The Zagreb County Tourist Board organised the "Rose of Zagreb County" award ceremony in Velika Gorica. Many distinguished guests gathered for the first edition of this annual awards ceremony. The event occurred in the county, which recorded a 44% increase in overnight stays in the year's first two months. A total of 17 awards were given out during the ceremony.

The inaugural edition of the Rose of Zagreb County awards ceremony, dubbed by the Zagreb County Tourist Association, recognised outstanding performance in six categories. In addition to these categories, special prizes were also awarded. Ivana Alilović, the director of the Zagreb County Tourist Board, made it clear during the application process that the success of Zagreb County as a tourist destination hinges on the contribution of all its stakeholders. "The awards ceremony is intended to inspire all tourism stakeholders. Among the awards recipients, we have excellent examples that can guide the development of all stakeholders," she stated.

"The Rose of Zagreb County serves as an exemplary model of how tourist boards can stimulate success stories that aid in the growth of the local tourism industry in Croatia. I extend my gratitude to Director Alilović for taking the initiative and congratulate all the awardees," remarked Ph.D. Nikolina Brnjac, the Minister of Tourism and Sports in the Government of the Republic of Croatia.

The Samoborska češnjovka Association and the pastry shop "Strawberries and Chocolate" have been announced as winners in the wine-gastro tourism category. This year, the association went the extra mile and ensured the European Commission Regulation protects this gastronomic speciality. Meanwhile, "Strawberries and Chocolate" continues to be regarded as one of the best pastry shops in Zagreb County. In the sustainable tourism category, awards went to the Korak Winery and Bernard Korak for their excellent cuisine, which has become a regular attraction for many visitors to the Plešivica Mountains. Additionally, the Posavina Corn Labyrinth "Hrvatica" was recognised as an interactive attraction that could bring attention to an undiscovered region segment. The Tourist Board of the City of Jastrebarsko and the Adventure Field project of OPG "Grgar" were awarded for their innovative products and services. In the socially responsible entrepreneurship category, the creative Croatian Umbrella and Zagreb International Airport "Franjo Tuđman" were recognised for their contributions.

The awards ceremony for the best accommodation facilities recognised Camp Zagreb and Hotel Royal Airport. Meanwhile, the category for service employees and other tourism-related activities was awarded to Zlatko Jančić and Ljiljana Stanko. Several outstanding individuals also received special awards, including Goran Hanžek for his work at Winery "Litterarij", Stipo Duvnjak for his contributions to the Folklore ensemble Novo Čiče, and Nenad Čunčić for his service at the Turopolje pub. Ivana Purek Puhelek and Tihomir Jagunić were recognised for their contributions to Hotel Princess. Also, Doris Pinčić was awarded a special prize for her "Living like a local" project, which contributed significantly to the tourism industry.

The inaugural Rose of Zagreb County award ceremony was attended by several distinguished guests, including Velika Gorica's mayor, Krešimir Ačkar, Monika Udovičić- an envoy of the Minister of Tourism and Sports, the director of the Administration, Deputy Prefect of Zagreb County- Damir Tomljenović, and numerous representatives from Zagreb County and beyond. Zsa Zsa provided music and entertainment with her hits.