Meet our team

The IQM Destination project is developed and implemented by a team of professionals with long-standing experience in tourism, hospitality, camping, communication, finance, and destination development. Each team member brings specific knowledge and a practical approach that connects real-world experience with clearly defined goals.


We place a strong focus on sustainable tourism development – by supporting destinations in strengthening stakeholder cooperation, improving the quality of service, and implementing structured strategies that lead to concrete, visible, and measurable results.

IQM Destination staff

Đurđica Šimičić

Author of the IQM Destination Project and CEO of Feel IQM
View more

Anamarija Ciccarelli

Project Author and Specialist for Private Accommodation
View more

Pero Matić

Financial Consultant and Hotel Sector Advisor
View more

Đurđica Šimičić

Author of the IQM Destination Project and CEO of Feel IQM

From 2006 to 2016, she was the Director of the Mali Lošinj Tourist Board, where she initiated the branding of the island as the “Island of Vitality”.

Anamarija Ciccarelli

Project Author and Specialist for Private Accommodation

An expert in private accommodation with years of experience working directly with small-scale providers.

Pero Matić

Financial Consultant and Hotel Sector Advisor

Financial and hospitality expert with decades of leadership experience in hotel management and strategic business operations.

Đurđica Šimičić, MA in Economics – Author of the IQM Destination Project and CEO of Feel IQM

Founder and CEO of Feel IQM. From 2006 to 2016, she was the Director of the Mali Lošinj Tourist Board, where she initiated the branding of the island as the “Island of Vitality”. In 2010, she received the Croatian National Tourist Board’s award for best employee. From 2016 to 2019, she worked as Brand Manager at Jadranka Hotels.

Anamarija Ciccarelli, MA in Economics – Project Author and Specialist for Private Accommodation within IQM Destination

An expert in private accommodation with years of experience working directly with small-scale providers. Within the IQM Destination project, she develops methodology and tools to improve the quality of private accommodation, focusing on sustainability, authenticity, and on-site education.

Pero Matić, MSc in Economics – Financial Consultant and Hotel Sector Advisor for the IQM Destination Project

Financial and hospitality expert with decades of leadership experience in hotel management and strategic business operations. Within the IQM Destination project, he serves as a financial consultant and hotel sector advisor, focusing on long-term sustainability and growth.

Want to learn more about the IQM Destination project?

Our team is available for any additional information. Feel free to reach out – we're here to help.
Project author: Šimičić Đurđica, Master of Economics
In short

She is the owner of the company Feel IQM.
In the period from 2006 to 2016, while she was the director of the Tourist Board of Mali Lošinj, she started branding it as the island of vitality. In 2010 she received a personal reward for the best employee of the Croatian Tourist Board. From 2016 to 2019 she was employed as a brand manager at Jadranka hotels in Mali Lošinj.

She presented the Lošinj concept of destination management at the congresses: in 2015 – she presented Lošinj to the UNWTO Congress as one of the best examples from the practice of destination management. In 2014 she presented the destination management at the European Interparliamentary Conference “Sustainable Tourism Challenges”. At the Congress in 2012 – the World Congress of Cultural Tourism in Dubrovnik she presented the concept of cultural tourism on Lošinj.

At the London Apoxyomenos show, she presented the Apoxyomenos concept of the island of vitality at the British Museum. She has been leading the ETIS project, which has become part of the European Commission for the implementation and measurement of sustainability indicators at the destination. Since 2016 she is certified Health professional. The certificate is obtained by Medical Tourism Association, USA.

She is communicative and encourages partnership and synergy. She accepts and encourages new ideas, she is proactive and always stimulates the ideas to be tested in practice with the control of results. She is responsible towards goals and tasks and very collegial. She is experienced in project management, making decisions, working on projects of local and national importance. She is also experienced in working with non-profit organizations and associations as well as with economic entities. She gained her organizing skills in managerial positions as director of tourist agencies, director of Mali Lošinj Tourist Board, Director of Product Development Department, brand manager at Losinj Hotels & Villas and a number of other socially responsible functions.

Project author: Anamarija Cicarelli, BSc. tourism
In short

She comes from a family who has been renting rooms, managing guesthouses and later on apartments and since the 1960s and her family is considered one of the pioneers of tourism on the Central Dalmatian islands.

