On 27 June 2026, the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management hosted the formal certificate award ceremony for the first generation of participants in the programme Organisation of Operations in the Food and Beverage Department – F&B Professional, a programme focused on connecting academic knowledge, professional experience, and the specific needs of the hotel, hospitality, and tourism sectors.
The formal part of the programme was held in the presence of participants, representatives of hotel companies and the tourism sector, partner organisations, associates, lecturers, and media representatives.
The attendees were first addressed by the Dean of the Faculty, Full Professor Marko Perić, PhD, who congratulated the participants on successfully completing the programme and emphasised the importance of lifelong learning and cooperation between the Faculty and the professional community. The audience was then addressed by the programme leader, Associate Professor Krešimir Mikinac, PhD, who highlighted that the programme provides participants with a broader perspective on the operations, management, and development of food and beverage departments, while further strengthening professionals who are already applying and confirming their knowledge in practice.
On behalf of professional associates and partner organisations, the gathering was addressed by Bernard Zenzerović, Director of the Croatian Hospitality Employers’ Association; Saša Krajinović, Member of the Management Board of Jadranka turizam; and Dario Kinkela, Director of the Food and Beverage Sector at Valamar. Their addresses further underlined the importance of cooperation between the academic sector and professional practice in developing the competencies required by contemporary tourism and hospitality.
The central part of the ceremony was the presentation of certificates to the participants of the first generation of the F&B Professional programme. The certificates were presented by the Dean of the Faculty, Full Professor Marko Perić, PhD, and the programme leader, Associate Professor Krešimir Mikinac, PhD. On behalf of the first generation of participants, Maria Nerea Fidalgo delivered a short address, thanking the lecturers, associates, and programme partners for the knowledge, support, and experience gained during the programme.
Following the formal part of the ceremony, the programme continued in the Faculty park in a more relaxed atmosphere, bringing together knowledge, the profession, gastronomy, wine, and hospitality. Short addresses were then delivered by Andrej Markulin, Director of Galić Winery; Sandi Paris, Corporate Beverage Manager in the Food and Beverage Sector and four-time Croatian sommelier champion; and Domagoj Perković, participant of the F&B Professional programme and 2025 champion of Istria and Kvarner. The closing part of the event was marked by the symbolic opening of a special bottle of wine, followed by informal networking accompanied by eno-gastronomic delicacies.
The successful implementation of the first generation of the programme was the result of cooperation between the Faculty, lecturers, external associates, professional lecturers, and partners from practice. Special thanks were extended to professional partners and associations: the Croatian Hospitality Employers’ Association, the Croatian Chamber of Economy, the Croatian Culinary Federation, the Croatian Sommelier Club, and the Croatian Waiters and Bartenders Association.
Thanks were also extended to business partners and associates who supported the implementation of the programme and the organisation of the ceremony, including Galić Wines, Hug & Punch Coffee Co., Miva Wine Gallery, RIEDEL, METRO Croatia, HIGIS, Boogie Lab, Nektar Natura, Acqua Panna and S. Pellegrino, as well as to the media covering the programme’s activities, including TURIZAM info magazine.
Congratulations to all participants of the first generation of the Organisation of Operations in the Food and Beverage Department – F&B Professional programme on successfully completing the programme. We wish them every success in their further professional development and in applying the knowledge gained in practice.
