site.btaBulgarian Hotels and Municipalities Sweep Balkan Tourism Awards

Bulgarian hotels, managers, and municipalities received Balkan tourism awards at an official ceremony in the Serbian capital Belgrade. The prizes were presented by the Balkan Alliance of Hotel Associations (BAHA), said the Bulgarian Hotel and Restaurant Association (BHRA), one of BAHA’s founding members, on Monday.

The award for Best Four-Star Eco & Spa Hotel in the Balkans for 2025 went to Spa Hotel Olymp in Velingrad. The Best Five-Star Luxury Thermal & Wellness Resort in the Balkans for 2025 was Bulgaria’s Grand Hotel Terme in the village of Banya. Grand Hotel Bansko was named Best Five-Star Ski & Spa Concept Hotel in the Balkans for 2025.

The Best Five-Star Seaside Spa & Wellness Hotel in the Balkans for 2025 went to Grand Hotel Sveti Vlas. The Best Five-Star Luxury Balneotherapy (Medical Spa) Hotel in the Balkans for 2025 was awarded to Grand Resort Pavel Banya.

The Best Four-Star Spa Hotel for Family Holidays in the Balkans for 2025 went to Park & Spa Hotel Markovo. The hotel also received an additional accolade as its manager, Violeta Garkova, was named Best Manager in the Balkans for 2025. Garkova has over 15 years of experience in the hotel and restaurant industry. Her career began as a waitress with some kitchen experience, progressed to restaurant manager, and she is now the general manager of Park & Spa Hotel Markovo.

The Best Five-Star Spa Hotel in the Balkans for 2025 was Spa Hotel Persenk in Devin. The Best Four-Star Hotel in the Balkans for 2025 went to Spa Hotel Hisar.

The award for Best Hotel Revenue Manager in the Balkans for 2025 was presented to Desislava Dimitrova.

Primorsko Municipality was named the Most Dynamically Developing Tourist Destination in the Balkans for 2025. According to BHRA, the municipality boasts the cleanest water on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast and hosts Bulgaria’s longest music festival — Prim Fest. A 2025 report from the European Environment Agency notes that the sea water quality in the Primorsko region reaches 99.4% purity.

The Most Dynamically Developing Spa Destination in the Balkans for 2025 was Hisarya Municipality. From ancient times to the present day, life around Hisarya’s mineral springs has continued uninterrupted. The healing waters have attracted various peoples and civilisations, leaving valuable examples of both material and spiritual culture. Today, traditions continue through an ambitious programme aimed at developing the municipality as a leading tourist destination, BHRA noted.