Denis Pavlović: A New Chapter for Martinis Marchi

This year, the Biberon Group entered the Martinis Marchi complex in Maslinica on the island of Šolta. Known as experts in gastronomy, Biberon expanded into the hotel business two years ago. The Group sees this distinctive property, which combines a restaurant, hotel and marina, as a project that will leave an even stronger mark on Dalmatia's high-end tourism in the near future while remaining accessible to everyone, as they put it. So, this was a perfect moment for a conversation with Biberon Group owner, Mr. Denis Pavlović.

WHY MADE YOU DECIDE TO TAKE ON MARTINIS MARCHI?
We've been in the market for over 25 years, moving into the hotel business two years ago. This is a new challenge for us, since Martinis Marchi is positioned as a distinctive and charming destination. Our company's strength is gastronomy, which we can draw on to further develop the destination, alongside the 320-year-old estate, which is truly unique. And all of this right next to a major Mediterranean hub, which is just a 25-minute boat ride away, since our location is close to both Split and Trogir. We believe this project has the potential to deliver a one-of-a-kind experience worldwide. The most charming restaurants are the ones found on tiny islets, rather than on larger islands, and that's exactly the feeling you get on Šolta. Projects like this exist in Mediterranean destinations such as Sardinia, Ibiza, Sicily, and we have both the experience and the confidence to pull it off.

WHAT DOES THE BIBERON GROUP LOOK LIKE TODAY?
We have around 300 employees, and we continue to grow through new projects, operating at 25 locations across Croatia. There’s no large-scale expansion planned, but rather doing things better and delivering a high-quality and authentic service. We've taken on three hotel projects: a restaurant paired with the boutique hotel Olivier at Split’s Žnjan, and we're also working on Biberon Castello, a restaurant with a winery and boutique hotel near the Le Méridien Lav hotel. With Martinis Marchi, we want to develop and strengthen a concept with gastronomy at its center. That's our vision.

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT AT MARTINIS THIS YEAR?
This year we're opening the estate to all visitors, especially yachtsmen, but also to people passing through on transfers, and guests from Split as our day visitors. The most important thing in our inaugural year is opening the estate to all guests and significantly improving the dining experience. If a destination has every top-tier element in place, but the food isn't good, the experience is poor. We’ll focus on quality and Mediterranean elegance instead of exclusivity, so people feel relaxed, within a truly special atmosphere. Still, the most important thing is bringing this location closer to all boaters, because we have the required preconditions to deliver a top-level service. We’re aiming for a real Mediterranean energy, which is especially important for boaters. This is perhaps the Group's greatest strength, since we already have the logistics and structure built through our well-known restaurants, such as Olivier, Maestro, Kadena, Sushi, and now Martinis Marchi as well. We have a team of outstanding Croatian chefs: Hrvoje Zirojević, Stipe Vuletić, Mate Brković, Ivan Momčilović, Pero Savanović and now Karlo Jurčević. We also collaborate with other well-known chefs in Croatia through various pop-up events.

DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING SPECIAL PLANNED FOR LOCAL GUESTS?
We plan to revive the Marina Bar at our marina, where guests will be able to experience a beautiful sunset hour on a daily basis. Maslinica is known for having the most beautiful sunsets, looking out over a seven-islet archipelago, so we’ll host a small celebration of this at golden hour. Since the marina tends to be a bit quieter on Fridays because that’s when one batch of guests leaves and another arrives, we're planning an after-sailing party for guests in our marina who know they have an available berth that day, a nautical after-work party of sorts. If you know there's a small party happening, with good food, nice music, and a great atmosphere, you'll start up the engine and come over. We also offer a lovely breakfast, both for boaters and islanders. That's our vision, with a lot of potential and room to grow, and our role is to feel it and secure the logistics to bring it to life.

WHAT ABOUT THE HOTEL, CAN IT REALLY WORK WITH JUST NINE ROOMS?
Absolutely, we believe it can. It’s already performing very well, and again, it’s the energy that matters, making the story complete. Inside the hotel, we're reviving the wine cellar and the tasting room. We'll also open a public library, built around the existing book collection there. Another new experience will be the opening of the estate keeper's room for visitors as well. Exhibitions by well-known Croatian and international painters and sculptors are planned throughout the season. We’ll start with Zvonimir Mihanović, whose paintings and prints will soon be on display and available for purchase, which could be especially appealing to our international guests. The estate is enormous, and if we make the most of its garden, the wine-tasting room, the cellar, and the exhibition spaces, we'll create something completely new. I think the key is building the right atmosphere around the elements we've mentioned, always centered on seasonal ingredients and the Mediterranean spirit. Boat operators liked the idea of the announced transfer service from Split, Trogir and Kaštela, so they'll be bringing guests for lunch and dinner, with an option of an estate tour and hearing its stories. Of course, we'll continue to protect the privacy of our hotel guests – this is heritage and we'll preserve it as such. Alongside the tasting room there will also be an MM shop, where we'll share the sommelier stories of Šolta, Dalmatia and the wider region, paired with a curated souvenir selection. We already have transfers arranged from hotels in Split. A demand for this exists due to the significant number of high-end hotel and private accommodation options, and a place like this doesn’t exist anywhere else in the Adriatic. Once again, the proximity to Split, Trogir and the surrounding area is key. Martinis boasts an ideal location, just a short distance from the marinas in Split, making it a desirable location for a first or last stop on a charter. As the Biberon Group, our role is to blow guests away over with dining options, hospitality, and service.