Maslina Resort: Where Luxury Listens to the Land

Croatia’s premium enclave is rewriting the rules of high-end hospitality—proving that sustainability, local culture and five-star service belong together.

Picture a hideaway where the architecture doesn’t dominate the landscape but merges with it, where stone walls exhale quietly into pine-scented air and olive groves lean toward the sea as if they always belonged there. That place exists in Maslina Resort on the island of Hvar in Croatia. 

Tucked inside Maslinica Bay, just minutes from the 2,400-year-old town of Stari Grad, the sanctuary is proof that luxury doesn’t need to impose itself on a landscape or community to deserve world recognition. For Maud Truchi, the haven’s founder and CEO, it was simply how Maslina was conceived and, years later, how it continues to operate—blending nature, design, local culture and hospitality.

A Philosophy in Stone

Every decision flows from one governing principle: Mindful Luxury—a philosophy the Truchi family insists is far deeper than a tagline.

“When we started Maslina Resort, the goal was to create a luxury property that remained authentic to its surroundings while being environmentally responsible,” explains the founder. “Respect for the location guided every decision, from the materials we chose to the way the buildings interact with the surrounding pine forest, as well as our appreciation for local culture.”

The result: 50 rooms and suites, and three private villas that camouflage into the landscape rather than dominate it. Guests come because they share a common mindset—seeking authenticity, privacy and a sense of place they won’t find replicated elsewhere.

Healing, Eating, Being

The experiences offered reflect the same ethos. The resort’s Pharomatiq Wellness program draws on Hvar’s reputation as a healing island since 1868, with a spa using locally grown herbs and protocols of French skincare brand Biologique Recherche. Meanwhile, Terra Restaurant’s earth-to-plate philosophy sources from the site’s 7,000-square-meter organic garden and UNESCO-protected Stari Grad Plain, honoring the UNESCO-listed Mediterranean Diet with a modern hand. Additionally, A•Bay—a beachside bar with privatized wooden platforms on the sea—offers a more laid-back counterpoint.

The resort also curates what Maslina describes as meaningful experiences—olive oil and wine tastings, local storytelling, children’s programs rooted in island traditions and cocktail hours with the team at A•Bay. 

“These are not large or orchestrated activities, but genuine moments that allow us to connect with our guests,” says the founder. “They’re the kind of experiences that make a stay memorable. Every engagement is intentional, personal and tied to the surroundings.”

Sustainability as Standard

The accolades affirm it. Maslina has been recognized as Croatia’s Best Small Hotel of the Year and Best Sustainable Tourism Business. It also became the first recipient of the National Award for Sustainable Tourism—a distinction recognizing four pillars: heritage preservation, responsible operations, community support and long-term planning. Behind the awards, a dedicated sustainability manager, a digital transformation officer, and ongoing team training ensure the sustainability philosophy is lived daily. 

“Sustainability isn’t a separate initiative for us; it’s part of our DNA. It touches everything, from how we source materials to how we operate the hotel, decide on the amenities and interact with our local community,” stresses the Maslina founder and CEO. “When people return home with more awareness, they often share those values with their families and communities, creating a ripple effect that encourages more mindful tourism.”

The resort also invests in relationships—attending high-end trade shows, hosting press and familiarization trips, and working through Relais & Châteaux and other luxury travel networks. Its strongest markets are the U.S., U.K., Benelux, France and Germany, with deepening presence in Brazil and Mexico and future ambitions across Asia and the Gulf.

The Next Chapter

Five new private villas are now in development by some of the same designers behind Maslina. Curved cross-laminated timber (CLT) from certified Austrian forests is being used to further advance construction methods with thoughtfulness toward sustainability. CLT enables organic shapes that follow the terrain rather than impose on it. Green roofs, high strip windows for natural airflow and local stone foundations root each villa in the island’s own geography. Each of these private sanctuaries features distinct pool shapes, fireplaces, multifunctional wellness spaces and bathtubs positioned to frame uninterrupted sea views.

“We want to push our sustainability concept even further, taking an additional step forward through the thoughtful evolution of materials and construction methods,” notes the founder. “Each villa combines traditional craftsmanship with sustainable engineering. In every aspect of the project, we have remained true to our Mindful Luxury philosophy, ensuring that the expansion strengthens our connection to nature while delivering a high level of detail and quality, resulting in a type of luxury that is hard to find elsewhere.”

In a global industry often associated with excess, Maslina’s quiet approach—rooted in respect for nature, culture and community—suggests that the future of luxury travel may lie not in grandeur, but in harmony.

Learn more about Maslina Resort at maslinaresort.com.