Regent Hotels and Resorts has been appointed to operate the first hotel to be built as part of the Porto Montenegro marina destination in Montenegro, which is due to open in 2014.

The property, which will have 34 guestrooms and 46 serviced residences, has been designed by ReardonSmith Architects in keeping with the style of houses along the Adriatic coastline.

Located on the Boka waterfront with the Venice Square Basin adjacent to it, the new hotel is to incorporate the Regent Spa with indoor swimming pool and the Regent Yacht Club.

Although the design has yet to be finalised, the spa area will span approximately 660sq m (7,104sq ft) and will have at least two or three treatment rooms on site. Additional treatment areas are also planned off-site.

Work has already started on-site, with Pisano Atelier behind the interior design of the hotel. The construction of the property also coincides with an expansion of the marina.

ReardonSmith Architects associate director Ross Blunt said: "The four years since we began to masterplan Porto Montenegro, transforming a decommissioned naval base into a world-class destination, have been engrossing and enormously rewarding.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime project, and seeing our vision become a busy and vibrant marina town is tremendously exciting. The new Regent Porto Montenegro will undoubtedly be the outstanding hotel along this part of the Adriatic coast."

To read Terry Stevens' view on the potential for spa development in Montenegro, see Spa Business 4 2010, p.68

Details: www.reardonsmith.com