21 September 2023 – The Digital Nomad Association Croatia is proud to support the upcoming Gourmet Getaway – Workation and Workshops, to be held in Central Istria from 3 November to 3 December. There’s only a few days left to apply, with entries closing midnight 24 September 2023 (CET). Four winners will be chosen; two storytellers and two people in need of focus time for a passion project. Plus, our extensive network of mentors are on hand to assist the winners in one-on-one sessions.
FIRST UP, MEET THE MENTORS:
Anja Mutić
Anja Mutić is an award-winning travel writer and editor based in Zagreb. Her work has been published in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Conde Nast Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, National Geographic Traveler, BBC Travel, Wall Street Journal, Lonely Planet and many other publications. Anja is also the founder of Storyline Studio, a creative content agency focused on strategic storytelling for travel, tourism & hospitality brands.
Follow Anja on Instagram at @Everthenomad and @Storyline_studio_agency
Mandy Fransz
Mandy Fransz is a seasoned entrepreneur, consultant, keynote speaker, and Chief Community Officer at Remote Workers Worldwide. She is on a mission to build the world’s #1 remote work community with more than 100,000 members (and, counting!) to build valuable connections and learn from like-minded peers. Mandy is featured as a global thought leader in renowned publications incl. US LinkedIn Top Voices: Remote Work, Remote Influencer Report, & Thrive Global.
Join Mandy for an insightful session as she shares her journey of taking the leap of faith from her corporate, in-office job in 2018 to full-time remote work. With a global audience of 100,000 remote workers and digital nomads and being recognized as a global future of work thought leader, Mandy shares real-world advice and inspiration to kickstart your own remote work journey from overcoming key challenges, personal branding tips, and unlocking the power of community.
Follow Mandy on LinkedIn and Instagram
Rax Suen
Avid world traveler and entrepreneur who is passionate about human perspectives and freedom around four core areas: Location, Time, Finance and Mind. Rax Suen is the founder of NomadsUnveiled, a travel publication with over 300K monthly readers, and host of the ChatWithNomads podcast. He also runs a fully remote design studio and serves as the Creative Director for Monster Day Tours, an award winning travel agency.
Rax has served as a digital nomad ambassador and consulted on various nomad initiatives. He is also featured on international publications such as Forbes, Travel + Leisure, AsiaOne and other travel/business media.
Follow Rax on LinkedIn
Dipak Vadera
Dipak kick-started his sales career at Uber and Hootsuite witnessing growth that would influence his future strategy. Currently, he’s leading the PLG Sales Team at Dealfront, and is on a mission to help B2B companies nail their prospecting & sales efforts. He has also delivered a number of workshops on B2B sales, personal branding, and social selling all around Europe, from the Canary Islands to Finland, from Malta to Slovakia, and more. When he’s not busy driving growth at Dealfront, he’s a self-proclaimed “Fulltime Backpacker “, and a strong advocate for remote work. Dipak balances work and travel by staying no longer than 3 weeks in one place.
Follow Dipak on Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
Jenn Rice
Jenn Rice, a celebrated culinary and travel journalist, tells captivating tales in the food and beverage world. Her freelance work graces prestigious outlets like Food & Wine, Vogue, Washington Post, Punch, Eater, Thrillist, and Conde Nast Traveler. She’s known for spotlighting North Carolina, Hawaii, and Europe, and indulging in cheese, gin, and Iberico Jamon in Spain. Her compass is set to “Wherever the wind blows me,” and in Fall/Winter 2023/2024 she will use Central Istria as a base to write her first book.
As your mentor, Jenn will help bring your ideas and thoughts on food and travel into a compelling story— and teach you how to navigate the ever-changing landscape of the media world. There are trends and fads that flood the internet but true journalism lies in finding the right subjects when traveling around the globe. Jenn will encourage you to dig a little deeper when traveling to find out the history behind a local dish.
Follow Jenn on Instagram
Yvonne Wagoun
White Stag Tourism Ltd, an Edinburgh-based tourism consultancy, partners with national and international tourism businesses, working with both the public and private sector. Led by Yvonne Wagoun, a seasoned Business Development and Tourism Manager with 29+ years of experience. Yvonne, named one of Scotland’s Top 100 Women in Tourism in 2022, has spearheaded projects in product development, sales distribution, and destination development through collaboration with the travel trade, including supporting tourism product development around the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham. She’s also contributed to the increase of trade engagement in several Scottish rural destinations through development of bookable products and experiences, putting lesser-known destinations on the map. Yvonne was part of the Central Istria Digital Nomads-in-Residence program in 2022 and returns in 2023 to deliver a niche tourism workshop with locals and nomads.
Connect with Yvonne on LinkedIn
Dean Kuchel
Known as the “King of Digital Nomads”, Dean Kuchel has been working remotely from over 100 countries around the world before the term “digital nomad” was even a thought. Over the last 10 years, he has empowered 1000s of people to choose a life of freedom through founding Digital Nomads Israel, his captivating keynotes, government & business collaborations, advocacy and mentorship.
From the peaks of mountains to lush rainforests, Dean has seen the world’s most beautiful sights, but what gets him up every morning is not beaches and sunsets – it’s connection. He’s on a mission to build and strengthen communities through remote work. He is a firm believer in the future of work revolving around a borderless world and rejects the notion that one must wait until retirement to enjoy life. He is working tirelessly at all impact levels to shift remote work’s title from “the future of work” to a reality in the present day for individuals around the world.
Join Dean for a one-on-one session around the topics of: Financial Freedom and how to build a location independent career or business.
