Simply the Best: How Kuzmanovi Dvori Became a Symbol of Continental Excellence

Nobody knew. They neither applied nor knew that someone had nominated them. When the phone rang and the news came that they had won the "Simply the Best" award for accommodation facilities, they were truly taken aback. Not only because they had been awarded, but because they were the only representatives from continental Croatia among a total of five laureates. The others came from the sea, and they - from Štitar.

The fact that they were the only ones from the continent did not make them special. What made them special was precisely the reason why they were recognized: authenticity, excellence and dedication to the idea that something truly valuable can be created even in the heart of Slavonia.

Kuzmanovi dvori is a living story, a space in which the Šokac heritage has been given a new look. They are not a return to the past, but a past that has remained present, which exists today in parallel with modern life. Their strength is not in nostalgia, but in a skillful combination of old and new. Authentic Slavonian identity in architecture and design, details that tell the story of heritage, are combined with the comfort and amenities that modern guests are looking for.

But that's only part of the story. The "Simply the Best" award highlighted three things: care for preserving local identity, a high level of decoration and equipment, and the quality of service and amenities. Everything that the owners, the spouses behind the project, had in mind from the very beginning.

What others recognized as exceptional, for them was - of course. From the idea, through the realization, to communication and marketing, they did everything themselves. They learned as they went and enjoyed the process. They are not experts in tourism or marketing, but they are experts in what they live: Šokac culture, hospitality, dedicated work and the belief that even small communities can offer something great.

When talking about the key to success, the owner does not mention budgets, algorithms or trends. She talks about dedication - hers and her husband's. While he develops his knowledge of wood and space reconstruction, she is increasingly dedicated to communication, promotion and content. Everything they do, they do in addition to their regular jobs because this is not just a business venture, it is their space for self-actualization. And the guests feel that.

Nothing is an act here because you cannot improvise Šokac hospitality. You have to have it within you. Grow up in it. Know that the guest is welcomed with open arms and a sincere look. That nothing is left to chance. That the guest feels important. Like in the old days, when no one returned from Šokac houses hungry or indifferent.

Today, they return from Kuzmanovi dvori - delighted. And they return again, but they also send others because the warmth does not stop at the doorstep, it is felt in the details, the relationship, the silence of the courtyard and the full plate.

"Who will come to Štitar?" That is the question they heard most often when they set out to realize their idea. Štitar is not Dubrovnik. It is not Rovinj. It doesn't have a famous attraction, but it has what big destinations lack: silence, greenery, community spirit, identity and those who believe in it.

At first, they didn't know who their guests would be. Today they do. These are people who want authenticity, peace, a space with a soul. They didn't come for pictures for Instagram, but for an experience, and that's what they found here.

Obstacles? There were almost none. Or at least they didn't perceive them as such. They had a vision, they knew what they wanted, they knew how to get there, and they didn't let themselves be swayed. And that's exactly why they succeeded.

The "Simply the Best" award didn't give them wings, it confirmed that they were on the right track. They have already completed one major project they set for themselves - converting an old barn into a space for celebrations, which they have been working on all winter, and they have already planted a forest in part of the yard. They are also planning a gazebo with a fishing rod, a new playground for children, and the housekeepers, the last object without a function, are waiting for their new story. Perhaps as a mini-museum, additional accommodation or a swimming pool. Nothing is excluded because everything is possible when you are in contact with the space, with the guests, with yourself.

This recognition is not only an award for Kuzmanovi dvori. It is also a recognition for the entire continental tourism. That not everything is at sea, that Slavonia is rising. That identity, culture and warmth can be offered in a way that is still relevant today. And if there is an ideal place to experience it - it is Kuzmanovi dvori.

Not because they have an award, but because they have what cannot be copied. The warmth of home, the strength of heritage, a look ahead and a smile that connects everything. Slavonia, simply - the best!