My name is Matilda and I'm originally from Opuzen, a small town nestled at the heart of the thriving Neretva Valley, Croatia. Due to its sun-drenched climate and bustling mandarin cultivation, the Neretva Valley is often dubbed as "The Croatian California". What sets the Neretva Valley apart from its US counterpart are its Mediterranean surroundings and almost exclusive economic reliance on agriculture.

I myself am a 39-year-young hospitality industry worker born to a family of hard-working Opuzen-based agriculturists. In the midst of these difficult times, riddled with declining public health and sudden lockdowns, I have unfortunately lost my job. Prior to these unfortunate circumstances, I have gained 13 years of experience in the tourism industry, which includes both managing 4- and 5-star hotels and running operations in a tourism agency.

Even without the damaging effect Covid-19 has had on my career and livelihood, it has always been a dream of mine to start a business of my own. And now that I have been forced to act quicker, I dream even bigger. Aside from wanting to set up my own travel agency by autumn 2021, where I would make it my mission to get travelers acquainted with the hidden gems of Croatia.

Thus far, I have participated in a variety of world tourism fairs, including WTM London, ITB Berlin, Conventa Ljubljana, IMEX Frankfurt , Holiday World Praha, MAP Paris, Shanghai and Beijing and, my personal favorite, USA Travel & Adventure Show.
Having completed the Professional Exam for Branch Manager at the Faculty of Economics in Split and having gained a lot of hands-on experience in the hospitality industry, I feel equipped to tackle any future endeavors within the tourism industry. I am convinced that my background in the tourism industry and my positive attitude towards partners and customers has to count for something and that success will ensue once I start my own business.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MY AGENCY

My business motto is: Every customer deserves to have their travel experience tailored to their needs.

My plan is to start a travel company that specializes in tailor-made travel experiences in the South East Europe region, most notably in Croatia, as well as in the neighboring Bosnia & Herzegovina and Slovenia. My travel company would offer Croatia & beyond travel packages tailored customers' wishes and budget.

By adding an agrotourism component to the agency's operations, I hope to both help my parents place their products and inspire any prospective visitors to interact with our entire agricultural community and support it in the process.

In today's difficult times, I strongly believe it is important than ever to reconnect with nature, strengthen community ties and reignite our sense of adventure and exploration.