HIDDEN GUEST: Kempinski Hotel Adriatic

A new era is dawning for the hotel, which the public has known for the past eighteen years as Kempinski Hotel Adriatic. The owners of the Serbian investment company MK Group have announced that the hotel’s management will change hands. Our hidden guest assessor ventured to Istria to assess Kempinski’s outpost in Savudrija before the famed brand leaves Savudrija. According to unofficial information, the Thailand-based Anantara hotel chain, owned by Minor Hotels, is poised to take over the management of the hotel. Regardless of the recent ownership and management shakeups, the hotel’s main asset remains its stunning location, overlooking the Piran Bay. The panoramic setting is not only an aesthetic bonus, but a strategic resource for attracting guests seeking a luxury break or event organisers seeking a venue for business events, incentives and conferences.

Thanks to its secluded location, the hotel seamlessly bridges business and leisure.

Kempinski Hotel Adriatic is tucked away near Savudrija, close to Umag, yet far enough to provide a welcome respite from the touristy areas. The hotel is an oasis of calm for demanding guests who seek serenity, discretion, space and time for themselves. Thanks to its secluded location, the hotel seamlessly bridges business and leisure – from golfing and wellness pampering to multi-day business events. Scenic Istrian towns, vineyards perched atop rolling hills, and trails among olive groves add further appeal to the destination. The location does not vie for attention, but hides many secrets.

The hotel’s accessibility is great, although it has some minor drawbacks. Kempinski Hotel Adriatic is well-connected to local motorways. Guests can reach it in an hour from Slovenia (90 minutes from Ljubljana) and 50 minutes from Trieste. The closest airports are in Pula (90 kilometres away) and Trieste, which most guests find to be a more convenient choice. The motorway exits are easy to follow, and getting here with Google Maps or Waze is effortless. Despite this, the hotel is set in a part of Istria where a car is almost mandatory for travelling and exploration. For guests who wish to arrive via public transport, accessibility is much more challenging. Luckily, the hotel offers shuttle transport. Upon arriving, guests can park in the tidy and sizable parking area. During events, parking spots fill up rapidly, though. We must remark that the parking spots are rather narrow. Alternatively, guests can park their vehicles in the parking garage. This option is not free of charge. We must praise the hotel’s varied choice of classic and electric bicycles for rent. Thanks to this possibility, guests can explore the region sustainably on two wheels. Yet, we must state that nothing works without a car here.

Kempinski Hotel Adriatic stretches almost 16,500 square metres (1,65 hectares) and is designed as a contemporary Mediterranean resort. The authors of the design, Eligio Legović and Matjaž Ivanić, designed the property by blending it with the Istrian landscape, evoking tidiness and serenity. Instead of dominating the surroundings, the property seeps into the green nature. The eighteen-hole golf course, the brainchild of Diethard Fahrenletiner, imbues the hotel with openness and structure. Inside, Italian studio Consonni CTC curated the decor, transferring their know-how from kitting out luxury Azimut Yachts and the Armani Hotel in Dubai to Kempinski’s outpost in Savudrija. The materials they used – stone, wood and various textiles – befit a classic hotel design. Altogether, they appear functional and warm.

The hotel’s architecture strikes a balance between business seriousness and relaxed resort charm.

The hotel’s varied layout fosters privacy, both within the rooms and public areas. The latter are spacious, flooded with daylight and offer splendid views of the surroundings. The hotel’s architecture strikes a balance between business seriousness and relaxed resort charm. The hotel hides no major architectural surprises but is also void of any drawbacks. Yet, it seems the time for a revamp has arrived. The decision to change management thus seems timely.

A score of 8.7 on Booking sets expectations and is a telling sign that the hotel is worth evaluating in person. In our experience, the hotel functions well in individual segments, but lacks consistency. The staff, in particular, is inconsistent: some employees are incredibly warm, welcoming and eager to help, while others appear overwhelmed or uncoordinated. The hotel bar and main restaurant, Dijana, are the highlights of the offering. There, service is flawless. Conversely, breakfast displays the hotel’s weaknesses – a packed breakfast space, slow service and disoriented staff members. The cuisine is satisfactory, yet not always on the level the brand and price tag implicitly promise. Some dishes were convincing, while others were mediocre. The offering is not always consistent, and prices are high. In conclusion, the hotel’s gastronomy has visible potential and excellent foundations, but currently appears fragmented and unconnected. We are convinced the hotel can improve its gastronomy.

Hotel rooms

The room we stayed in, the Premium Seaside View, measures 41 square metres. Upon setting foot inside, guests quickly notice the spaciousness and calming design. The spatial layout is logical, without redundant space. All elements of the room meet Kempinski standards. The hotel might not create a wow effect, but it does not disappoint either.

