FAM Report: Rediscovering magical Montenegro

During a recent interview, Wayne Redman and Andre Van Der Bijl from Mundus Representation shared that Montenegro is one of their most popular destinations for enquiries right now, and that the ROI from their last couple of fam trips was incredible. I wasn’t in the least bit surprised. I first visited Montenegro 15 years ago for a holiday back in 2009, just three years after it had declared independence from Serbia, and I fell in love with the small but spectacular destination.

I wrote a feature at the time on why I thought Montenegro would be the next hot incentive destination because it had so much to offer groups, but sadly the airlift and product was not quite ready for the corporate market. While it took a little longer than I thought, I was thrilled that my prediction had eventually come true. And I was even more thrilled when Mundus extended an invitation to join their next fam trip with partner Montenegro Concierge DMC and a group of UK agents. I jumped at the chance to revisit and see how one of my favourite destinations had changed. Would it be as beautiful and unspoilt as it was back then?

The weather was not on our side, and stormy skies caused a delay to our early morning EasyJet flight landing in Tivat (after an hour delay taking off from Gatwick), while unfortunately two in our group who were travelling from Manchester were diverted to Bari (where they ended up having to spend the night). But the rain and delays did not dampen our spirits, or experience. It also gave the team at Montenegro Concierge DMC the opportunity to showcase their adaptability as the ever-changing weather led to just a few tweaks in our planned programme.

Tivat Airport is one of two international airports in Montenegro, located south of the town of Tivat and Porto Montenegro. The airport is mainly used during the summer, as the point of arrival for Tivat, Kotor, and Budva. Alternatively, groups can arrive in Dubrovnik Airport in Croatia, an hour drive to Montenegro’s Boka Bay, which provides a much wider range of flight options to more destinations.

Day 1

On arrival, we headed for lunch at Malo Ribarsko Selo in Portonovi Marina, a charming rustic style restaurant serving traditional Montenegrin cuisine in a picturesque setting. Portonovi is one of three main marinas in Montenegro’s stunning Boka Bay area, and where the One & Only and other luxury properties are located, making it a great base for groups. After a visit of the nearby five-star Lazure Hotel & Marina , which has 128 rooms spread across its historic and new contemporary buildings and event space for up to 210 making it another great option for groups, we headed to the Savina Winery for a tasting.

Set on a hillside above the Savina monastery, Castel Savina is a boutique winery owned by the Obradovic family. The view over the bay is spectacular and the grounds feature vineyards, olive trees, citrus orchards and flower gardens – the perfect backdrop for a memorable group lunch or gala dinner. We tasted several of the wines and they were all delicious, alongside traditional tapas-style Montenegrin meats and cheeses. Thankfully we finished just before the heavens opened again, and headed to our hotel for the first night, the five-star Regent Porto Montenegro , a popular property for meeting and incentive groups.

Inspired by the numerous Venetian Palazzi around Boka Bay, the 175-room hotel is located within Porto Montenegro’s prestigious yacht marina, a very short transfer from Tivat airport which groups can do via road or sea. With three pools, a spa, three of its own restaurants, and plenty within walking distance, it’s hard to beat for location. A delicious dinner in the hotel’s Murano Restaurant rounded off day one perfectly.

Day 2

We started the day with a site visit of the Regent hotel, before exploring the vibrant Porto Montenegro area and all it has to offer, including a visit to Buddha-Bar Beach. Located within the marina’s yacht club, the restaurant and bar combine beach club vibes with five-star culinary options, making it another great option for gala dinners and receptions.

With the weather still not on our side, instead of heading out on the water as planned, we headed to Kotor for a unique and authentic experience with the wonderful chef-host Mrs. Vlasta Mandic in her family home. Vlasta is author of a famous cookbook featuring traditional recipes from the area, as well as an architect, musician and all round super woman. Here, we were treated to a masterclass in how to prepare Carnival Gnocchi, then sat around the family dining table to taste the dish, along with other delicious local homemade foods, sweets and liquors.

This was followed a guided stroll around Kotor Old Town, a UNESCO world heritage site and beautiful place to wander with several great spaces for group dinners. From there we headed to Perast, another gorgeous historic UNESCO recognised town on the bay, surrounded by stunning scenery, where the sun finally appeared, and we enjoyed a glass of bubbles (accompanied by oysters for those who were inclined).

As we headed back to our minibus, or so we thought, to transfer to our lunch venue, we were surprised by our DMC hosts with a speedboat transfer which they had managed to secretly organise last minute through their wealth of contacts thanks to the turn in the weather. And what a wonderful surprise it was as we sped across the bay, slightly buzzed on bubbles in the sunshine. Lunch was at Adriatica, a restaurant and beach club serving seafood from the grill and local soul food both in the restaurant and on sun beds. Here we gave the final two members of our group to join us (who had finally landed safely after their unexpected detour to Bari) a very warm welcome and enjoyed delicious food, wine and conversation.

Then it was back on the speedboats for a tour around the bay, before a buggy tour through the hills and countryside to a family-owned owned organic olive farm on the Luštica Peninsula, where we learned about olive cultivation, harvest and artisan methods of olive oil production, followed by a tasting and tips on how to recognise a good olive oil. Featuring nearly 1,000 olive trees, the farm makes an idyllic setting for picnic lunches and group dinners.

Our last stop of the day and base for the final two nights was the luxury five-star The Chedi Luštica Bay Hotel, set on waterfront of the Luštica peninsula. With 111 stylish rooms, several restaurants, pools, a spa, and flexible indoor and outdoor spaces for gatherings, it’s easy to see why the hotel is becoming a firm favourite for meeting and incentive groups. Our busy whirlwind day was rounded off with a fabulous dinner and cocktails in The Spot restaurant.

Day 3

Plans for a day of outdoor of adventure in Lovcen National Park were somewhat scuppered again thanks to the rain, so instead of transferring to the cable car for the short scenic ride into the mountains, we headed up by jeep instead – a slightly longer but still enjoyable journey on the winding roads.

We then enjoyed a delicious lunch at Forza Kuk, located at the top of the cable car, with a fabulous terrace for sunny days although it was a bit too chilly (there was even some snow on the ground!). The venue is great for large groups, accommodating 140 inside and 180 on the terrace on the first floor, 80 on the ground floor, and 300 in the ampitheatre.

Thankfully the weather cleared so we could enjoy the spectacular views but sadly not enough for the cable car to open. On the way back down the mountain, the sun made an appearance again. By the time we arrived back to The Chedi, it was gorgeously warm and the perfect weather to enjoy another last-minute surprise – a sunset cruise around the beautiful bay, before a quick show round of the boutique Casa Del Mare and final night dinner at Limoneteo restaurant (then the heavens opened again)!

Verdict

I’m pleased to report that Montenegro is still as beautiful as ever, and despite all the new developments and growing tourism market (which have all contributed to making it such a strong contender for events), it still feels unspoilt and an undiscovered gem. Obviously visiting in early October meant we were out of season, and I imagine it gets busy in the summer, but that shouldn’t impact groups business which tends to be in the shoulder seasons.

The ability to transfer groups across the water to many of the locations and venues we visited (weather permitting) allows planners to be creative with transfers and make them part of the programme, and the team at Montenegro Concierge DMC are super innovative and constantly coming up with new and unique group experiences. Thanks to Edil Omeragic , Tanja, Dragana, Ivana and the entire team, and not forgetting Andre and Wayne at Mundus Representation and a great group of UK buyers for a fantastic trip and company. Montenegro remains firmly among my top destinations and I certainly won’t be leaving it another 15 years before I return next time!