Luxury travel has changed. Today’s guests are not simply looking for accommodation. They are looking for privacy, meaning and something that feels personal.
Karlo Gale understood that long before Excelsior Villas became a name associated with some of Croatia’s most distinctive private homes.
He did not begin with hilltop estates or cinematic mansions. He began with small apartments.
“I learned hospitality from the ground up,” Gale says. “I hosted hundreds of guests in those early years. I listened carefully. I paid attention to what they remembered and what brought them back.”
Those early properties were modest, but each had something special. A detail. A feeling. A level of care. Over time, patterns began to emerge. Guests did not talk most about square meters or bedroom counts. They talked about how they felt.
That was the foundation.
Rethinking the Standard Model
As the business grew, Gale noticed that much of the rental market followed the same structure. A property was listed online, photographed, uploaded to every platform available and left there to generate bookings.
But for Gale, that was not enough.
“We didn’t want to offer accommodation,” he explains. “We wanted to offer an experience. A memory that stays with you.”
Excelsior Villas was built on that difference. The focus shifted from simply filling calendars to curating stays that felt intentional. Hospitality became human again. Guests were not treated as reservations, but as individuals.
That mindset became the core of the brand.
The Excelsior Selection
Today, Excelsior Villas operates across Croatia, from Dubrovnik through Split to Istria, representing a carefully chosen portfolio of distinctive private homes.
Each property is selected through what Gale calls the “Excelsior Selection.” It is not about quantity. It is about character.
Some villas resemble Tuscan estates set among vineyards. Others are transformed historic buildings, including former royal schools reimagined as private residences. There are modern cliffside homes overlooking the Adriatic, and properties that feel more like film sets than holiday rentals.
What they share is not a style, but a standard.
Excelsior works closely with owners, shaping the story of each home and refining the guest experience together. Privacy, design, location and atmosphere are non-negotiable. Only properties that meet those criteria become part of the collection.
The goal is simple: every stay should feel memorable.
A National Presence, A Broader Vision
Having established a strong presence throughout Croatia, the brand is preparing for its next chapter.
In August 2026, Excelsior Villas will announce a carefully planned expansion into some of Europe’s most established luxury destinations. The move marks a natural evolution for a company built on selectivity and long-term thinking.
The approach will remain the same. Limited properties. High standards. Close collaboration with owners. Services that go beyond expectation.
“We are not expanding to be everywhere,” Gale says. “We are expanding to the right places.”
The Excelsior Standard
The long-term vision is clear. Bring the Excelsior standard to elite destinations across Europe and beyond, beginning with a focused selection of markets known for their established luxury travel scene.
Each new destination will follow the same principles: carefully selected villas defined by design, privacy and atmosphere, supported by high-level services including private chefs, butlers, concierge teams and tailored experiences.
Growth will be controlled. Properties will be limited. Standards will remain high.
Excelsior Villas was never intended to be the largest portfolio on the market.
It was built to be one of the most carefully curated.
And that distinction, Gale believes, is what defines modern luxury.