Han Talbot
Han Talbot, also known online as Han Meets World, is a Creative Project Manager and host of The Remote Life Podcast. A show with a mission to empower people to live their remote life dreams. Originally from the UK, Han has been living and working remotely on-off since 2013 when she was studying for a year in Brazil.
Han has been leading communications on projects since 2015 in various industries, including digital and influencer marketing for DMOs, tourism boards and travel brands. From events to campaigns, Han has built insights from both a marketer and content creator perspective since 2016, when she created Han Meets World.
In 2022, Han was selected for the inaugural UK LinkedIn Creator Accelerator Programme to produce remote life industry content, as well as a participant in pilot digital nomad programmes with Saltwater Nomads and Digital Nomads Herzegovina. She has been featured in Lonely Planet and other publications; and was also shortlisted for a BCreator Award in 2021.
Follow Han on LinkedIn
Nicki Frandsen
Meet Nicki, a trusted advisor and strategic partner for small business owners in the e-commerce sector. Nicki’s approach starts with the individual and prioritizes simplicity and seamless work-life integration, aiming to foster better businesses that are not only profitable but also bring joy to the business owner.
With a diverse journey spanning from sales, customer service, and web development to earning a master’s degree in human-centered informatics, Nicki possesses a unique blend of expertise in design thinking, web development, and business analytics. Nicki is a versatile generalist who effortlessly navigates various knowledge domains, connecting the dots to offer comprehensive business support.
Nicki’s mission is clear: to simplify the world of business and bring greater freedom and flexibility to small business owners. He firmly believes that a business doesn’t have to grow in size to become better; the answer may in fact be in refining existing operations and enhancing the overall experience for both business owners and customers.
Connect with Nicki on LinkedIn
Steve Tsentserensky
And our very own…
Steve is a location-independent writer who’s been featured in outlets like CNBC and World Nomads. In his past life as a video producer and photographer, he produced content for everyone from adventure tourism companies to contestants on The Voice.
He’s been on the move for over a decade, traveling to 65+ countries and becoming a passionate advocate for the digital nomad lifestyle in the process. Steve is also The Content Nomad; authoring a weekly newsletter on content and finding contentment as a traveling solopreneur.
Follow Steve on LinkedIn
Nomads enjoying a wine tasting during the last edition of the Digital Nomads in Residence program in Central Istria (December 2022).
Work, Dine & Explore: Calling 4 Digital Nomads to Central Istria’s Dream Workation
“Central Istria is a great spot to focus, and enjoy some of the best field to fork experiences in Croatia.” says Tanja Polegubic of Saltwater Nomads, the agency delivering the workation.
The Essence of Central Istria
Discover Central Istria, where a blend of unique experiences awaits — gastronomy tourism leads the way, with visits to passionate winemakers, sprawling olive groves, and cozy taverns that serve up both exquisite dishes and stories. Explore the abundant natural beauties of the region, with picturesque landscapes, quaint villages, and historical treasures.
Why Gourmet Getaway?
Central Istria is not just a destination; it’s an experience. With the aim to establish Central Istria as a sought-after location for digital nomads, the Tourist Board Central Istria initiated the Live & Work in Central Istria project. The Gourmet Getaway is born from this vision, a workation program that seamlessly blends work, leisure, and gastronomic delights.
Highlights of the getaway include:
- Winemaking Wonders: Dive deep into the realm of wines, guided by local wine makers who open their doors for delightful wine tastings.
- Apiary Adventures: Discover the art of honey making, visiting the peninsula’s honey spots and engaging with skilled apiarists.
- Culinary Crafts: Engage in hands-on cooking classes, mastering truffle and Intangible Cultural Heritage, through local recipes. Relish the creations you whip up using local ingredients.
Live the authentic Istrian ethos
Sanja Kantaruti, the Central Istria Tourist Board Director, sums up the region’s allure, “Central Istria is a mosaic of experiences, waiting to be explored. The Gourmet Getaway offers digital nomads a chance not just to visit, but to live the authentic Istrian ethos. To work amidst natural beauty, indulge in gastronomic wonders, and weave the stories of Central Istria into their own narratives.”
Sanja Kantaruti, the Central Istria Tourist Board Director, joined the DNA Team in this year’s Sausagefest that took place in Sveti Petar u Šumi.
Are You Our Next Gourmet Nomad?
We’re on the hunt for four special individuals, ready to immerse themselves in a month-long culinary and focus-themed workation. Whether you’re an established storyteller, an aspiring creator, or someone with a burning passion project, the Gourmet Getaway is calling.
In the Gourmet Getaway experience, selected digital nomads will indulge in an entire month’s free accommodation, set amidst the rustic charm of a Central Istrian rural coliving villa. Beyond a cozy stay, winners receive a travel stipend of 250 euros (dispensed post-program). The culinary journey expands with a weekly grocery stipend for self-catered group feasts, curated by our coliving community manager. Dive into the Istrian food scene with four ‘Nomad Table’ group dinners at authentic local konobas, scheduled each Friday in November.
The Gourmet Getaway includes workshop transport and materials, and a vehicle to explore Central Istria on free days. Stay connected with free wifi access in the villa, and round off your enriching journey with a custom mentoring workshop tailored to your passion, be it video, tourism, writing, photography, or even specialized areas like career consulting and business coaching. Dive into a month of unparalleled experiences, all woven into the Gourmet Getaway.
How to Join?
Enter to win this unique opportunity and dive into a world of flavors and stories. Apply now for a chance to win a place in the Central Istria Gourmet Getaway.
This project is co-financed by the Croatian National Tourist Board.
