Bulgarian Hotel & Restaurant Association

  • The Bulgarian Hotel and Restaurant Association (BHRA) is a member of the International Hotel & Restaurant Association (IH & RA).
  • BHRA is a member of the Balkan Alliance of Hotel Associations (BAHA).
  • BHRA is the first professional organization in Bulgaria, which since 1996 has awarded Annual Awards for best achievements in the field of hotels and restaurants management, investments etc.
  • BHRA since 2001 till 2007 is organizer of the Annual National Competition "Chef of the Year" and now it’s renewed as “The best Chef of BHRA”
  • BHRA together with the Municipality of Veliko Tarnovo and "Tsarevgrad Tarnovo" are the initiators and founders of the first International Tourism Fair "Cultural Tourism" in Bulgaria, which runs from 2004 to this day in the city of Veliko Tarnovo - the cultural capital of the Balkans.

The Bulgarian Hotel and Restaurant Association was established in 1993 as a non-profit association. The main task of the Association is to support the development of the hotel and restaurant industry, support of the entrepreneurship and the private initiative, as well as the tourist business in Bulgaria.

The Association has developed regional structures throughout the country: Sofia, Sunny Beach, Golden Sands, Varna, Bansko, Veliko Tarnovo, Sandanski, Dobrich, Zlatograd, Smolyan, Velingrad, Pomorie, Chepelare, Blagoevgrad, Targovishte, Razgrad, Vidin, Pernik region Stara Planina, Stara Zagora, Rousse and others. Among the dozens of associate members of the Association are leading Bulgarian companies, producers and partners in the Bulgarian tourism industry.

BHRA works closely with the state and public organizations in Bulgaria - Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, Ministry of Culture, various committees of the National Assembly, Bulgarian Tourist Chamber (BTC), Bulgarian Association tourist agencies (BATA), Bulgarian Association for alternative Tourism (BAAT), Bulgarian Association for rural and ecological Tourism (BARET), Association of Bulgarian tour Operators and travel and agents (ABTTA), Tourism Council - Sofia, Bulgarian Union of Balneology and SPA Tourism (BUBSPA), Bulgarian Association of Chefs (BANG), National Association of Municipalities in Bulgaria (NSOB), New Bulgarian University.

The BHRA's membership in the National Council for Tourism, the Bulgarian Industrial Association (BIA), and others have been beneficial for many years.

The BHRA prepares opinions on changes in the legal framework affecting Bulgarian tourism. Members of the Association participate annually in dozens of meetings and discussions, seminars and roundtables on tourism issues.

The BHRA ensures the participation of its members in the largest national and international tourist fairs and exhibitions. Organizes seminars and training in hotel and restaurant, various courses to improve the qualifications of its members. Consulates and implements advertising and public relations campaigns to build the image of the organization, its members and Bulgarian tourism.

BHRA maintaines one of the most popular information sites in Bulgarian tourism - www.bhra-bg.org. The association presents its overall activity on its site; informs its members on the most up-to-date issues and issues of Bulgarian tourism; promotes the achievements, awards and honors of its regular and associated members. BHRA is the only NGO in Bulgarian tourism which has its history written in two volumes representing the creation and development of the association and dozens of its regular and associate members - it's "History between seasons" by assoc. prof. Sonia Aleksieva.

BHRA has won many prestigious professional awards and awards.

BHRA is the publisher of the catalog "Best Hotels and Restaurants in Bulgaria", which presents members of BHRA and their colleagues from all over the country together with many of the partners in the Bulgarian tourism industry.