Aminess continues its strategic expansion: Karlovac becomes the 12th destination in the group’s portfolio
Over the past two days, Novigrad became the centre of the sporting world thanks to the first Croatian edition of the international sports symposium, Simposar Croatia 2026. The symposium brought together the elite of regional sports, sporting authorities and experts who shared invaluable experiences through panels and networking.
"We are proud that Novigrad and Aminess are hosts to such an event that celebrates excellence and togetherness in sport. The energy brought by coach Dalić and other sporting greats was felt throughout the city, and we are particularly pleased that our guests had the opportunity to experience Istria in its full glory through a combination of a top-tier professional programme and relaxed socialising by the sea. We are convinced that this is only the beginning of a successful collaboration that will further position our destination on the sporting map of the region," stated Matko Branković, Public Relations Manager at Aminess Hotels & Resorts.
The Simposar programme was officially opened at the Novigrad Centre for Events and Culture with the premiere of the documentary film "Ćiro – The Never Told Story" by author Sabahudin Topalbećirević. The evening dedicated to the "coach of all coaches" gathered his many friends and associates, while participants of the panel "Ćiro’s Legacy – A Leader Who Changed Generations" sent a message about the significance of Ćiro’s heritage. Coach Zlatko Dalić also highlighted the importance of leadership and the emotion that Blažević wove into the foundations of Croatian football during his speech.
The second day of Simposar at the Aminess Maestral Hotel featured a panel involving coach Zlatko Dalić alongside delegations from the Croatian and Bosnian football federations, providing insight into the complex organisation and preparation for the upcoming 2026 World Cup. Matjaž Kek, Igor Bišćan and Milovan Rajevac analysed the relationship between club and national team football, while Nenad Bjelica, Damir Skomina and Zoran Zekić spoke about the pressure coaches face through the theme of leadership. The afternoon hours were reserved for topics of sporting talent and systems, debated by Joško Jeličić, Predrag Pašić, Haris Škoro and Rade Bogdanović, while leading sports medicine experts Prof. Dr Rusmir Mesihović and Dr Ivan Rakovac spoke about the importance of health in elite sports. Special emphasis was placed on mental strength and the winning mentality, discussed first-hand by the trophy-winning Ivica Tucak and basketball legends Željko Pavličević and Željko Jerkov, as they recalled the greatest victories of their careers.
"We are extremely satisfied with the turnout and the energy we felt in Novigrad. Simposar has once again confirmed that dialogue among experts is key to the progress of sport. Seeing such a concentration of knowledge and sporting greats in one place is proof that we have made a real step forward by bringing the project to Croatia. I believe this is just the beginning of a beautiful story in Istria," noted Sabahudin Topalbećirević, founder of Simposar, a project launched in 2011 in Sarajevo which has, over the last 15 years, gathered key figures from the business and sporting worlds as well as media representatives.
The Simposar Croatia 2026 symposium was held under the patronage of Aminess Hotels & Resorts, the City of Novigrad, the Novigrad-Cittanova Tourist Board and the Istria County Tourist Board.
