Tourist Green Resort Garden Village Bled (SI)

Good Practice Innovation Sheet - Tourist Green Resort Garden Village Bled

Items

Description

1. WHO

Key people and organisations (initiator, leader, partners)

 Borut Kelih (investor)

 Borut Kokelj (author of idea, professional advisor)

 Barbara Kokelj (designer)

Key Figures (Municipality of Bled)

Surface

Inhabitants

Tourism arrivals

Tourism nights

188,5 km²

10.900

269.175

628.491

2. WHY

Reason for taking the good practice action

Today environmental awareness among tourists is rising and these visitors are willing to pay more for a high-quality and environmentally friendly service. They tend to seek re-connection with nature whereby they want to experience a certain level of comfort. Hence, glamping is a new way of glamorous camping that is on the rise.

Bled is an idyllic and well-known tourist resort in Slovenia with one glamping village of small wooden huts being located in Camping Bled. We have decided to go a step further and to set up an innovative ecological resort that will bring competitive advantage and allow us to outperform our competitors in the field of eco-boutique-tourism.

Issues and challenge

Challenge:

- to set up something unique, something the world has not yet seen,

- to create innovative accommodation facilities,

- to revive the existing nursery,

- self-sustainability (energy, water, plants).

3. HOW

Methods /steps / tools used (to develop the good practice)

1. meeting potential investor who owns a neglected nursery near Bled and has got previous tourism experience

2. partnership agreement

3. developing construction plans (architecture)

4. obtaining construction licences and permissions

5. start of construction works

6. intense communication with local and national stakeholders (municipality, local tourism organization, RDMO, local tourism economy, national tourism board) to gain support for the project

7.building a brand Garden Village Bled (logo, visual identity)

8. promotion (webpage, fairs), first reservations

4. RESULT

Specific/measurable results, benefits

In search of innovation with an eco-theme, we are opening an adventurous, romantic and exclusive tourist complex. Six enchanted tree houses, nine unbelievable pier tents, six specially equipped glamping tents, Finnish sauna over the stream, pool with refreshing spring water to enjoy Kneipp therapy and reflexive foot massages, are only some of the attractions of the Garden Village. One special feature of the complex is also its garden restaurant. Imagine sitting in the shade of mighty trees, a stream flowing between the tables: you are enjoying your favourite drink and quality food on natural grass and feeling as if you are on a picnic in nature.

A swimming pond and a fishing pond will be available to all guests of the Garden Village. In addition to the Garden Village’s own greenhouse, shop and restaurant, the resort also offers room with open fireplace. We didn’t forget about the kids: amazing adventures are waiting for them on their playground. Free parking and free wi-fi is also included.

To achieve a high level of self-sustainability we have own water well, solar power plant and heat pump. Additionally we grow own fruits and vegetables and sell home-made jams, juices, herbs, liquors, ointments...

Grand opening will take place on 14 June. On 15 May we have over 100 reservations.

Recognitions (e.g. awards)

Snovalec 2014 - award for most innovative tourism ideas in Slovenia

5. REFLECTION

Lessons learned

- immense demand for such products

- importance of cooperation with local community and their involvement/endorsement

Challenges met

- how to set up all buildings on a relatively small area

Critical success factors

- original approach

- innovative idea

- right location

- strong marketing and promotion

- attracting investor

6. MORE 

web-references, documents

 http://www.gardenvillagebled.com/