For another year in a row Royal Beach Mall welcomes Sunny Beach’s tourists with attractive shopping offers. The shopping center is a hot fashion destination during the summer for all the tourists who want to combine their traditional vacation with an unforgettable fashion fiesta among some of the most well-known foreign and Bulgarian brands. Part of the trade mix are LIU.JO, Caliente - The Italian fashion store, U.S.Polo Assn. and Junona. At the Multi Brand Store Vip Style you can find the brands Versace Jeans, Love Moschino, Kenzo and Fracomina. For the lovers of innovative materials and unique accessories, the Italian brand O bag opened its store this year at Royal Beach Mall. Za-Za Underwear, New Silhouette and Sugarfree will offer new collections of underwear and swimwear. In addition to the variety, De JuJu's new store offers an attractive mix of beachwear, swimwear and leisure clothing. At Aquamarine Shoes & Bags, Sara Pen and Nila & Nila, Royal Beach Mall’s customers can complement their overall look with stylish shoes or a matching bag. Guests who want to get a new suitcase or leather accessories during the summer vacation should visit the Samsonite and Petek 1855 brands, as well as the stores of Paula Venti and Enzo Nori. For another year the elegant ladies can find Altinbas first-class diamond jewellery. Roberto Bravo is a new jewellery brand at the mall, which with its creative approach and remarkable collections will satisfy even the most sophisticated preferences. A complete range of decorative cosmetics and perfumes is available in perfumery Paradox. High quality Bulgarian cosmetics can be found in the stores of the leading brands Biofresh and Refan. This season the new store of Lollipop Cosmetics will complement the retail mix by offering professional cosmetics and professional equipment to its customers. Latest collections of sports clothing tourists can find in the stores of Rozini Sportswear, Sportal M & Bogner, O`Neil, Flair and Entersport. Royal Beach Mall offers an entertainment for the youngest visitors as well. Parents can go shopping or enjoy a drink with friends while their children have fun at the children's party center. Boboli and Original Marines children's clothing stores offer to the kids the latest fashionable clothing. Thanks to Royal Beach Mall's themed restaurants and pubs, customers can turn their summer vacation into a culinary adventure. Burgers, traditional English cuisine, Chinese food, healthy fresh juices or sweet desserts - in the shopping center you will find something for every taste. In addition to the refined trade mix, a major advantage of the mall is its attractive location. Royal Beach Mall is part of the luxury 5-star Barceló Royal Beach Hotel, owned by Galaxy Investment Group. Situated in the center of Sunny Beach, the open-air shopping center is organized to meet the expectations of every customer and to create a pleasant atmosphere for a perfect vacation. You can find more information about Royal Beach Mall here.

Sofia, 8 June 2019. The icon of international modern luxury in Bulgaria - InterContinental Sofia, is the proud winner of two categories at the prestigious World Travel Awards – Bulgaria’s Leading Hotel and Europe’s New Leading Hotel for 2019, only after one year of operation. Part of the international luxury brand InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, it quickly became a leader on the Bulgarian market and affirmed itself as the benchmark for luxury. This is also reflected in the impressive results over the last 12 months in terms of ratings and customer reviews: according to one of the chain’s winning metrics - Guest HeartBeat, the overall guest experience kept above 93 % for 2019 with tendency to be in Top 3 for the brand in Europe. Moreover, the hotel won the Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence for 2019 and throughout the entire period of operation maintained its online travel agency rating above the superb 9 points. In the end of 2018, InterContinental Sofia became a member of the exclusive luxury platform Fine Hotels and Resorts, featuring most of the leading hotels of this rank and attracting experienced travelers from all over the world. Since its introduction, the program has been very successful for the hotel due to the exclusive benefits it provides to the guests, including room upgrade, late check-out and special program amenities. InterContinental Sofia impresses the local and international guests with its discrete and elegant interior, iconic location, breath-taking views and personalized service. In the beginning of this year, InterContinental Sofia launched its 235 sq. m. Presidential Suite, which is a one-of-a-kind product for the Bulgarian market. The Suite is located on the 7th floor of the hotel with stunning mountain view, exquisite design and state-of-art amenities, and has been the preferred host of delegations, private dinners and media events. What stays behind these achievements only after one year of operation? According to the General Manager, Mr. Angelo Zuccala, the winning formula is the attention to every detail of the customer’s journey – from the warm welcome at check-in, through the exceptional room comfort to the unforgettable dining experience. “Following the Global Etiquette of the InterContinental® brand, we provide true hospitality to every guest, going beyond the five-star service quality and adding a personal touch to every moment spent in the hotel. This is what makes our guests love us!” – says Mr. Zuccala. InterContinental Sofia is part of InterContinental® Hotels Group (IHG®) – a leading company in the hotel industry with more than 400 000 employees working across 100 different countries. Currently, IHG® has 5656 operating hotels worldwide and 1916 in pipeline. The hotel is owned by Galaxy Investment Group and is a part of company’s portfolio of luxury hotels.

