BEST STAY comes to Montenegro: Budva hosts regional hospitality forum
BEST STAY platform, in cooperation with the Chamber of Economy of Montenegro and Avala Resort & Villas hotel, organises BEST STAY Regional Hospitality Forum – Montenegro Edition, which will take place on 23 September 2026 in Budva.
The first Montenegrin edition of the BEST STAY forum is opening a question that will increasingly shape the hotel and tourism sector in the years to come: what Montenegro's entry into the European Union concretely means for tourism, hotels, investments, regulation, labour and the destination's competitiveness.
The forum is intended for hoteliers, tourism leaders, institutional representatives, investors and companies working with the hospitality sector. The programme brings together a selected group of participants with the aim of having concrete discussions on preparing Montenegrin tourism for the new European business phase.
The main international speaker is Dr. Ian Yeoman, Professor of Disruptive Innovation and New Phenomena in Hospitality and Tourism at NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences. In Budva, he will speak about trends that are changing tourism, new guest expectations and possible scenarios for the development of Montenegro as a destination.
The programme includes panels, case study presentations and working round tables on topics that directly affect hotel operationsEU preparedness, financing and investments, digital infrastructure, ESG and operational savings, direct sales, integration of foreign workers, Croatia's experiences after joining the EU, and the development of new tourism products, including longevity tourism.
Special emphasis will be placed on the Croatian experience following its accession to the European Union. The goal is to open up a realistic discussion about what helped Croatian tourism, where problems arose and what Montenegro could prepare for in good time.
Nikola Kasalo, CEO of Beppler & Jacobson Montenegro, in front of Avala Resort & Villas, emphasises the importance of Budva as the host of this regional hospitality gathering: “Budva plays an important role in Montenegro's tourism identity and is a natural place for conversations about the future of the sector. Avala Resort & Villas supports initiatives that bring together relevant people, open up serious topics and contribute to better networking between the hotel industry, institutions and partners.”
Martina Lucić Čanak, owner and director of the BEST STAY platform, points out that Montenegro is entering a new phase of development not only with great potential, but also with concrete business questions: “It is no longer enough to say that a destination has potential. The key is to understand what that potential means in practice: who is developing it, who is financing it, who is selling it and how long-term value is created from it. BEST STAY is coming to Montenegro to open precisely such a conversation, with the people who make the decisions and who will shape the next phase of the hospitality market.”
Part of the programme will be organised through round tables, with the aim for participants to actively take part in defining key problems, opportunities and recommendations for the further development of the sector.
Participation for persons working directly in hotels is free of charge, with mandatory registration and confirmation by the organiser.
Registration and event information are available Here.
The event programme is available Here.
Media contact
BEST STAY
Martina Lucić Čanak
martina@beststayevent.com
00 385 91 532 72 65
