Le Méridien Lav hotel in Podstrana near Split won three prestigious awards at the 2008 World Travel Awards for Europe event held on 15 October in Slovakia.The hotel was named Europe's Leading Conference Hotel, Croatia's Leading Hotel and Croatia's Leading Spa Resort.Located in Podstrana, eight kilometres south of Split, Le Méridien Lav has 381 rooms and suites, eight restaurants and bars, a casino and a nightclub. With an area of 2,900 square meters, the hotel’s eight conference and banquet facilities are the largest on the Adriatic coast. The hotel's Marina Promenade features shops, restaurants, bars, and cafés, and the Yacht Marina can accommodate 60 yachts. The Diocletian Spa and Wellness Centre includes an indoor pool, saunas, steam baths and whirlpools.The hotel won awards in all categories in which it was nominated. Hotel representatives said that the Croatia's Leading Hotel and Croatia's Leading Spa Resort awards were especially important since most of their guests were Croats.Ivica Kurtovic, who has an interest in the hotel, said: "When I decided to buy and renew the hotel, I said many times that it would be one of the best hotels in Europe. Many people doubted that, but we have received confirmation that it is."Graham E. Cooke, the founder and President of World Travel Awards, said that the awards, often described as the "Oscars" of the travel industry, had acquired a global reputation in the area of helping encourage quality offers to customers and excellent business performance.The winners of the 15th World Travel Awards were chosen by travel agents around the world.
