site.btaNational Palace in Sliven to Further Develop All Elements of Comprehensive Service - from Accommodation and SPA to Winery

The National Palace Hotel in Sliven continues to develop and upgrade its SPA services, turning them into a central highlight of the overall guest experience, owner Radostin Bozukov told BTA. The hotel was awarded Best Four-Star Luxury SPA Hotel with Château for 2025 by the Bulgarian Hotel and Restaurant Association (BHRA). 

The hotel's SPA center is part of a broader concept, which includes hotel accommodation, a restaurant, wine production, and new culinary ideas.

It is precisely the combination of different services that creates a complete tourist product and attracts visitors from across the country and abroad. According to management data, the hotel has an average occupancy rate of about 55% with a capacity of 89 rooms, which, according to the owner, is a good level for the sector. Half of the guests are foreigners.

The SPA center of the complex covers nearly 1,300 sq. m and was developed over a period of 7 years. It stands out with a specific concept focused on comfort, tranquility, and high-class services. It is built using tempered concrete technology, which allows maintaining a constant temperature and prevents the formation of moisture, mold, and condensation - a common issue in such facilities.

The space uses entirely natural materials - granite, marble, limestone, and onyx, selected from different parts of the world, creating a sense of luxury and authenticity. According to Bozukov, this is one of the few SPA centers in the country built 100% with natural stone.

Among the main facilities is a Roman bath with a water temperature of about 42°C, where condensation is absent, as well as four types of saunas with different temperature regimes - a salt sauna (around 52°C), a herbal sauna, a classic Finnish sauna (70–75°C), and a Russian sauna reaching up to 95°C. Additionally, two steam baths with different aromas - mint and eucalyptus - have been built.

The center also offers SPA rituals - combined therapies that bring together several procedures into one experience. These include programmes featuring hammam, massages, and relaxation in a jacuzzi with drinks, aimed at both couples and individual guests.

Special attention is paid to tranquility in the area - access is restricted for persons under 14 years of age, and the concept is focused on a quiet and relaxing environment. "SPA means health through water, but also a sense of silence and comfort," Bozukov emphasizes.

The water in the facilities is not mineral but is treated with silver ions instead of chlorine, with maintenance including regular replacement.

A key element in the concept of the complex is the development of its own boutique winery. The most significant recent investment is in the boutique cellar Chateau Bozukov - in 2025, about 350,000 leva were invested in additional equipment with modern fermenters, an elevator, and gentle pumps, enabling premium production of craft wines in limited series. The cellar has been operating for its third season and was created with the ambition to fully close the cycle of the tourist experience - from accommodation and SPA services to food and wine.

Production is in limited batches, in line with boutique winery standards - about 1 t of wine or approximately 1,333 bottles annually, allowing full control over quality and the process.

The wines are designated as craft wines and fully reflect the characteristics of the grapes and terroir. According to Radostin Bozukov, winemaking is an extremely challenging business that develops in synergy with hospitality and tourism. He added that the main focus is on developing wine tourism, with visitors already coming from various cities in the country specifically for this experience.

Alongside this, a new culinary concept is also being developed, including the use of a professional Josper-type oven that operates with charcoal. The idea is to create themed offers combining gourmet cuisine with the wines. "Boutique production means small quantities that allow monitoring every step: from the grapes to the bottle," Bozukov noted.

The complex is located in the architectural reserve "Dobri Zhelyazkov the Factory Owner" in the center of Sliven, which adds a rich cultural and historical context to the experience and turns it into a complete tourist destination.

The hotel has received numerous awards, including Best Four-Star Luxury SPA Hotel with Château for 2024 and 2025, Best Four-Star Luxury SPA Hotel for 2023 (from BHRA), Best Four-Star Urban SPA Hotel for 2022, the Building of the Year award for 2014, as well as recognition for Best Partnership in 2025 for the boutique winery Chateau Bozukov.

The team’s ambition is to continue enhancing all elements of the complex and maintain a high level of service amid growing competition in tourism.

"Our main priority is to maintain the level of services and continue to develop, because in tourism the hardest thing is not reaching a certain level, but maintaining it," Radostin Bozukov concluded.

BTA presents news from certified SPA, wellness, and medical SPA centres in Bulgaria in its BG SPA: Salus per aquam, Health Through Water feature. Their total number exceeds 200. The initiative, organized in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism and the Bulgarian Union of Balneology and SPA Tourism, is linked to Europe’s leading health tourism event, the HEALTHXCHANGE SUMMIT, which will be held from May 11 to 13, 2026, in Varna, Sts. Constantine and Helena, Golden Sands, and Albena. BTA will be the event’s main media partner.