On Saturday, 12 December, Bansko, awarded by World Ski Awards as the Best Ski Resort in Bulgaria for 2015, officially kicked off the new winter season. The organisers surprised the guests of the town with a fantastic winter celebration filled with many interesting competitions, games and plenty of prizes. For a fifth year in a row, the game "Treasure Hunters” caused a real uproar, offering a brand new Audi car as the main prize. Kempinski Hotel Grand Arena Bansko also contributed to the prize pool, providing vouchers for a ski weekend in the hotel, spa vouchers for two and dinner for two at the famous Mediterranean restaurant Come Prima.
A special guest of the event was legendary skier Markus Wasmeier from Germany. The two-time Olympic champion participated in the “Join the Champion’s Team” ski competition with the five-time World Cup champion Marc Girardelli and the best Bulgarian skier of all time and 26-time champion of Bulgaria Peter Popangelov.
After the celebrations on the ski slopes, the fiesta moved to the central square, where amateur folklore groups from the community centre and one of the most popular Bulgarian groups, Akaga, created a mood for celebrating. The mayor Mr Ikonomov, the Minister of Tourism Mrs Angelkova, the Minister of Youth and Sports Mr Kralev, the first Lady of the Ulen concessionaire Mrs Maya Hristoskova and the ski legends welcomed residents and visitors with wishes for a successful winter season. Among the invitees were those hoteliers and restaurateurs from Bansko who were awarded in 2015. General Manager Mr Carsten Seubert also had the honour to get on stage and show the recently won award by World Ski Awards, crowning Kempinski Hotel Grand Arena Bansko to Bulgaria’s Best Ski Hotel in 2015.
Beyond the prestigious prize for the new season, the hotel also introduces a new executive chef, Mr Carsten Rabe. German by birth, Chef Rabe has nearly 20 years of experience in renowned international five-star hotels and restaurants. He began his career with Kempinski as a sous chef in Grand Hotel des Baines St Moritz in Switzerland and continued with various assignments in Kempinski Hotel Adriatic Istria in Croatia, Kempinski Hotel Xi’an and Kempinski Hotel Changsha in China.
This winter season, the hotel welcomes its guests with a completely renovated reception, a new reception area for guest services and a renovated bar in the lobby. They are all made of natural Italian stone and granite, solid oak and eco materials. The refurbished bar also has a new look with stylish fur lamps and an elegant leather counter.
During the winter season, the hotel’s culinary team will continue to surprise its guests with innovative culinary offers, including thematic buffet evenings, sushi and teppanyki specialities, pasta happy hour, take-away promotions and a Thai food festival on 9 and 10 February. On another hand, Kempinski The Spa, Bulgaria’s leading Spa facility will introduce a new signature rose therapy treatment with the organic cosmetic line Arbu, consisting of natural Bulgarian rose oil. Through the whole winter season, the spa specialists will organise complimentary yoga and Pilates classes for all hotel guests every Friday and Sunday morning.
The winter season is now open and the Kempinski Hotel Grand Arena Bansko team is already looking forward to welcoming its guests for a new and enticing ski season.
