How is your hotel positioned in Sofia’s luxury hotel sector? What is your comp set? What about the USPs?
Post pandemic, how has your property been performing? What are your expectations for the rest of this year?
The pandemic has been detrimental at all levels, but our continued focus on human resources has paid off – with a coherent and efficient approach to discovering, nurturing and motivating talent. We are fortunate to still have a good number of colleagues from the early years of opening. By developing our own culture, we have built a reputation to build careers.
Occupancy has been picking up in the past few months, yet we are very much dependent on the macro political and economic context of the country. It will probably take longer for rates to recover – many other hotels in Sofia have dropped rates in a drastic manner.
What is your guest profile? Has this profile changed, if in any way, with the pandemic?
Foreign travellers have always made up the majority of our guests, nevertheless the domestic market has also been generating business, especially for staycations. The profile has changed but I would rather point out that the behaviour of guest has changed with shorter stays and a lower expenditure at our venues.
To what extent you are also targeting locals?
Thanks to the consistency in the quality of our service and food, our dining venues remain popular among locals, both local nationals and expatriates. We are equally attracting locals for a casual / formal meal at lunch or dinner but also for drinks.
Tell us more about your F&B and wellness / Spa?
Our Sense Rooftop Bar jewel located on the 9th floor serves unparalleled cocktails and culinary highlights with magnificent views. It presents amazing atmosphere, exceptional service, endless scenery and is a highly preferred spot to both hotel guests and locals.
The Sense Gastro Bar is sophisticated and elegant, our Chefs make magic nutritionally balanced dishes in the Live cuisine and take care of the wellness of our guests, while trying to use predominately local premium ingredients.
Pure relaxation and environment of distinct luxury and elegance in the very heart of the city could only be enjoyed at Sense Spa. Exquisite ESPA treatments are offered by our experienced, gentle and outstanding therapists who complete one’s journey to tranquility and wellness.
What is your view on the rebound of corporate travel?
We are already seeing a relative recovery but the actual evolution remains uncertain. We are also hoping that our country will be regaining its desirability for foreign investments which will most likely prompt the corporate travel sector. Better flight connections for Sofia will also likely provide a boost.
How is your MICE offering conceived?
Sense Hotel Sofia is among the top professionals in organizing customized corporate meetings and events of different sizes up to 100 delegates. Continuous investment in contemporary technology and staff trainings ensures world-class events and enhanced corporate experiences which make our event clients repetitive guests.
Tell us more about your approach to sustainability
We believe the future of travel has to be sustainable and that we can all safeguard our planet. Here at Sense Hotel Sofia we make every effort and take steps , whenever possible, without compromising our guests’ and team’s comfort and well-being. Just a bit of green thinking like bulk size bathroom amenities, environmentally friendly practices, produce by local suppliers, smart lighting controls, car electric charging station are available to our guests.
SENSE Hotel Sofia is a member of Design Hotels
Elitza Velichkova, General Manager, Sense Hotel Sofia
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