Serbia gets new ski center until end of 2011 - Hasty preparations for hotel opening on Stara Planina mountain

After three years of work on its design and the construction works lasting for nearly a year and half, Stara Planina mountain will finally get a long-expected tourist and ski center because the ceremonious opening of the first out of six hotels at Jabucko Ravniste is scheduled for December 25th.

The mountain`s modest accommodation capacity will be increased since there will be 380 new beds in 146 accommodation units. The hotel will comprise many accompanying facilities for the full pleasure of guests. The capacity and quality of ski runs have already been enhanced, and the required infrastructure is provided as well. The hotel will open its doors to first guests on December 30th, and it will also host a New Year`s Eve party.

New look of Stara Planina mountain

The hotel Stara Planina is situated at the height of 1,350 meters above the sea level and is surrounded by lush vegetation. It represents the first phase in the development of future SP Resort. The hotel complex spans about 26,000 square meters and, according to CEO of the public company Stara Planina Svetislav Popadic, the entire project is implemented in less than 16 months.

Although many people are sceptical about the claim that the hotel will be ready to receive guests until the end of December, Popadic says that guests will be rendered the best possible service.

- The road leading to the hotel will be finished until the end of this week, and it will be completely ready for the ceremonious opening. Furniture is being installed successively to avoid possible damages, and the first group of future personnel has already completed a training and will arrive at the hotel in few days to get ready for its opening. It might be more comfortable to open the hotel in April, but it would be a shame to miss the winter season.

This four-star hotel is conceived as both a place for family enjoyment and a business center.

The hotel will offer a total of 146 accommodation units, and guests can choose between two-bed rooms, suites and a presidential suite.

All rooms are equipped in accordance with international hotel standards and include a worktable, mini bar, electronic safe, wireless Internet, telephone, hair dryer, and LCD TV.

The hotel will also comprise 3 multimedia conference rooms, one of which spans 100 square meters, has 80 seats, and can be divided into two smaller rooms.

There will also be a restaurant, pizza place, bar, playground for children, skating rink, hairdressing salon, stores, ATMs, and exchange offices.

A 1,000-square-meter wellness and spa center will also be at the disposal of the hotel guests, and an efficient relaxation is guaranteed with an indoor swimming pool, hydromassage tub, sauna and Turkish bath, relax zone, fitness room, etc.

There will be an underground garage with 147 parking places for guests of the hotel.

Goran Petkovic, state secretary for tourism, reminds that many other projects have been implemented in addition to the construction of the hotel, including the rehabilitation of 17 kilometers of roads, a 21-kilometer long-distance power line, plumbing, sewerage, a waste water treatment plant, 2 big and 10 small substations.

- The mountain has a complete infrastructure ready for the arrival of first tourists, which will make the construction of new facilities significantly easier.

He also stresses that the Master Plan for Tourism Development on Stara Planina suggests that the number of beds, skiers and ski lifts within the complex should be increased to 22,000, 26,840 and 24, respectively. Construction of this hotel represents the first phase, and about 30 million euros have so far been invested in it. A total of 80 people will get a job in this phase, whereas another 45 seasonal workers will be hired once the hotel occupancy reaches 80%.

New Year`s Eve

Although the hotel on Stara Planina is planned to be opened on December 25th, it will receive its first guests on December 30th. The hotel will host a New Year`s Eve party, and guests will be entertained by the band of Ana Stajdohar and Zeka the Millionnaire.

Special discount

People at the public company Stara Planina announced that the price of daily half board per person would amount to EUR 25 in the promo period, until March 31st, and that it would include the unlimited use of the wellness and spa center, a ski pass, and a parking space.

I.B.