This is a play-it-safe, timeless hotel design that works.

The colour palette is based on neutral tones, warm wooden decor and soft textures that scream quiet luxury. This is a play-it-safe, timeless hotel design that works, is risk-free, but lacks connection with the local environment. The balcony overlooking the cerulean-hued Adriatic is a key part of the experience, but the view has a more calming than dramatic effect. The bed ensures comfort, which is one of the key advantages of the room. The bathroom is spacious and functional, featuring a bathtub as its focal point, although crafted in a rather predictable design. The hotel room offers a high level of comfort but remains only charming rather than unforgettable. The time for a holistic renovation seems apt.

Meetings centre

The meeting halls are located in three separate buildings, allowing a high level of flexibility when organising various event types. The most sought-after are the halls in a separate building next to a private beach. Here, the sea views enrich the attendee experience. We were most impressed by Silvium Hall, which can accommodate up to 230 attendees. It is one of the most popular venues for large business events in Istria. Another option is the largest hall adjoining the golf course, which thrills guests with stunning views of the open landscape. Thanks to its ambience, the hall is also in demand for weddings and diplomatic events. Event organisers seeking a hall for conference purposes can choose between Balun 1 and 2 in the main hotel building, designed in a typical toned-down Kempinski style. A key benefit for incentive groups is the golf course, which they can use even in colder months. It adds another layer to the event possibilities at Kempinski Hotel Adriatic.

DESSERT – The extras

Kempinski Private Beach is an exclusive event venue for those who wish to offer something more – an intimate, breathtaking ambience next to the glistening Adriatic Sea. It provides the perfect “wow effect”, while the team ensures logistical support and privacy that demanding guests appreciate. The elegant natural setting is ideal for creating unforgettable experiences with minimal decor.

FLOP – NEGATIVE SURPRISES

It happens to the best; Kempinski Adriatic appears to be a world-class orchestra most of the time, but an attentive listener will quickly hear some dissonance. The first false note is its parking: in high season or during major events, finding a vacant lot is a test of patience. A five-star hotel simply cannot afford such a mistake. The second issue is the wear and tear of the interior. After eighteen years, the hotel is in dire need of a holistic refurbishment. In some places, the first signs of age are starting to show on the materials. In a way, the design is still modern but not the freshest. For a luxury hotel, the design should be the greatest asset.

TOP – POSITIVE SURPRISES

Outdoor event spaces are doubtless one of the hotel’s advantages. Officially, the hotel rents out Private Hill, Kempinski Private Beach and the Presidential Suite. In practice, though, the hotel is much more flexible when it comes to renting venues. Depending on the terms, event organisers can also host pool parties and use extra locations, such as the hotel villas that almost unnoticeably transform into top venues for boutique or relaxed events. This diversity of outdoor spaces, combining privacy, views and exclusivity, is rare not only in Istria, but throughout the Adriatic. This breadth of space and properties gives event organisers creative freedom that is hard to come across in most luxury resorts.

SUSTAINABLE ENDEAVOURS

If you are keen on certificates, Kempinski Hotel Adriatic won the bronze EarthCheck certificate in 2022. More importantly, the hotel recently installed solar panels, generating some of its electricity in-house. The hotel also partners with local suppliers, opts for seasonal ingredients in its cuisine and implements a slew of internal measures to reduce waste. Guests can charge their EVs at electric charging stations. In addition, they can go cycling on tidy cycling routes and trek in nature. The only drawback is that they don’t share all these commendable practices. This is a segment they can work on in the future.

Kempinski Hotel Adriatic remains an alluring choice for incentive groups.

We can only guess why Kempinski is bidding farewell to Piran Bay. Although Kempinski is a recognised and cherished, if classic, hotel brand, it only partially addressed the needs and demands of new generations of travellers at its Istrian outpost. Thus, the time to change hands might be opportune. Nonetheless, Kempinski Hotel Adriatic remains an alluring choice for incentive groups. The management has not been tapping into this potential. Alongside the impressive diversity of halls, the hotel also prides itself on additional features that help it edge out its competition. The professional 18-hole golf course (par 72) is not just an accompanying product but a draw that attracts event organisers. The hotel may be losing some of its lustre, particularly in gastronomy and personnel, but it remains an excellent choice in the region. Given the latest information, we have no doubts that a new, prestigious story will soon be written in one of Istria’s most scenic parts. Event organisers are eager for its unveiling.

FINAL GRADE: 4.90 THREE MEETING STARS⭐⭐⭐ Resort 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