Friedrich Niemann
FRIEDRICH Niemann, Hilton Sofia's general manager since the beginning of February, said that the hotel is a fabulous and contemporary structure that caters perfectly to the needs of modern business and leisure travellers.
"During my career I have worked for various great hotels, but the Hilton Sofia is the most modern and has a team which is extraordinary and outstandingly service oriented," said Niemann.
In his opinion it is vital to improve international travellers' knowledge about the country and the city. "When I told my colleagues or customers in Germany how excited I was about going to Sofia, many of them did not know anything about the country and its charm," he said, adding that he will therefore work on improving publications concerning Bulgaria's beauties and treasures.
His plans in the near future include maintaining the currently extremely high quality service that all the Hilton Sofia's team members are providing. "It is my aim to keep their enthusiasm at this very high level, by consistent motivation and training," he explained.
Generally, it is Hilton International's policy to present their hotels as cultural and social centres in the respective community. Especially in a capital like Sofia, it is their aim to underline the importance of Hilton Sofia as a cultural and social centre in town. "We are pleased to host conventions like USAID's Partners in Transition, NATO Parliamentary Assembly, the German Ball, or Saint Andrew's Ball and we will continue to organise our own events," said Niemann.
This is his first time in Bulgaria and what he has seen so far has impressed him. He has already had a chance to see some of the city's historical sights and to visit Mount Vitosha. For him especially, the people he has met so far have been extremely friendly and hospitable.
Niemann was also aware of Bulgaria's winemaking traditions. "I am very much a wine-fan myself, but unfortunately Bulgarian wines are not very well known in Germany," he said, adding that therefore he is looking forward to tasting and enjoying them. He also expects to travel very soon to the various wine regions in Bulgaria.
After almost two years in operation, Hilton Sofia's team realised that their customers expected a greater variety of restaurant alternatives. "Therefore, we are currently evaluating various options and would like to offer an additional restaurant perhaps in early 2004," said Niemann, adding that various concepts are being investigated.
The vast majority of tourists visiting Bulgaria travel to the sea, because there is a wide variety of good accommodation in a beautiful landscape at attractive rates. "Certainly the pleasant climate in summertime is appreciated and it is our aim to extend tourists' travel plans by including visits to Sofia for one or two nights," Niemann said.
Bulgaria and Sofia offer everything that travellers are interested in, be it cultural sights, entertainment and cuisine, lovely landscapes and a nice climate. "However, these benefits are not very well known internationally," he pointed out, adding that it is their task to let international travellers know what Bulgaria has to offer. Being German, he sees a huge potential for German tourists coming to Bulgaria to enjoy its attractions, in addition a lot of Bulgarians speak German and the flight times are short.
Niemann said that the Hilton Sofia is the most contemporary hotel in the city. Due to its location right opposite the National Palace of Culture the hotel is the natural choice for guests attending functions there. "However, our most valuable source is the hotel's employees," he said. "With such an excellent team, which is praised by our customers regularly, we will continuously be a step ahead of their colleagues. Any guest coming to Sofia, who wants to enjoy a contemporary product, excellent cuisine and modern business facilities has no other alternative at the moment."
Niemann, 40, replaced Armin Zerunyan who is taking over the Hilton Prague. He joined Hilton Sofia from the 481-room Hilton Munich City in Germany. His rich professional experience includes being regional sales manager at Inter-Continental Hotels, Cologne; director of sales and marketing at Kempinski Hotel Bristol; director of sales and operations (executive assistant manager) for the opening of Kempinski Hotel Taschenbergpalais Dresden, and general manager of Kempinski Hotel Furstenhof Leipzig. He studied at Heilbronn University, Germany and Reims Management School.
"During my career I have worked for various great hotels, but the Hilton Sofia is the most modern and has a team which is extraordinary and outstandingly service oriented," said Niemann.
In his opinion it is vital to improve international travellers' knowledge about the country and the city. "When I told my colleagues or customers in Germany how excited I was about going to Sofia, many of them did not know anything about the country and its charm," he said, adding that he will therefore work on improving publications concerning Bulgaria's beauties and treasures.
His plans in the near future include maintaining the currently extremely high quality service that all the Hilton Sofia's team members are providing. "It is my aim to keep their enthusiasm at this very high level, by consistent motivation and training," he explained.
Generally, it is Hilton International's policy to present their hotels as cultural and social centres in the respective community. Especially in a capital like Sofia, it is their aim to underline the importance of Hilton Sofia as a cultural and social centre in town. "We are pleased to host conventions like USAID's Partners in Transition, NATO Parliamentary Assembly, the German Ball, or Saint Andrew's Ball and we will continue to organise our own events," said Niemann.
This is his first time in Bulgaria and what he has seen so far has impressed him. He has already had a chance to see some of the city's historical sights and to visit Mount Vitosha. For him especially, the people he has met so far have been extremely friendly and hospitable.
Niemann was also aware of Bulgaria's winemaking traditions. "I am very much a wine-fan myself, but unfortunately Bulgarian wines are not very well known in Germany," he said, adding that therefore he is looking forward to tasting and enjoying them. He also expects to travel very soon to the various wine regions in Bulgaria.
After almost two years in operation, Hilton Sofia's team realised that their customers expected a greater variety of restaurant alternatives. "Therefore, we are currently evaluating various options and would like to offer an additional restaurant perhaps in early 2004," said Niemann, adding that various concepts are being investigated.
The vast majority of tourists visiting Bulgaria travel to the sea, because there is a wide variety of good accommodation in a beautiful landscape at attractive rates. "Certainly the pleasant climate in summertime is appreciated and it is our aim to extend tourists' travel plans by including visits to Sofia for one or two nights," Niemann said.
Bulgaria and Sofia offer everything that travellers are interested in, be it cultural sights, entertainment and cuisine, lovely landscapes and a nice climate. "However, these benefits are not very well known internationally," he pointed out, adding that it is their task to let international travellers know what Bulgaria has to offer. Being German, he sees a huge potential for German tourists coming to Bulgaria to enjoy its attractions, in addition a lot of Bulgarians speak German and the flight times are short.
Niemann said that the Hilton Sofia is the most contemporary hotel in the city. Due to its location right opposite the National Palace of Culture the hotel is the natural choice for guests attending functions there. "However, our most valuable source is the hotel's employees," he said. "With such an excellent team, which is praised by our customers regularly, we will continuously be a step ahead of their colleagues. Any guest coming to Sofia, who wants to enjoy a contemporary product, excellent cuisine and modern business facilities has no other alternative at the moment."
Niemann, 40, replaced Armin Zerunyan who is taking over the Hilton Prague. He joined Hilton Sofia from the 481-room Hilton Munich City in Germany. His rich professional experience includes being regional sales manager at Inter-Continental Hotels, Cologne; director of sales and marketing at Kempinski Hotel Bristol; director of sales and operations (executive assistant manager) for the opening of Kempinski Hotel Taschenbergpalais Dresden, and general manager of Kempinski Hotel Furstenhof Leipzig. He studied at Heilbronn University, Germany and Reims Management School.
