Merit Starlit Hotel & Residence, based in Budva, Montenegro, was named Montenegro's Leading Hotel for the second consecutive year at the World Travel Awards 2026 European Gala Ceremony, held on 17 October in Kotor.
The award, presented by one of the tourism industry's most prestigious organisations, recognises excellence in hospitality, guest experience and service standards. World Travel Awards has been honouring achievement in the global travel and tourism sector since 1993.
Merit Starlit is part of Merit International Hotels & Casinos, the international brand of NET Holding A.Ş., a Turkish Cypriot company founded in 1974 with deep roots in the North Cyprus tourism sector. The holding's subsidiary Merit Turizm A.Ş., established in 1988, oversees the group's international expansion across North Cyprus, Montenegro and Bulgaria.
Both NET Holding A.Ş. and Merit Turizm A.Ş. are listed on Borsa Istanbul, with listings dating back to 1989 and 2012 respectively. The group operates a wide portfolio of hotels and casinos in Kyrenia, Nicosia and İskele in North Cyprus, as well as properties in Montenegro and Bulgaria.
The back-to-back recognition at World Travel Awards underscores Merit's growing international presence and its commitment to maintaining high hospitality standards beyond its home market in North Cyprus.
