Fri, Feb 10 2012
Resort operator Albena, which owns the hotels, retail outlets and infrastructure in the Black Sea resort of the same name, may keep half of the rooms locked next summer to avoid operating them at a loss, Albena executive director Krassimir Stanev said.
Tourist packages will not get cheaper because of the growing food and materials costs, Stanev projected. The resort would decide whether to close the hotels for the summer in April, he added.
When crisis strikes, one of the first things to go are vacations, Stanev said. Airlines, which have been hit hard by rising oil prices, have already begun cutting down the number of flights, which could impact the tourism industry in Bulgaria, he said.
Yet it was possible that Bulgaria would end up profiting from the crisis as budget travelers turn to cheaper destinations, the company's investors relations director Yovka Strashilova said.
Albena's 2008 profit will drop by about 20 per cent from the previous year to about 13 million leva. Albena has also dropped its investments plans for 2009 due to the crisis, she said.
Holidaymakers in 2008 spent less time on holiday, with the number of overnight stays shrinking by about four per cent even as the total number of tourists grew by three per cent.
Source: Dnevnik
Having staved off a loss in 2008 after an influx of more Romanian and Russian tourists, the resort is preparing for a difficult summer season in 2009.
For the first time in six months, global food prices rose overall in January 2012, the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation said.
The package will be discussed with the Association of Bulgarian Banks before the amendments are submitted to Parliament.
Debate at the half-day event will cover what has been achieved so far and what further can be done by the Bulgarian Government to support development of the market.
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Too often, small business owners ignore cash flow, to their own detriment.

Lyubov Kostova was appointed country manager of British Council Bulgaria effective January 1, replacing Tony Buckby, who left in October 2011 to take a similar position at British Council Greece. Kostova has been with British Council Bulgaria for 11 years, as public communications manager and, since 2008, as the head of project and partnerships department. Prior to joining the British Council, Kostova was head of international activities at the National Academy for Theatre and Cinema Arts (NATFIZ). She has a degree in Indian studies from Kliment Ohridski Sofia University.

Stefan Apostolov is the new chief executive of CEZ Razpredelenie Bulgaria, the power transmission subsidiary of Czech energy company CEZ in the country. He replaces interim chief executive Ales Damm, who remains the chairperson of the CEZ Razpredelenie management board. Apostolov has 30 years of experience in the energy sector, joining CEZ in 2007 as director of customer service and was later appointed as head of business development. Apostolov has a master's degree in electric systems from the Belorussian National Technical University in Minsc, management diplomas from Open University London and New Bulgarian University, as well as a master's degree in business administration from Plovdiv University.

Valentina Dikanska is the new general manager of chemical industry giant BASF subsidiary in Bulgaria, taking over from Herbert Fisch, BASF vice president for Southeastern Europe. Dikanska, who started her career as an expert in the Finance Ministry, joined BASF Bulgaria as director of finance and administration in 2002. She becomes the first Bulgarian to hold the top management position in the company in its 40-year history on the Bulgarian market. Dikanska holds a master's degree in economics from the University for National and World Economy in Sofia.

Alexander Albin has been appointed chief executive of fuel distributor Rompetrol Bulgaria, replacing Nichita Sorin, who left to become chief executive of Rompetrol Gaz in Romania. Albin was previously chief executive of Rompetrol Georgia. He has more than 15 years of experience in the oil and gas industry; prior to joining Romania's oil group Rompetrol in 2008 as an adviser, he oversaw operations at Atyrau refinery in Kazakhstan, owned by Rompetrol's parent company KazMunaiGaz. He previously held top management positions at two other leading Kazakh oil and gas companies.