Galaxy Investment Group is the big winner of this year's edition of the first and largest interior competition in Bulgaria, organized by Idealen Dom Magazine. The award was given to the investment company for the renovation and reconstruction of the five-star InterContinental Sofia hotel, which was opened last year. The award ceremony was attended by many officials, including Sofia Mayor Yordanka Fandakova, the chief architect of the capital Zdravko Zdravkov, Bulgaria Media Group manager Venelina Gocheva, leading professionals and experts in the field of architecture, interior and design, business representatives, etc. To meet the latest trends in the industry and the high standards of the operator, the building at 4, Narodno Sabranie Square has been completely renovated by the investor company Galaxy Investment Group, and in the context of the existing building a completely new wing has been built. Thus, the hotel offers to its visitors a total of 194 rooms, meeting the highest world standards of quality and luxury, and on the top floor there is the first presidential apartment of its kind in our country. It stretches over 268 square meters on the seventh floor of the building and provides unparalleled comfort, making it an ideal venue for high-level visits. In addition, the luxury destination offers 5 modern multifunctional event halls, conveniently located on the same floor, which provide a variety of opportunities for organizing corporate meetings, conferences, cocktails, dinners or private events. Public spaces are spacious and interconnected, suitable for meetings and events, for privacy and work.The contemporary interior of InterContinental Sofia provides unparalleled comfort and cosiness, creating the right atmosphere for business and business meetings as well as for relaxing with the closest people. The sophisticated design in the rooms and the common spaces leave guests with a sense of discreet luxury, and the inspirational art of selected Bulgarian artists recreates the living spirit of the destination. The emblematic lobby is the preferred location for meetings and photo sessions, and the statue of the girl with dandelions embodies hope and the endless pursuit of development. “The guiding principle of the team in the implementation of the project was the attention to detail at every stage of the reconstruction, finishing works, and furnishing. Established experts such as architects, designers and consultants took part in this process as they took up the challenge to make this project possible," said Konstantin Boyadzhiev, CEO of Galaxy Investment Group, during the ceremony. He added that only a year after its opening, InterContinental Sofia is already a symbol of the highest hotel standard and uncompromising quality. "Another proof of this is the fact that the hotel in Sofia is ranked on the third place in quality of service among the 150 most luxurious venues of the brand in Europe," he said.

The market trends in the development of residential projects were discussed during the annual conference "Building Innovation Forum Series - Residential", which took place 21.05.2019 in Sofia. It became clear from the event that the residential market has entered a mature phase in which the customer is more informed, demand is no longer influenced only by the quality of construction and location. Additional requirements include well-built infrastructure, nearby kindergartens, public services, low noise levels in the area. This is an incentive for investors to offer innovative and sustainable projects that include not only housing but also the environment. "For the last 10 years, the only city in Bulgaria where residential prices are only in ascending direction is Plovdiv. The city has had good economic growth, and customers are becoming more demanding, with higher and more specific requirements. While, in the recent past, price and location were decisive, now factors such as location of the apartment, the building, the environment are important.  Plovdiv is characterized by a solid market foundation. In the higher segment, demand outstrips supply, allowing the price to grow. The higher price allows investors to make a better quality product," commented Martin Dragoev, Director Investment and Sales at Galaxy Investment Group during the event. Market expectations are for a sustainable market with a focus on good product. Price levels will be maintained with very slight price increases. Well thought-out projects with underground garages and landscaping, which have been available in the capital for years, are already being launched in Plovdiv. Galaxy Investment Group, as an investor, relies on quality construction and distinguished projects with added value, highlighting the high quality of life. Royal Garden's latest residential project has become emblematic for the city thanks to the combination of security, urban environment, combined with extensive green areas and a good location.

