Jetrader - July/August 2009 - 15

Old Meets New Don’t Miss Dubrovnik L ocated on the southernmost tip of Croatia, Dubrovnik—site of ISTAT’s 16th European Conference October 11-13—is quickly becoming a must-see destination for travelers looking for a unique and exciting destination in Europe. Known as the pearl of the Adriatic, the city is one part history lesson, one part resort getaway, and both worlds have come together to become a beacon for travelers on the quest for a new adventure. Established in the 7th century as a settlement for Croatian refugees and a stopover for Greek ﬁshermen, the city was soon the site of an explosion of poetry, painting, song and dance, as well as providing a home for many brilliant mathematicians, physicists and deep thinkers. The inﬂux of talent and income led Dubrovnik to becoming one of the most developed cities in the region, and its proximity to Italy and Greece ensured that it would continue to ﬂourish in the years to come. As the centuries passed, the city, and region at large, seemed to continually ﬁnd itself under the rule of a new nation—Austria-Hungary, the Byzantine Empire and Venice, for example—but the city thrived nonetheless. Today, Dubrovnik is divided into two very different parts—Old City of Dubrovnik, which looks not unlike many other centuries-old central European cities with its stone structures and red roofs, and the newer developments, including the brand new Valamar Lacroma Resort and Spa, which sits on the beachfront and will welcome the guests to the 16th European Conference in just a few short months. The conference will yet again feature numerous industry experts covering a host of cutting-edge topics. Speakers will include Betrand Grabowski of DVB, Jose Abramovici of CALYON, James Hogan of Etihad, Markus Ott of Lufthansa and many more to be announced soon, including a closing presentation by Dr. Adam Pilarski of AVITAS. There will also be a lessors’ panel, an appraisers’ panel and presentations on the future of the narrowbody market, the future of the freighter market, the ﬁnancing gap and many more. Due to its Mediterranean climate, in the summer and early fall months, visitors can enjoy the beach during the day. Year ‘round, you can tour the city in the afternoon and visit one of the city’s many incredible restaurants in the evening. As a testament to its longstanding history, there are countless monuments—St. Blaise’s church and the Dominican Monastery among them—and numerous architectural curiosities—the stone walls that surround a large portion of the city—that beg to be explored. Travelers can get around the city by car or bus, but one of the city’s main draws is its proximity to the ocean and its many ports; in fact, many travelers end up in Dubrovnik by sea. Beginning with the Greek ﬁshermen who helped found the area, Dubrovnik is a stopping point for sailors of all type—from the blue-collar workers to the hardcore, do-it-yourself enthusiast. Although the name may not yet be as familiar as Dubai, Athens or any other oft-tread site for European travelers, Dubrovnik is a city not to be missed, and the conference promises to be every bit as interesting as the setting itself. We’ll see you there. For more information on the conference, lodging and more, be sure to visit www.ISTAT.org. For More Information: • www.dubrovnik-online.com • www.whc.unesco.org/ pg.cfm?cid=31&id_site=95 • www.wikitravel.org/en/dubrovnik • www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ dubrovnik Jetrader 15

http://www.ISTAT.org http://www.dubrovnik-online.com http://whc.unesco.org/pg.cfm?cid=31&id_site=95 http://www.wikitravel.org/en/dubrovnik http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/dubrovnik

Jetrader - July/August 2009

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