The first thing which comes to mind is – idyllic. To reach the south entrance you must walk through the herb garden with lavender and other herbs, irises and large ceramic pots. In front of the north entrance guests are already enjoying the view of surrounding hills and vineyards, and finishing a bottle of Guerila pinela. Ecological, naturally.
Everything in St. Daniel is ecological, from wines to ingredients used in the kitchen by chef Borut Jakič, from manner of construction to washing laundry. It is the concept the owners of the hotel, Nina Abramič and her husband Miran Prodnik, have set as a goal at the very beginning. As a nutritionist and bio resonance therapist Nina contributed the contents, while Miran, Master of Restauration, took care of realisation of the project.
When they started with their project they were sure of only two things: their hotel had to be located in the Karst region (she is a native from Karst, he comes from the Koroška region), and that they had no intention to stray from ecological guidelines, as they firmly believe that ECO is not only a label, but a way of life – reaching back to one's roots, tradition, and down-to-earth way of life.
They got no help from the state to realize their vision, they applied too late for the European funds, so they relied on their own funds and in three years completed the boutique hotel with two rooms, three apartments, and three suites, a restaurant, a gym, and a holistic wellness centre, which they opened in March.
Nina Abramič is reluctant to speak about the cost, but she admits that the money was of utmost importance for this project. But she emphasizes: "The most important role had the energy of our team, which managed to push forward for so long as to complete the project. We are a stubborn and persistent team, which is more important than money."
Due to its ecological principles St. Daniel became a member of the German Bio Hotels chain, which demands strict and the consistent compliance to green rules, which are regularly monitored. The chain mostly consists of German, Austrian, and Italian Tyrol hotels, St. Daniel being the first Slovenian hotel under the chain patronage, with the exception of the ecological estate and farm Trnulja in the vicinity of Ljubljana.