Our country is a destination known to American consumers mainly for cultural, natural, eco- and ornithological tourism. However, the opportunities we offer are much more, and there is enormous potential and excellent prospects to increase tourists from both countries. This became clear at the Bulgarian-American Tourism Forum, which was attended by the Minister of Tourism Nikolina Angelkova, the U.S. Ambassador to Bulgaria His Excellency Mr. Eric Rubin, Deputy Mayor of Sofia Dr. Todor Chobanov, representatives of the National Tourism Board, Bulgarian Industrial Association, Bulgarian Union of Balneology and Spa Tourism, representatives of business, etc. The Minister of Tourism Nikolina Angelkova noted the record industry results achieved jointly by business and municipalities in recent years after the establishment of the separate Ministry of Tourism. "Last year's number of foreign tourists’ visits for the first time exceeded the 9 million mark, in fact exceeding 9.2 million. The country enjoyed 27 million nights in accommodation places with at least 10 beds, and ranked among the top five in the European community in overnight stays growth according to Eurostat. Revenues exceeded a total of BGN 8.4 billion. This shows how important tourism is for our economy and we are willing to exchange more good practices that will establish Bulgaria as a destination with high quality of services and hospitality", the minister emphasized. "Bulgaria is the hidden diamond on the Balkans. Our country is known for its amazing beaches, its mineral springs, its four seasons, and the culture having over 10 thousand years of history. We have a lot to offer to foreign tourists. That is why the promotion of the country as a destination is a key prerequisite for the successful positioning of the Bulgarian tourism market," Zhivko Ivanov, Asset Management Director at Galaxy Investment Group, said during the forum. He added that the U.S. market is extremely important for our country. "These are our business travellers, these are the investors and the companies that see Bulgaria as a modern country that can provide a successful product not only in tourism but also in every sphere. Galaxy Investment Group has many years of experience in attracting big international brands, with the company's investment portfolio including over the years brands such as InterContinental Sofia, Hilton Sofia, Radisson Blu, Barceló Royal Beach, and others. These are high-end assets with exceptional potential, which have a strong positive impact on the country's image. I can say that after the opening of InterContinental for example, tourists in Bulgaria receive a world-class service, and the hotel in Sofia is ranked third in quality of service among the 150 most luxurious hotels of the chain in Europe. It attracts the interest of many new foreign visitors, including the loyal guests of the chain from all over the world, diplomats and representatives of high-level international delegations," Ivanov added. At the forum, the experts discussed more ideas and mechanisms for raising the interest in our country and increasing the two-way flow of tourists.

Confindustria Bulgaria and SDA Bocconi - AUBG, with the support of Galaxy Investment Group, organized a conference "Real Estate market trends and the experience of Europe" at Royal City Business Park, Plovdiv. The initiative was opened by the Italian ambassador, His Excellency Stefano Baldi and Maria Luisa Meroni, Chairman of Confindustria Bulgaria. The event was also attended by Rosen Plevneliev, President of Republic of Bulgaria (2012-2017), Giacomo Mori, professor in Corporate Finance and Real Estate Management at SDA Bocconi, Martin Dragoev, Investments and Sales Director at Galaxy Investment Group, and Boyko Boykov, President of FIABCI Bulgaria. The market trends and forecasts in the real estate sector in Europe were discussed, as well as the challenges that investors face, the good and bad practices in the different segments - office, commercial, industrial, residential, and other. The participants united around the opinion that the real estate market in Bulgaria is developing much more sustainably than the previous cycle. "What happened in 2008-2009 is a great warning for Bulgaria. After the crisis, the European Commission did not introduce substantial restrictions, but the industry is self-regulating very seriously," said Rosen Plevneliev and pointed out as examples the markets in Germany and Ireland. He also pointed out that real estate is a good opportunity to invest in the long run, and recommended caution. During the conference, it was also clear that the office and residential markets in Sofia could be compared with the neighbouring capitals of the Balkans, but generally prices here are slightly lagging behind. “Big projects must be sustainable and a result of the development of a given region. Business prefers to rent because location and characteristics of the property often are more important. The function of a project is not enough, but it is intertwined with the development of the economy, and also the industry is closely dependent on the existing infrastructure”, highlighted Giacomo Mori, professor in Corporate Finance and Real Estate Management at the SDA Bocconi, who has a rich consultancy background in the industry. “On the other hand, residential space must be customized, that is why property in Europe exceeds 70%. In the long term financial investments generally provide better return, but this requires more flexibility and literacy,” Mori added. Experts reported Plovdiv also as the new centre of Bulgaria for automotive, outsourcing and IT business. "The growth of industrial zones surrounding the city is of national level, investments in the region and the number of jobs created surpass any other location in the country. The development of the automotive cluster shows the effect of the critical mass. However, not all construction permits will happen in reality. Low unemployment rates and income growth created a demand for residential property,” explained Martin Dragoev, Investment and Sales Director at Galaxy Investment Group. “Our priority target are the high segment of well-informed residential buyers. We are also developing a new office project,” he added. “At the moment, the company invests entirely in five-star hotels in Sofia, which bring a lot of prestige for the country. “We invest also in an industrial project in the southern area of Plovdiv, because competition is already very high in the Northern zone,” Dragoev concluded.