Since early childhood she has been involved in family affairs. He is the author of four professional books on tourism – family accommodation.

At the same time she is the owner of Interligo company. Within the company there is a “Counseling for the owners of private accommodations”. The company Interligo is also the publisher of the magazine “APARTMAN PLUS” specialized for the owners of the private accommodations, holiday homes and other types of family accommodations.

MA. Pero Matić - a consultant in the hotel segment of the IQM Destination project
In short

He graduated from the Faculty of Tourism and Foreign Trade in Dubrovnik, at the University of Split.

He began his career as a marketing director at Nova banka, then as finance and controlling director responsible for the finance sector at the Bonavia Hotel in Rijeka. Director of Control and Planning, in the Planning and Analysis Sector in the Adriatic Luxury Hotels in Dubrovnik and until 2005, Director of Finance and Control, responsible for the finance sector at Hotel Excelsior in Dubrovnik.

2005 – 2017 President of the Management Board, responsible for the total business of Hotel Plat and in 2018 the President of the Management board of the Jadran Hotel in Crikvenica.
Occasional lecturer at Libertas University and lecturer at American College of Management and Technology.

For one mandate, he is the Chairman of the Operating committee of Association of Employers in Croatian Hospitality. He is currently employed as a consultant, specialized in financial counseling at Dokumentalist company.

