Bulgarian Hotel & Restaurant Association 

The Bulgarian Hotel & Restaurant Association (BHRA) is established in 1993, by Court Order No.17173 of 20th October, issued by Sofia City Court - as a non-government organization (NGO). For over 13 years the main objectives of the Association is aiding and assistance in the development of the hotel industry and catering services, and also growth of the tourist branch in Bulgaria.

At present BHRA consolidates hundreds of hotels in some of the largest tourist complexes after privatization - Villa Resort of "Riviera", Resort Complex of "Albena", Villa Resort of "Rusalka", etc. Alone in the last few years some of the most prestigious and famous Bulgarian hotels and restaurants became members of the Association, like for example: "Radisson SAS", "Sheraton-Sofia Balkan", "Hilton", "Grand Hotel Varna", GH "Bulgaria", "Geneva", "Central", "Tsarevets", "Saint Petersburg", "Downtown", "Cypress", "City Planet", "Bistra & Galina", "Sevlievo Plaza", "Shumen", "Ismena", "Dimyat", "Chepishev", the catering chain Happy Bar & Grill, etc.

Dozens are the small family hotels nationwide, members of BHRA that the Bulgarian and foreign tourists like due to the Bulgarian hospitality and the non-standard atmosphere. These changed the image of whole regions and made even more popular Bansko, Chepelare, Simeonovo, the Village of "Momchilovtsi", the Village of "Arbanasi", Dobrinishte, Nessebar, Obzor, Velingrad, Zlatograd, Asenovgrad, Veliko Turnovo, etc.

The Association has established regional structures within regions of developed tourism. The greatest of these are situated on the Black Sea coast, in Sofia, Sunny Beach, Varna, Bansko, Veliko Turnovo, in Zlatograd, Smolyan, Plovdiv, and Chepelare, in the Resort Complex of "Borovets", etc.

BHRA works on a program for the development of the hotel industry and catering services both home and abroad, and acquaints its colleagues about credit grants, upgrade of the hotel category, and extension of tourist sites.
It provides participation in all Bulgarian and foreign tourist exchange markets, exhibitions, seminars, etc., consults and performs advertising and public relation campaigns for developing the image of its members, and the image of the Bulgarian tourism.

The Association is engaged with professional qualification and training of personnel, marketing and standardization of hotels. It provides participation of its members in national and international training courses, presentation on seminars and conferences, organizes workshops, presentations and press-conferences. BHRA is organizer of the Annual National Competition "Cook of the Year" that is traditionally held within the scope of the Autumn Fair of Tourism and Leisure Time in Varna. The Association is an initiator and organizer of the first National Tourist Exchange Market "Cultural Tourism-2004" - performed in the town of Veliko Turnovo. Concurrently with the information and consultation activities, BHRA works for the establishment of joint ventures in the field of tourism and in funding various projects and activities. In 2001 the BHRA organized business delegation in Palma de Majorca and a meeting with the Federation of Hoteliers in Palma. Each year 27th Sept. the Association celebrates successfully the World Day of Tourism, with the participation of representatives of the Government and the Tourist Business nationwide.

BHRA is the first professional organization in Bulgaria that since 1996 grant its traditional Annual Award for best achievements in the field of hotel industry, management, catering services, investments, etc. In the said eight years the Association stimulates and motivates for new success and development dozens of professionals in the tourist branch.

Onto the present, day among the prize-winners are: Resort Complex of "Albena", Hotel "Victoria" - Resort Complex of "Sunny Beach", Villa Resort of "Riviera", Hotel "Shumen", Hotel "Radisson", Hotel "Magisterial" - Nessebar, Hotel "Ambassador", Grand Hotel "Varna", "Victoria Tour", Hotel "Cypress" - Smolyan, Hotel "Ismena" - Devin, Hotel "Murgavets" - Resort Complex of "Pamporovo", Hotel "Tanne" - Bansko, Hotel "Martin" - Chepelare, Hotel "Saint Petersburg" - Plovdiv, Restaurant "Izvorite" - village of "Arbanasi", Hotel "Yagoda", etc.

The Bulgarian Hotel and Restaurant Association has established permanent work groups on:

• co-ordination, partnership, and assistance between BHRA and the remaining related branch organizations, institutions and other associations in the tourist industry;

• categorization, licensing, and quality assurance;

• developing the vocational training of the personnel in tourism, international and national competitions, education and exchange of employees;

• development of projects and programs for growth of the tourist branch, and assistance in their performance;

• information services, public relations, advertising and international relations.

For over twelve years BHRA is working actively with various state and public organizations in Bulgaria - the Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Regional Development, various Commissions of the National Assembly, the Bulgarian Tourist Chamber, the Bulgarian Association of the Tourist Agencies, Bulgarian Association for Alternative Tourism, Bulgarian Chamber of Economy, Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Commission for Trade and Protection of Customers, Sofia University "St. Clement Ohridski" - regional and local tourist associations.

The Association is among the founders of the National Council of Tourism, where it protects the interests of its members, its representatives, participates in various work commissions within the structure of the Ministry of Economy. In the management bodies of BHRA are elected professionals with training and rich experience nationwide, persons having proved their good name among their colleagues.

Among the main objectives of BHRA are the unification of the professionals in tourism, providing aiding and assistance in their qualification and training, and also protection of their rights and interests. The Association participates in all debates and work groups, related to legislation initiatives in the field of the tourist business, it is a member of a great number of leading authorities and commissions that work to improve the conditions for development of the tourist industry.
BHRA represents its members and sections at the greatest national and international tourist exchange markets, exhibitions and forums, by making their promotion both home and abroad. It provides publicity to its activities and presentation of the results of its best tourist sites, and leading managers in the mass media.

In May 2004 Bulgarian Hotel and Restaurant Association is conferred with Certificate for an institution with high prestige and contribution for the prosperity of Bulgaria. This award is a token of the high public assessment for the role, prestige and activity of the association. A NATIONAL CONVENT OF EXPERTS made the nomination for this official distinction after a web-based study of public opinion in which 9840 people took part. This number includes representatives of corporate management, industrial chambers and associations, municipality officials, scientific organizations, intellectual unions. The web-site of BHRA - www.bhra-bg.org is awarded with "Certificate for professionalism and creative approach" by the jury of the International WEB Festival - TV World Albena 2004"

On the initiative of The Bulgarian Hotel and Restaurant Association, on the 17 of September 2005 in Ohrid, the Balkan Alliance of Hotel Associations /BAHA/ was established. BAHA is nongovernmental, nonprofitable and nonpolitical organization.
The first president of BAHA was chosen, the chairmen of the Bulgarian hotel and restaurant association - Mr. Blagoi Ragin and for the vice president - the president of Macedonian hotel association Mr. Donco Tanevski. The members of BAHA are the associations of Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Macedonia, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Albania and Monte Negro. The headquarters is in Ohrid.
The main goal of the members is to work together for the prosperity, promotion and development of the tourism on the Balkan Peninsula.

BHRA has business contacts with the following international organizations: the International Hotel & Restaurant Association (IH&RA) with head office in Paris, DEHOGA and GTZ - Germany, HOTREC - Brussels and etc.