Hyatt Regency Zadar opens its doors to candidates: Career Day on February 18th at the hotel, focus on operational teams ahead of the season
Hyatt Regency Zadar is organizing a Career Day on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, from 10 am to 4 pm, at the hotel premises, with the aim of strengthening operational teams ahead of the upcoming tourist season. According to the hotel's announcement, the event is primarily aimed at seasonal recruitment in key departments that carry the daily rhythm of work: reception, the food and beverage (F&B) department, and the hotel spa center.
In practice, this is a format increasingly chosen by large hotel systems when they want to gather a large number of interested candidates in a short time, present the work environment and service standards, and immediately answer questions about conditions, shifts, expectations, and advancement opportunities. The organizers announce an informative and structured gathering, designed as an opportunity for candidates to get first-hand experience with the team dynamics and professional standards that shape work in the hotel, as well as the values and organizational culture of the Hyatt brand.
For visitors coming to Zadar from other areas or planning to stay for several days,
[accommodation in Zadar] can help in trip planning, especially if they want to coordinate their arrival with interviews and a tour of the location.
Which positions are being sought and what candidates can expect
According to the information from the announcement, the central focus is on operational departments, where seasonal needs are traditionally the greatest. It is in these positions that the growth in demand is most felt during spring and summer, when Zadar records a strong influx of domestic and foreign guests and a larger number of events in the city and surroundings.
During Career Day, candidates will be able to receive information about open positions, working conditions, and desired competencies, as well as opportunities for further professional development. In such formats, employers most often want to clarify what shift work means, what levels of knowledge are expected in entry-level positions, what the onboarding process looks like, and how important communication with guests is, especially in higher-standard hotels.
The hotel's announcement points out that there is also a possibility of long-term cooperation for candidates who recognize themselves in the values of excellence, teamwork, and professional development. This is also a signal that part of the seasonal engagements can turn into a more stable employment relationship, depending on business needs and work results.
Event format: information, interviews, and insight into brand standards
Career Day is generally not designed as a classic fair with a formal protocol, but as a practical meeting place. The organizers announce the possibility for interested parties to get a clearer picture of the work environment and service standards, which is particularly important in hotels of international chains, where employees are expected to be consistent in procedures, communication, and guest care.
For candidates entering the hospitality industry for the first time, such an event can be most useful precisely because it allows questions to be asked directly: what a typical working day at the reception looks like, what the most common situations in the restaurant or bar are, what the protocols in the spa center are, how important the level of foreign languages is, and how guest complaints are resolved. For those with experience, it is equally important to understand how organized the system is, who leads the teams, how quality is measured, and what the opportunities are for moving to more demanding positions.
If you plan to combine your arrival with a tour of the city and logistical arrangements, it is useful to check
[accommodation near the event venue] in advance, especially during periods when demand is higher.
Hiring in tourism ahead of the season: why operational teams are key
In recent years, Croatian tourism has increasingly emphasized the problem of labor availability, especially during the peak season. Hoteliers and restaurateurs strive to prepare earlier, because a quality season depends not only on full capacities but also on the speed, organization, and level of service the guest receives on the spot. Operational departments are the first to be affected: the reception is the contact point for all inquiries and check-ins, the F&B department carries a large part of the stay experience, and the spa and wellness segment is becoming increasingly important in the offer of higher-standard hotels.
Therefore, it is logical that Hyatt Regency Zadar is directing the event precisely at these teams. In hotels of international brands, compliance with internal standards has additional weight, which often means clearly defined procedures, monitoring service quality, and the need for continuous training. This can be an advantage for candidates if they are looking for a structured environment and clear advancement criteria, but also a challenge if they are not used to strict work organization.
Hyatt Regency Zadar in the former Maraska: the hotel as a tourist and urban project
Hyatt Regency Zadar is located in the renovated complex of the former Maraska factory, one of the recognizable points of Zadar's industrial and urban history. The opening of the hotel in 2025, which was reported by national and regional media, was marked as the arrival of the Hyatt brand in Croatia, with an investment that is linked to the investor Doguş Group in publicly available reports. The hotel is positioned as a project that combines contemporary luxury and restored heritage, and the location by the sea and proximity to the historic center make it a visible part of the city's tourism story.
In the broader context of Zadar, such projects often open discussions about the balance between development and preservation of the identity of the space. On one hand, a higher-standard hotel contributes to the year-round offer and attracts guests with higher purchasing power. On the other, the local community expects changes to take place with respect for the city's daily life and space that is not just a tourist backdrop but a place of life.
