The Tourism Organization of Podgorica (TOP) declared Žarko Burić's "Normal company" the most successful company in the field of tourism in 2013, due to the conclusion of the contract with "Hilton" on the construction of a five-star hotel.
TOP explained that Burić, who illegally demolished a part of the iconic hotel "Crna Gora" in August, was awarded the prize also because of the "importance of this initiative for Podgorica and Montenegro".
They pointed out that the decision was made by the Organizing Committee, without specifying who its members are, and assessed that "Normal Company" has been a leader in the improvement and development of the hotel industry in Podgorica for many years.
It was announced that Burić's company had six opposing candidates, but that "Normal company" received the most votes, fulfilling "all general criteria" from the Rules for awarding the "We choose the best" award.
Hotel "Crna Gora", one of the symbols of Podgorica, was demolished illegally on August 8, which was subsequently confirmed by the Directorate for Inspection and Supervision, as well as by the Minister of Tourism Branislav Gvozdenović...
Žarko Burić
"Vijesta" was told that Burić's company had six opponents - "AD Intours", "13. jul Plantaže", "Delta City", "Cijevna komerc" and "Panewivo", but that "Normal company" received the most votes, fulfilling "all general criteria" from the Regulations for awarding the award "We choose the best".
It was clarified that the destroyer of "Montenegro" was nominated by "two renowned tourist agencies, one city hotel and one electronic media and two institutions from the field of tourism at the state and local level", but it was not specified who it was.
It was not answered whether TOP director Ljiljana Šćepanović believes that Burić's company deserved the mentioned award.
9 people decided but they won't say who they are
It was announced that the Organizing Committee for awarding the award is "an independent body formed before the 31st year at the initiative of the Executive Committee of TOP".
It is emphasized that "it consists of professionals and representatives of institutions at the state and local level, universities, business, hotel industry, travel agencies, catering and media", but it is not specified which ones.
"The organizing committee consists of nine members, five of whom are permanent, and four of whom change every year. More precisely, there are permanent representatives of institutions, and rotating representatives of travel agencies, hotels and two representatives of electronic and print media. The organizing committee works on the basis of the Rulebook on organizing and criteria for awarding the 'We choose the best' award. The collection of nominations for awarding the award in the category of collectives and individuals lasts one month. After that, the Organizing Committee, on the basis of the collected proposals, decides on the basis of several criteria established by the Rulebook", the answer reads.
PzP: The height of cynicism
PzP announced that awarding the award to Burić's company was "the height of cynicism and a big slap in the face to the public".
"This award dispelled any dilemma that the Montenegrin peak had nothing to do with the demolition. Neither will the hotel be restored to its original state, nor will the ruling elite reject the invitation with disgust when it is reopened. Will it contribute to the development of tourism? Difficult. It is too complex an economic branch that is apparently run by amateurs in Podgorica. Because of hobbies and money laundering", the spokesperson of the PzP city committee, Iva Pavlović, wrote in the statement.
It is emphasized that in the place of the iconic hotel, an even more "iconic" one will emerge, with facilities "intended for the nouveau riche elite, to whom the old hotel was alien because they did not feel good in the symbol of the urban, city spirit of Podgorica, the one that has been trying to be erased for several years now in all possible ways”.
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