Zhivko Ivanov, Asset Management Director of the leading investment company "Galaxy Investment Group", is this year's "Hotelier of the Year". He was personally honoured by the Minister of Tourism Hristo Prodanov for his high standards in managing the company's extensive portfolio of internationally branded hotels, including the InterContinental Sofia, Hilton Sofia and Barceló Royal Beach in Sunny Beach.
"Galaxy Investment Group is a company that actively invests in the development of Bulgarian tourism. In 2018, we took a risk and opened the most luxurious brand represented in the country - InterContinental - we took a risk because it was not clear whether the market was ready for such a high price and product segment. Before and especially during Covid, the hotel received every possible award the chain could give for Europe - for product quality, guest satisfaction, efficiency, etc. There is only one way to win these awards - by beating all other InterContinental hotels in Europe in terms of performance," said Zhivko Ivanov during the ceremony. According to him, as a result of the achievements in these difficult times, Sofia has become the regional hub of the chain for the Balkans.
"Currently, despite the Covid crisis, Galaxy Investment Group is investing in Hilton Sofia. Our goal is to turn a product designed and built in the last century into the most modern business hotel in the capital. We are integrating the "Hotel in the Park - Park in the Hotel" concept with state-of-the-art hospitality solutions, and in the conference centre and dining areas we are again taking a risk by implementing three entirely new brands of the chain for the first time in Europe. Our main goal is one - to continue to compete and be the first not only in Sofia," he added.
The third edition of the Bulgarian Tourism Awards determined the best hotels in Bulgaria for 2022 by a vote of an international jury in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism and the Operational Programme Tourism - Sofia.
Among the other awards were the best travel agency and hotels in the categories - urban, green-medical hotel, coastal and concept hotel. Velingrad was named the Destination of the Year among Bulgarian cities.