It is precisely in this relationship with the local community that the message sent by Hyatt Regency Zadar through Career Day should be read. The hotel emphasizes that the event is a platform for connecting with the environment and potential candidates, which is an important element in a city where tourism strongly influences the labor market, seasonal migrations, and employment dynamics.
For those coming from outside the Zadar County and wanting to ensure time for interviews without rushing, a practical step is to check
[accommodation offers in Zadar] in advance.
What it means to work in an international brand hotel
In hotels under international brands, several things differ: standardized processes, formalized training, greater interdepartmental coordination, and often a larger number of guests who expect an experience similar to the one they received in other destinations. In operations, this means that employees must learn quickly, consistently apply procedures, and communicate clearly, both with guests and within the team.
The reception is the place where problems not necessarily related to check-in and check-out are most often solved: traffic, excursions, recommendations, special needs, complaints. F&B teams, in addition to serving skills, increasingly need to understand the basics of allergens, hygiene standards, ways of presenting the offer, and communication with guests of different habits and cultures. The spa and wellness department, along with expertise, also requires a sense of privacy, discretion, and safety for the service user.
The organizers of Career Day announce that visitors will also receive information about expected competencies. In practice, this often comes down to a combination of professional behavior, reliability, readiness for teamwork, and communication skills, with the advantage of experience and language knowledge, depending on the position.
How to prepare for Career Day: what to bring and what to think about
Although the program may vary depending on the on-site organization, candidates who want to take advantage of such an opportunity usually come prepared with basic information about their own experience and interests. It is useful to have an updated CV and a clear idea of which department they prefer, but also an openness to alternatives, as employers sometimes suggest a position that better fits the candidate's profile.
It is good to think in advance about questions that are often crucial for a decision:
- what is the shift schedule and how flexible is it during the season
- what does onboarding look like and who is the mentor
- are there internal trainings and the possibility of moving to more complex tasks
- what level of language is expected for individual positions
- what is the seasonal engagement model and is there an option to continue cooperation
According to the announcement, the hotel emphasizes professional development as one of its values, so candidates aiming for a longer-term path in the hotel industry often look for information about clear advancement steps at such events.
Zadar and the 2026 season: what strengthening staff in higher-standard hotels can mean
In recent years, Zadar has been increasingly positioning itself on the map of destinations that offer more than a classic summer vacation. Along with natural advantages, the city frequently highlights cultural content, gastronomy, and events in the pre-season and post-season. Within this framework, higher-standard hotels can play an important role in extending the season, as they attract market niches that travel even outside the peak summer months.
Strengthening operational teams in such hotels is not just an internal need of the employer, but also a factor that influences the destination experience. If the service works, the guest returns more easily, leaves a better review, stays longer, and spends more in the local economy. If the service falls apart under the pressure of the season, reputational damage can quickly spill over to the broader image of the destination.
In this sense, Hyatt Regency Zadar's Career Day can also be read as an attempt at an early and organized response to seasonal pressure. The hotel invites interested parties to come on February 18 and inquire about job opportunities in the reception, food and beverage, and spa center departments, with the message that they are also open to candidates looking for a long-term engagement.
For candidates considering moving or a seasonal stay, logistics are often crucial, so in planning, it pays to take into account
[accommodation for visitors in Zadar], especially if they want to set aside time for a tour of the city and interviews without time pressure.
What is known so far, and what will be clearer after the event
According to available information from the hotel's announcement, Career Day is held on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, from 10 am to 4 pm, at Hyatt Regency Zadar. The focus is on operational departments and seasonal recruitment, with emphasized possibilities for professional development and potentially long-term cooperation. Details on the number of open positions, specific job roles, and engagement models are usually communicated more precisely at the event itself, when the employer can align departmental needs with the profiles of the candidates who apply.
Exactly what the dynamics of the interviews and selection will look like, as well as how quickly candidates will receive feedback after Career Day, is currently not clear from the publicly available announcement. But the message of the event is clear: the hotel wants to gather local and regional candidates, present Hyatt standards in the first and so far only Hyatt hotel in Croatia, and, ahead of the 2026 season, strengthen the teams that are the foundation of daily work.
Sources:- HRT News – report on the formal opening of the Hyatt Regency Zadar hotel in the former Maraska factory and investments and context of the project (link)- Official website of the Hyatt Regency Zadar hotel – basic information about the hotel and offer (link)- Jutarnji list – context of the project in the building of the former Maraska factory and investment framework (link)- Večernji list (Living) – data on accommodation capacities and positioning of the hotel in the center of Zadar (link)
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