTP Bank, while its higher brother is home to the AC Hotel Split. Modern business edifices dot the lower floors of the higher skyscraper. The imposing towers have indelibly rendered this district, otherwise known as the industrial heart of Split. Given over 700 IT experts from the Ericsson company work here, many consider this the digital heart of the city. With a location ideal for such a development, it is unsurprising the business hotel found its home here. Despite the numerous impediments faced during the construction, they holistically realised the vision. Transformative!

In the summer, Split Airport is one of the most frequented in the region. During the peak season, planes land and takeoff nonstop. The hotel is some twenty kilometres away from the airport. You will reach the hotel quickly, should there be no traffic jams. If you arrive by car, you can park in the underground garage for 20 EUR daily. That is considerably more affordable than other parking garages in the city. To boot, the hotel offers an affordably-priced shuttle service. You can take a brisk twenty-minute walk to the city centre. Several buses passing by the hotel (line 37) are an alternative worth considering. Uber runs like a well-oiled machine in Split. Taking the train, with a station adjacent to the hotel, is another possibility, albeit the timetable of Croatian railways is undependable. Vociferous cyclists will be slightly disappointed by Split’s cycling infrastructure. The reasons are two-fold: first, the cycling paths are rarely marked or not at all, and second, the temperatures are unbearable, as the Mediterranean region is irreversibly warming. With a superb location, the hotel is not far from the city centre, ensuring guests see the most of Split.

AC Hotel Split appears as a monolith, towering above the city and shielding the Marjan Hill, the green lungs of the city. Its design is the brainchild of Croatian architect Otto Barić and his associates. He excelled in his work, receiving several international accolades for the design. What turns heads is the glass facade, immediately recognisable by its elegant pinstripes. They resemble vertical lines on clothes, rendering the monumental building elegant. Athellior Studio, which has already designed numerous hotels across the region, was tasked with the interior design. The refined architecture and design caught our eye, predominantly because of the natural materials. The design makes it a full-blooded business hotel. The icing on the cake were artworks of renowned Croatian painter Vatroslav Kuliš. Together with books on architecture and design, the hotel areas come to life as an impromptu gallery.

The hotel reception, functioning as the hub for convening, is tastefully designed. Its functionality ensures you won’t wait (too) long for your room in the peak season. Professional receptionists, by and far welcoming, contribute to a memorable first impression. Were we dissatisfied with anything, it must have been the generic and poorly envisioned breakfast. The restaurant on the first floor is compact, appearing too small when the hotel is full. Although the selection of dishes ticks the elementary boxes, they could elevate their gastronomy. For starters, they should label all dishes and consider how to refine the culinary offering. The hotel should go the extra mile to improve this segment. In addition, the staff appeared somewhat disorganised, while the front cooking turned from a show to a long row of queuing guests. It is a shame the breakfast was disappointing, as cuisine often leaves a lasting final impression. The hotel will trail behind the competition with such a generic culinary offer.

Hotel rooms

Courtesy of quality materials, the hotel room is on the safe side of generic minimalist hotel designs dominating hotel trends lately. The room features a wooden floor in a bright oak hue. The furniture and the elegant bed headboard follow the same style, paired with the earth-grey shade of the closet and dark grey wallpaper. Together, the room appears refined, elegant and functional. The wow effect depends on whether your room faces south or north. Still, as the rooms are set from the 20th floor upwards, they boast scenic views. If you are keen on truly mesmerising vistas, you should request a room on the south side. From our room on the 25th floor, we could take in the industrial heritage of Split. That, too, is worth admiring, although not the most romantic. Stylistically, the bathroom matches the concept of the room, enriched by luxury cosmetics from Greek brand Korres. Although we stayed in the most basic room, it seemed perfect for congress or incentive groups. In our opinion, it is not as luxurious as it may appear on the company’s website.

Meetings centre

The entire second floor is devoted to conferences. The layout of the halls is marked by the rounded triangular design of the skyscraper. That is why both larger halls are situated on the edges of the hotel, while the space opens up towards the centre of the building. The multifunctional halls adjoin the foyer. Although not the most spacious, it complements the halls with 150 square metres. We can conclude that the conference centre hides everything exhibition centres have in a relatively compact area. Together with the rooftop bar, the combination seems highly competitive.

DESSERT – The extras

A charming spa centre stretching on the 17th floor includes a boutique sauna centre adjoining a pool overlooking Split and a fitness centre.

FLOP – NEGATIVE SURPRISES

The gastronomy does not meet the expectations of guests. We believe the hotel should improve the breakfast. In addition, the hotel could address the crowds with better spa management.

TOP – POSITIVE SURPRISES

One of the hotel’s advantages is that the rooms are set on the upper floors. Guests can thus enjoy stunning views that show Split in a completely different light.

SUSTAINABLE ENDEAVOURS

The hotel’s most significant sustainable initiative is the energy efficiency of the building, its energy label being A. Only a handful of hotels reach this standard. We must praise their decision to use shampoo and soap dispensers in the bathroom for the Korres cosmetics. Their support of the SOS Children Village Croatia project is rare in hotels. AC Hotel Split is among the pioneering Croatian hotels supporting a socially responsible campaign. We think they could avoid the generic “Help the Planet” banners, though, as no one blindly believes them anymore.

In many ways, the hotel is a game-changer in Split. AC Hotel Split is the first hotel we can label as a purely business hotel in this coastal Croatian city. The number of successful Croatian companies headquartered in the skyscrapers and the location dictate the hotel’s function. The hotel boasts everything expected of a business hotel, including a healthy dose of prestige because of the companies operating in the towers.

Architecturally, AC Hotel Split is charming, turning heads and invoking bypassers to picture its facade. The quality of the interior pieces and the ergonomics within the hotel are world-class. Yet, there are also construction drawbacks here and there. To summarise, AC Hotel Split is dissimilar from other hotels in Split, dominated by leisure hotels. It is not for everyone’s taste, but it is undoubtedly ideal for event organisers who waited long for such an option in Split. Once they improve the level of hotel service and implement a thought-out price differentiation, AC Hotel Split will see bright days.

FINAL GRADE: 4.85 THREE MEETING STARS⭐⭐⭐ City 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