tl;dr—Hyatt will soon welcome two exciting hotels to its Destination by Hyatt brand, one in Croatia and the other in Croatia.
I’ve enjoyed being a Hyatt Globalist for the last few years, though I’ve also written about how the chase may not be worth it. This is due in part to the many ways non-elite Hyatt members can reap value from Hyatt’s loyalty program without needing to ‘climb the ladder’ to top-tier status.
One such way is through Hyatt’s Brand Explorer program. With Brand Explorer, you’ll earn a free night for every five distinct brands (32 brands at the time of this writing) you stay with. Some brands (Hyatt Place and Hyatt House) have many locations, making checking them off the list easy. Checking off the brands with fewer locations might prove more difficult, and you’ll need to be strategic when ‘fitting them in.’ Such is the case with the Destination by Hyatt brand. With only 28 locations worldwide, this may be a stamp you’ve yet to tick off. The good news is that two exciting properties in Hyatt’s Destination by Hyatt portfolio may warrant your attention.
Ok, let’s jump into it!
Zélia Halkidiki in Greece Opening May 2025
Next month, we’ll see the debut of Zélia Halkidiki in Hyatt’s Destination by Hyatt’s portfolio. Located right along the Aegean Sea, the Zélia Halkidiki is an adults-only property about an hour’s drive from Thessaloniki.
So, first things first – Hyatt got a little sneaky with us here as this property was slated to be (and soft-opened as) the Zoëtry Halkidiki, a project announced way back in 2023. A few search results confirm that the property welcomed its first few guests towards the end of last year (and into early 2025) before calling an audible and going in a different direction. You can still find websites and OTA listings referring to the property as the “Zoëtry Halkidiki.” I guess some combination of hotel management and Hyatt’s leadership thought the property would be better positioned to succeed as a non-all-inclusive resort. Zoëtry, if you’re unfamiliar, is one of Hyatt’s many all-inclusive brands. The calling card for Zoëtry is its focus on wellness, which appears to have translated into the newly branded hotel.
I’m bullish that this rejiggering is the right move. I’m not huge on all-inclusive resorts, but from the looks of things, the property seems to have enough going for it to attract guests as it stands now.
The Zélia Halkidiki features just 104 rooms and suites and is nestled amongst serene olive groves with views of Mount Olympus.
Rooms range from ‘Garden View Doubles’ to a ‘Master Suite with a Private Plunge Pool.’ The large accommodations with swim up pools that face the sea look pretty snazzy.
Rates vary widely depending on room type and flexibility. Base-level rooms are about ~$300 per night, while the cash rate for a top-end suite is $1,200. Points range between 21,000 and 25,000 points per night, throughout the year.
You come to this place to relax, recharge, and indulge. There are three dedicated restaurants: Mesogaea, a flagship Mediterranean restaurant; Syntrofi Outdoor Dining, located in an olive grove; and Shizen, a Nikkei restaurant (by the way, have we reached peak Nikkei yet?). I’m not hating the cuisine; I actually love it. It just feels that every new hotel opening today features an edgy Japanese-Peruvian fusion restaurant that the chef refuses to ‘define.’
Guests can enjoy poolside bites and drinks from Zest and Zest Pool Bar. Hebe Bar, the hotel’s dedicated lobby bar, serves libations late into the night.
The Amazonian Spa features a large heated indoor pool and jacuzzi, a full array of treatments, and an indoor sauna and steam room. These are in addition to the resort’s cliffside infinity pools. When you want to sweat, there’s a state-of-the-art fitness center waiting for you.
Guests can also participate in outdoor yoga, hiking and e-biking, and cooking classes with the resort’s expert chefs.
The hotel, situated on its own secluded beach accessible via a scenic 150m walking path, is also just 12 – 20 minutes (depending on which direction you drive) from some of the more picturesque beaches in the region. Additionally, guests are near other attractions, such as the stunning Petralona Cave.
Sealeven Hotel & Residences in Croatia
Over in Croatia, we’ll soon see the Sealeven Hotel & Residences debut, a part-luxury-part-apartment-residence development in Ičići, Croatia. Details on this property remain sparse, including its opening date.
This property leans heavily into the original Destination by Hyatt, ‘drop your bags’ at your ‘home-away-from-home’ vibe. A Dutch development firm, Elektroncek Group, is bringing the property to life, and you can find a few more renderings on the company’s site.
Guests can access amenities like a lavish swimming pool, 24-hour concierge, and security.
While there aren’t many photos to go on, images of the surrounding area look pleasant, as there seem to be many phots of folks boating, laughing and splashing around in the coastal waters.
Ičići is about a five-minute drive from the slightly more tourist-forward Opatija, neither of which I’d ever heard of before.
I’ve previously only visited Split, which is about 430 km south of this region. What I have heard a bit about (and what’s super exciting about this property) is that it’s located right in the heart of the Istria and Kvarner wine regions, where you can find some of Croatia’s top wines. So, bottoms up!
No notes on pricing or points rates yet, but I’ll circle back as soon as this one ripens.
Conclusion
I really enjoy off-the-beaten-path hotels within a major hotel chain’s soft brands portfolio. They tend to punch above their weight and often require that you go somewhere a bit more random, which adds to the adventure. If you plan to check these two out, I’d love to know in the comments.
