Regent Porto Montenegro is expected to leave IHG Hotels & Resorts and move under Kerzner International’s Rare Finds collection, concentrating more of the luxury hospitality operations at the Tivat development within the Kerzner network.
The proposed rebranding has not been formally confirmed by Adriatic Marinas, IHG or Kerzner International. Porto Montenegro’s official website continued to market the property as Regent Porto Montenegro on September 15, with reservations still directed through IHG’s booking system.
Available information indicates that the hotel was due to leave IHG at the end of August and that cooperation with Regent Hotels & Resorts had concluded. The transition would cover the broader hotel and residential complex comprising the Venezia, Aqua and Baia buildings.
The reported change concerns the hotel operator and brand rather than the ownership of the underlying property. Porto Montenegro has been owned since 2016 by the Investment Corporation of Dubai, the principal investment arm of the Dubai government. ICD also holds a significant interest in Kerzner, creating a closer strategic connection between the waterfront development and its prospective hotel operator.
A first phase of renovation is expected to cover the hotel’s common areas and 34 accommodation units in the Venezia wing. No detailed timetable, investment value or plan for renovating the remainder of the complex has been disclosed.
The move would end the property’s association with one of IHG’s highest-positioned luxury brands. Regent joined IHG’s portfolio in 2018, giving hotels within the system access to the group’s international distribution, corporate sales channels and IHG One Rewards loyalty programme.
Existing reservations paid in cash are expected to remain valid after the transition. Guests would, however, cease earning IHG loyalty points or receiving elite-status benefits once the property formally leaves the system.
The position of reservations made with IHG points is less clear. Rebranding agreements normally contain transitional provisions for existing bookings, but no public confirmation has been issued on whether reward reservations will be honoured, converted or moved to another IHG property.
Under Kerzner, the hotel would join Rare Finds, a collection of luxury properties designed to retain a stronger individual identity than hotels operating under a conventional standardised chain format. The brand places emphasis on local culture, natural surroundings and destination-specific experiences.
Rare Finds currently includes properties such as Bab Al Shams and The Meydan Hotel in the United Arab Emirates, as well as the Shamwari Private Game Reserve in South Africa. The Shamwari portfolio covers 62 rooms and suites across six lodges and an explorer camp within a 25,000-hectare wildlife reserve.
The addition of the Tivat hotel would give Rare Finds its first European property and provide the brand with a high-profile position in the Adriatic luxury market. It would also expand Kerzner’s already significant presence in Montenegro.
Kerzner operates One&Only Portonovi in Kumbor and SIRO Porto Montenegro at Boka Place. One&Only targets the ultra-luxury resort segment, while SIRO combines accommodation with fitness, recovery and wellness services.
Adding Rare Finds would give Kerzner three differentiated brands in the Bay of Kotor. The group could use common international sales, marketing and customer-management infrastructure while separating the properties by customer profile and experience.
For Porto Montenegro, the switch could create closer integration between the hotel, marina, residential portfolio and the wider destination strategy. The complex has developed from a former naval base into one of the Adriatic’s largest luxury waterfront projects, combining a superyacht marina, residences, hotels, retail units and restaurants.
The development currently has about 480 marina berths and continues to expand through Boka Place and new residential projects. Its business model relies on the interaction between property sales, hotel demand, yacht traffic, retail spending and recurring management income.
The Regent has served as the hospitality anchor of Porto Montenegro’s original South Village. Its brand, management and services are also closely associated with residences in the Aqua and Baia buildings, meaning the transition will be relevant not only to hotel guests but also to apartment owners and the resale market.
Branded residences typically command a premium because buyers receive hotel services, access to amenities and the reputational support of an international operator. A change in brand can affect service agreements, operating charges, rental management and future resale positioning, although the practical effect will depend on the terms agreed with individual owners.
Current asking prices illustrate the value attached to the complex. One-bedroom units marketed in the Aqua and Baia buildings in September were being offered at approximately €745,000 to €850,000, although Montenegro’s fragmented property-listing market makes it difficult to establish achieved transaction prices.
Kerzner’s arrival could support that positioning if the renovation raises service standards and strengthens international marketing. The commercial outcome will depend on the scale of capital expenditure, the continuity of hotel operations and whether the new brand can replace the demand generated through IHG’s global reservations and loyalty system.
The change also reflects a broader shift in Montenegro’s luxury tourism market. International operators increasingly treat hotels as anchors for larger mixed-use developments rather than stand-alone accommodation businesses. The hotel brand helps sell residences, attract retail tenants and extend visitor spending across the destination.
Kerzner’s growing presence in both Porto Montenegro and Portonovi places a single international operator at the centre of two of Montenegro’s most important high-end coastal developments. That concentration could strengthen the country’s visibility among affluent travellers, but it also makes the performance of Kerzner’s brands increasingly important to the wider luxury property and hospitality market.
The future name, formal transition date and full renovation programme remain undisclosed. Until the companies involved issue confirmation, the hotel continues to operate publicly as Regent Porto Montenegro, leaving the most commercially important details of the rebranding unresolved.
