Valamar Blog

- Press release (December 3, 2007.) -

Since January 1, 2008 the position of director of Riviera Porec, the biggest tourist company operating within Valamar group, will be taken by Veljko Ostojic, the former director of the company Brijuni rivijera d.o.o. The director of Riviera of many years, Franco Palma goes to the well-deserved retirement, but he will be present in the work of Riviera Porec as the chairman of the Supervisory Board, because his appointment for the position in General Assembly of Riviera is expected in June 2008. The second Board member of Riviera Porec remains Tihomir Nikolas, and the former chairman of the Supervisory Board Georg Eltz will become a member of the Supervisory Board.

Franco Palma goes to his well-deserved retirement after 37 years of work in Riviera, out of which 22 years as its leader. At the same time he was exercising the position of the chairman of the chairmanship and executive board of the Croatian Association of Hoteliers and restaurateurs. Among many honours this prominent tourist expert received, we point out that in 1997 he received the Order of Danica Hrvatska with figure of Blaž Lorkovic from the president of the Republic for his exceptional merits and contribution to the Croatian economy. He decided to leave two years ago, and definite decision was made at the Supervisory Board a few days ago, with the full consent, support and agreement with the majority owner of Riviera.

On the occasion of his retirement and appointment for the position of the chairman of the Supervisory Board of Riviera Porec, Mr. Palma said: “Riviera is today consolidated company, regarding its personnel and financially, so I decided it is time for my withdrawal from operational level into retirement. I have to admit that the position of many years as the director of Riviera (22 years) caused tiredness, and of course, my wish is to dedicate more time to myself and my family. I am exceptionally glad for exercising the functions of the chairman and member of a few Supervisory Boards and functions in Croatian Association of Hoteliers, Croatian Chamber of Commerce and tourist communities. On the occasion of leaving the position that I exercised successfully, I use the opportunity to thank my cooperators, all Riviera employees, and especially to my family that has always given me support.”

Veljko Ostojic commented his appointment for the president of the Board of Riviera Porec with the following words: “I see my appointment as the chairman of the board of Riviera Porec as the acknowledgment for my past work, that is to say, the projects I realized, in both, private and public sector. Riviera is to me the new big business challenge, especially taking in consideration mid-term and long-term development ambitions and plans of the company. I am convinced that Riviera and the whole Valamar group have realistic chances to become market leader in Croatian tourism and I hope that I will have one of the key roles in it with my experience and knowledge. Knowing the projects that the local government intends to realize in the future, above all the city of Porec and the municipality of Tar-Varbriga, but the County of Istria, as well, I am sure that Porec as a destination has splendid future, and Rivera Porec will have a significant role in it. At this moment I would also like to point out the name of our director of many years, Franco Palma, who did not just become its synonym, but without doubt Riviera became what it is today thanks to his work”.

Veljko Ostojic thinks that his transfer to Riviera happened when, after long preparation, the operative realisation of the project Brijuni rivijera began. As he said, all the strategic guidelines of this project are defined, documents that define the future of this area from the global spatial and planned, as well as the market aspect are elaborated and accepted. The financial model of evaluation of the individual locations in the coastal area and financing of the investment of renovation and construction of the commercial structures at the archipelago of Brijuni is defined. “As it is already known, the first stage of tender procedure for the selection of the investors for individual locations in the coastal area is almost finished, and, I dare to say, the technical part of ending the tender follows. My estimate is that the most important part of the job is done, and the realisation of the project is just a matter of time. I am personally satisfied for what has been done, although I think that the course of the project so far was too slow because of a number of factors that are not of the professional or expert nature”, Ostojic said.

He also emphasized that with his transfer to Riviera his activity in public sector will not stop. He is the member of the County of Istria Hall, president of the Tourist Community of Istria, and the member of the Tourist Council of the Croatian Tourist Community. “I believe that my further exercising of the functions will be for the benefit of those that elected me for these functions. Finally, I would like to thank all my cooperators from my past job hoping that we will cooperate successfully in the future, as well”, Ostojic concluded.

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