Stefan Gogadzhov is the General Manager of Jeravi Club Hotel, part of Alexandria Club Hotels – a company that unites several four- and five-star hotels along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. In 2025, based on the reviews of its guests on international booking and rating platforms, Jeravi Club Hotel in Primorsko was ranked as one of the 100 best hotels in the country.
Jeravi Club Hotel is once again among the TOP 100 Best Hotels in Bulgaria. What do you attribute this success to? How do you maintain such a high standard?
I attribute this achievement to the efforts, dedication, and positive attitude of the entire team towards the hotel guests.
How would you describe the typical guest of Jeravi, and have you noticed changes in tourist behavior in recent years – earlier planning, longer stays, or new preferences?
Our guests are mainly families with children. Yes, people do tend to book earlier, but apart from organized tourists, who usually stay at least 7 nights, the length of stay for other guests has rather decreased.
What is the share of foreign tourists and which countries do they most often come from?
Our main foreign markets are the Czech Republic and Poland, primarily through organized tourism.
Can you share interesting or funny moments from your daily work that guests usually don’t see? And what would you like them to know about the hotel that remains hidden behind the advertisements and photos?
A funny situation that sometimes happens is having to look for guests on the beach on their departure day (for example, Saturday), because they have decided they are leaving on Sunday. This shows that people truly relax here and “lose track” of time. Behind the photos and advertisements, as I mentioned, guests are welcomed by a dedicated, friendly hotel team that is always ready to help at any moment.
How do you turn guests’ trust into long-term relationships and motivate them to return, for example through loyalty programs and special incentives?
We have a loyalty program where our regular guests receive various additional discounts.
How do you create a motivating and supportive environment for your team, and how does the hotel’s good online reputation help attract new employees?
Through clearly defined tasks, good attitude, understanding, and open discussion of all issues. A good reputation always helps.
Could you share what the specific challenges are in managing a high-category seaside hotel and which qualities are key for a successful manager?
One of the main challenges is recruiting seasonal staff, their training, and coordinating all departments so that we can offer a truly high-quality product.
What message or advice would you give to your colleagues managing hotels along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast?
To be open and honest in their relationships with both guests and staff.
How are early bookings progressing compared to last year, and what are your expectations for the 2026 season overall?
We see a positive trend, with more and more guests planning their holidays earlier each year. We expect a good season.
See the Jeravi Club Hotel profile at BestHotels.bg here.
