The Adriatic Nautical Business Forum will take place on April 16 from 9 AM to 5 PM at the Congress & Event Center Zadar, located in Hotel Pinija. The program brings together lectures, panel discussions, and round table sessions focused on service quality, operational standards, and real challenges within the nautical market.
In two weeks, on April 16, Zadar will host the first Adriatic Nautical Business Forum, a new industry event dedicated to quality, standards, and the future of nautical tourism.
The forum will gather representatives of charter companies, marinas, service providers, suppliers, agents, institutions, and other industry stakeholders, with the aim of opening a concrete discussion on what most strongly impacts guest experience and destination reputation today.
This year’s forum theme is: “Zadar Region: Excellence in Premium Nautical Tourism.”
This focus comes at the right moment. Guest expectations are rising, the market is becoming more demanding, and service quality is increasingly measured not by impression, but by actual delivery. That is precisely why ANB Forum places emphasis on questions the industry can no longer postpone: how to raise standards, how to align expectations with operations, and how to build a more competitive and higher-quality nautical offering in the long term.
The forum program is structured into several thematic blocks addressing key topics in today’s nautical market – from market realities and premium service in practice to operational challenges, quality, processes, and workforce development.
The program is further strengthened by two panel discussions – one institutional and one operational. The first focuses on collaboration between industry and institutions in developing a high-quality nautical destination, while the second addresses everyday practice and the challenge of aligning high guest expectations with what the system can realistically deliver during the season.
In addition to lectures and panels, the forum includes round table discussions on marketing, insurance and risk management, fleet maintenance, revenue planning, crew training, and charter base operations.
“Service quality is today one of the key criteria by which guests evaluate the nautical sector, which is why we want to focus on real-life examples from practice. We are interested in how premium service is built through operations, communication, standards, and the details that ultimately make the difference. It is also important to emphasize that excellence is not reserved only for yachting and the crewed segment. In bareboat charter and daily rentals alike, raising standards means greater value for the guest, better business sustainability, and a stronger reputation for the entire destination,” said Selma Ćubara, Forum organizer and director of the charter.hr platform.
The importance of the Forum has been recognized by the Zadar County Tourist Board as the general partner, while industry support has been provided by GrECO Marine as a sponsor.
ANB Forum is intended for all those in the nautical sector who directly influence guest experience and the overall perception of the destination. Tickets are available via the official ANB Forum website www.anbforum.hr, where a last-minute rate is currently available.