Đurđica Šimičić
Đurđica Šimičić, Author of the IQM Destination Project and CEO of Feel IQM
Founder and CEO of Feel IQM. From 2006 to 2016, she was the Director of the Mali Lošinj Tourist Board, where she initiated the branding of the island as the “Island of Vitality”. In 2010, she received the Croatian National Tourist Board’s award for best employee. From 2016 to 2019, she worked as Brand Manager at Jadranka Hotels. Đurđica Šimičić has presented the Lošinj destination management concept at numerous international conferences. At the 2015 UNWTO Congress, she showcased Lošinj as a best-practice example. In 2014, she spoke at the European Interparliamentary Conference on sustainable tourism challenges, and in 2012 presented the cultural tourism concept at the World Congress of Cultural Tourism in Dubrovnik. At the British Museum’s Apoxyomenos exhibition in London, she presented the “Island of Vitality” concept. She led the ETIS project (European Tourism Indicators System), now part of the European Commission’s sustainability monitoring framework. Since 2016, she has held the “Health Tourism Professional” certificate issued by the Medical Tourism Association (USA). She is communicative, encourages partnership and synergy, supports new ideas, and insists on testing them with measurable results. Her professional background includes local and national project management, strategic decision-making, and collaboration with both public institutions and private companies. Her leadership experience includes roles such as Director of Tourist Agencies, Director of the Mali Lošinj Tourist Board, Head of Product Development, and Brand Manager at Lošinj Hotels & Villas.
Đurđica Šimičić
Đurđica Šimičić, Author of the IQM Destination Project and CEO of Feel IQM
Founder and CEO of Feel IQM. From 2006 to 2016, she was the Director of the Mali Lošinj Tourist Board, where she initiated the branding of the island as the “Island of Vitality”. In 2010, she received the Croatian National Tourist Board’s award for best employee. From 2016 to 2019, she worked as Brand Manager at Jadranka Hotels. Đurđica Šimičić has presented the Lošinj destination management concept at numerous international conferences. At the 2015 UNWTO Congress, she showcased Lošinj as a best-practice example. In 2014, she spoke at the European Interparliamentary Conference on sustainable tourism challenges, and in 2012 presented the cultural tourism concept at the World Congress of Cultural Tourism in Dubrovnik. At the British Museum’s Apoxyomenos exhibition in London, she presented the “Island of Vitality” concept. She led the ETIS project (European Tourism Indicators System), now part of the European Commission’s sustainability monitoring framework. Since 2016, she has held the “Health Tourism Professional” certificate issued by the Medical Tourism Association (USA). She is communicative, encourages partnership and synergy, supports new ideas, and insists on testing them with measurable results. Her professional background includes local and national project management, strategic decision-making, and collaboration with both public institutions and private companies. Her leadership experience includes roles such as Director of Tourist Agencies, Director of the Mali Lošinj Tourist Board, Head of Product Development, and Brand Manager at Lošinj Hotels & Villas.
Anamarija Ciccarelli
Anamarija Ciccarelli, MA in Economics – Project Author and Specialist for Private Accommodation within IQM Destination
An expert in private accommodation with years of experience working directly with small-scale providers. Within the IQM Destination project, she develops methodology and tools to improve the quality of private accommodation, focusing on sustainability, authenticity, and on-site education. Anamarija Ciccarelli comes from a family with a long-standing tradition in tourism, which shaped her professional focus on private accommodation. She holds a master’s degree in economics and combines academic knowledge with hands-on experience and fieldwork with private renters across Croatia. She has developed self-assessment tools, education models, and motivational systems tailored to private accommodation providers. Within IQM Destination, she participates in destination analysis, direct communication with stakeholders, and practical implementation of quality-improvement measures. Her empathetic approach and ability to translate strategic concepts into actionable solutions make her a vital part of the team advancing small-scale, high-quality tourism services.
Anamarija Ciccarelli
Anamarija Ciccarelli, MA in Economics – Project Author and Specialist for Private Accommodation within IQM Destination
An expert in private accommodation with years of experience working directly with small-scale providers. Within the IQM Destination project, she develops methodology and tools to improve the quality of private accommodation, focusing on sustainability, authenticity, and on-site education. Anamarija Ciccarelli comes from a family with a long-standing tradition in tourism, which shaped her professional focus on private accommodation. She holds a master’s degree in economics and combines academic knowledge with hands-on experience and fieldwork with private renters across Croatia. She has developed self-assessment tools, education models, and motivational systems tailored to private accommodation providers. Within IQM Destination, she participates in destination analysis, direct communication with stakeholders, and practical implementation of quality-improvement measures. Her empathetic approach and ability to translate strategic concepts into actionable solutions make her a vital part of the team advancing small-scale, high-quality tourism services.
Pero Matić
Pero Matić, MSc in Economics – Financial Consultant and Hotel Sector Advisor for the IQM Destination Project
Financial and hospitality expert with decades of leadership experience in hotel management and strategic business operations. Within the IQM Destination project, he serves as a financial consultant and hotel sector advisor, focusing on long-term sustainability and growth. Pero Matić graduated from the Faculty of Tourism and Foreign Trade in Dubrovnik and holds a Master of Science in Economics. He began his career as Marketing Director at Nova Bank, later becoming Finance and Controlling Director at Hotel Bonavia in Rijeka. He then served as Director of Control and Planning at Adriatic Luxury Hotels in Dubrovnik and Director of Finance and Control at Hotel Excelsior. From 2005 to 2017, he was President of the Management Board at Hotel Plat, and in 2018 held the same position at Jadran Hotel in Crikvenica. He has lectured at Libertas University and the American College of Management and Technology, and served as Chair of the Operational Committee of the Association of Employers in Croatian Hospitality. Today, he works as a financial consultant at Dokumentalist, providing strategic and operational advice to the hotel industry and supporting IQM Destination in developing tailored solutions for hotel partners.
Pero Matić
Pero Matić, MSc in Economics – Financial Consultant and Hotel Sector Advisor for the IQM Destination Project
Financial and hospitality expert with decades of leadership experience in hotel management and strategic business operations. Within the IQM Destination project, he serves as a financial consultant and hotel sector advisor, focusing on long-term sustainability and growth. Pero Matić graduated from the Faculty of Tourism and Foreign Trade in Dubrovnik and holds a Master of Science in Economics. He began his career as Marketing Director at Nova Bank, later becoming Finance and Controlling Director at Hotel Bonavia in Rijeka. He then served as Director of Control and Planning at Adriatic Luxury Hotels in Dubrovnik and Director of Finance and Control at Hotel Excelsior. From 2005 to 2017, he was President of the Management Board at Hotel Plat, and in 2018 held the same position at Jadran Hotel in Crikvenica. He has lectured at Libertas University and the American College of Management and Technology, and served as Chair of the Operational Committee of the Association of Employers in Croatian Hospitality. Today, he works as a financial consultant at Dokumentalist, providing strategic and operational advice to the hotel industry and supporting IQM Destination in developing tailored solutions for hotel partners.