Two careers, one country, one shared task
Montenegro Experts combines hotel operations with roots in the country. We work from Graz, Vienna, Munich, Zurich and Podgorica, remotely as the basis and on site where it counts.
A podcast conversation became an assignment to ourselves
Michael and Ljubo know each other as hosts of the weekly podcast “Der letzte Schluck zum Feierabend”. The idea for this partnership grew out of a conversation about Ljubo's roots in Montenegro.
Since then we have studied the market thoroughly: the official statistics of MONSTAT, the laws and the classification of accommodation, the funding programmes in the original, the prices of properties on the coast. In October 2026 we were in the country together, with hoteliers and restaurateurs, with estate agencies, at the tourism forum in Podgorica and in conversation with the National Tourism Organisation of Montenegro.
What we learned is on this website: in the funding guide, on the page on EU accession and in market insights.
Montenegro Experts in six minutes
Who we are, what we see in Montenegro's hospitality market and how an assignment works, in ten slides with narration.
Who works with you
Ljubo Vuljaj
Born in Montenegro, certified sommelier, in the wine trade since 2000, teacher of restaurant service at the vocational school in Bad Gleichenberg. Runs the agency Weingutmarketing and supports wineries in Styria with analysis, brand and marketing.
- Gastronomy concept and F&B positioning
- Wine lists and sommelier training
- Service culture and team development
- Language, country and people
Michael Gehring
More than 40 years in hotel management since 1981, in Switzerland, Austria, Germany and South Tyrol, from opening to restructuring. Leisure, conference and boutique hotels, seasonal and year-round operation. Runs the hotel consultancy HotelSuccess.
- Figures, structure and revenue management
- Pre-opening and repositioning
- Direct sales and digitalisation
- Funding and finance
What has worked in other markets
Three assignments from the German-speaking countries. We name the properties in a personal conversation.
Around 74 rooms, 18 months
Guest rating from 7.6 to 8.8, occupancy of 68 percent in two-season operation.
58 rooms with event space
Occupancy up 15 percent, event revenue up 30 percent, food and beverage revenue up 50 percent.
Around 30 rooms, boutique hotel with fine dining
Among the top 100 hotels in Switzerland in its second year, 60 percent occupancy in year-round operation.
Out and about in Montenegro, October 2026
Working with tourism organisations, associations, municipalities and banks
The goals of the national tourism strategy, a longer season, higher quality and a more varied offer, are ours too. We support the institutions working towards them.
Training and workshops
For members of associations and for teams in hotels and restaurants: service and wine, pricing and revenue, direct sales, year-round operation. In Montenegrin, German and English.
Project work in EU programmes
Interreg and IPA are open to non-profit bodies. We contribute as a contractor and provide the specialist content on hotels, gastronomy and wine.
Hotel expertise for banks and agents
Banks need complete investment plans, estate agents the value of a hotel as a going concern. We deliver both from the operator's point of view.
A bridge to the German-speaking market
The guest from Germany stays 4.58 nights and thus close to the hotel figure (MONSTAT, Release 27-2/2026). We know this guest's expectations of property, kitchen and service from four decades of hotel operations in the German-speaking countries.
More on the German-speaking marketOur own research. Our own responsibility.
We are a young company looking at Montenegro with fresh eyes. We travel there, ask questions, read laws and funding programmes in the original and talk to the people who run hotels here. Everything on this website grows out of that work. For language and design we use artificial intelligence as a tool. Which facts are right and what we recommend, we decide ourselves. We stand behind every statement.
Our principles
Every figure with its source
Facts with origin and date, every assumption stated openly.
Fixed price
Agreed before we start. A first meeting is free of charge and without obligation.
Confidentiality
We never publish the names of properties or businesses.
A clear role
We advise on operations. Law, tax and construction stay with licensed local firms.
The contracting party is HotelSuccess, Michael Gehring, Bärnbach, Austria.
Montenegro Experts is the hotel consultancy of Ljubo Vuljaj and Michael Gehring. We are not affiliated with providers of similar names, such as montenegro-experte.de.