Inside the €15 Million Glamour Project on Bačvice

Westgate Group, the Split-based investor behind Dalmatia Tower and the AC Hotel by Marriott, is set to open its new boutique hotel Venturo in the Bačvice district. The €15 million investment further expands the company’s hospitality portfolio, while Venturo will become the only hotel in Croatia operating within the global Design Hotels collection.

Design Hotels is part of the Marriott International portfolio, the world’s largest and most prestigious hotel group. The collection brings together carefully curated boutique hotels distinguished by strong creative concepts, architecture inspired by local culture, and a highly individualized guest experience. The Venturo project also marks Westgate Group’s second development in partnership with Marriott International.

The hotel is scheduled to open by the end of April, and thanks to Marriott’s global distribution network and the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program, the first bookings for the upcoming season are already arriving from international markets.

Hotel Venturo is located just a few minutes’ walk from Diocletian’s Palace, the Riva waterfront promenade, and the ferry and railway terminals. This prime location places the hotel at the very heart of Split’s tourist and urban life, close to one of the city’s most famous beaches and one of its most recognizable micro-destinations.

The hotel features 24 accommodation units ranging from 25 to 85 square meters, with interiors designed as contemporary Mediterranean spaces that combine minimalist design, natural materials, and elements of local cultural heritage.

Venturo will operate as an adults-only hotel, offering guests a restaurant inspired by modern Mediterranean cuisine, a cocktail bar conceived as the hotel’s social hub, a garden terrace for relaxed gatherings, and a wellness and spa area as the highlight of its hedonistic offering. The hotel also includes a fitness area equipped with Matrix equipment.

A particular highlight of the property is the rooftop terrace of around 100 square meters, featuring a pool and panoramic views of the city center. The hotel also offers a private garage, and guests are welcome to stay with their pets, as the property is pet-friendly.

The hotel will be led by Mario Ivić, a Split native, former professional basketball player, and seasoned hospitality professional with nearly two decades of international experience in leading hotel companies including Starwood Hotels & Resorts, TUI Group, and Marriott International. In his previous role, he oversaw the opening of The Isolano hotel on the island of Cres, Croatia’s first Autograph Collection hotel.

“Venturo was conceived as a fusion of contemporary design and authentic Dalmatian identity. Natural materials such as Brač stone were used on the exterior, while decorative motifs in the interior draw inspiration from traditional Drniš embroidery, reinterpreted through a contemporary design language. Each room and public space is further enriched with original artworks by academic painter Vera Mekinić, inspired by the Dalmatian landscape and Mediterranean light,” explained the hotel’s director.

Ivić added that it is a great honor to lead Venturo and join Westgate Group in creating projects that offer guests authentic experiences and bring a fresh energy to contemporary Adriatic hospitality.

“I see Venturo as a hotel that allows guests to experience Split from within – through its culture, gastronomy, art, and the everyday rhythm of the city,” he said, adding that the hotel’s name itself carries strong symbolism.

The name Venturo derives from the Latin phrase tempo venturo, meaning “the time to come” or the future. It is also linked to the word ventus, meaning wind, symbolizing movement, arrival, and change. This idea of dynamism and a new chapter shaped the identity of the project.

Josip Komar, CEO of Westgate Group, emphasizes that Venturo represents an introduction to projects yet to come.

“Our goal was to create a hotel that is not just a place to stay but a space that conveys the authentic spirit of Split – its warmth, Mediterranean character, and way of life. Venturo is designed as an intimate boutique hotel that blends contemporary design, local art, and culture, allowing guests to experience Split in an authentic and personal way.

At the same time, this project marks an important milestone in the development of Westgate Group. Venturo is something of an overture to much larger projects we will soon launch in Split. These investments will significantly contribute to the transformation of the city’s tourism offering and further position Split on the map of the most attractive Mediterranean destinations. Our goal is to develop projects that not only elevate hotel standards but also create new energy within the destination and redefine how tourism on the Adriatic is experienced,” Komar concluded.