BoydE,

i think they are going to open half the hotel

There are people booked into this hotel who need definite information as to its completion status, so they can deal with travel companies.

What is the basis of your statement, please?

It does not accord with that on the Kempinski web site, which indicates it will be opening at the end of 2005

Peter

one of the bulgarian waiters at the golden yavor had told me that they were going to open half of it up, when i left this afternoon there were hundreds of men and women working on it.
sorry i can only say what a waiter said, if it says the end of 2005 on the official website, than you would have to go with that i suppose.

The Hotel will be opening on the 15 July 2005. This being the date the first clients will be accommodated in the hotel.

Uncle Bulgaria

I wonder if the Kempinski Group know about this?

This is what their website says -

Click Here

I have emailed the Group to find out the exact opening date. I would be most surprised if Kempinski themselves will allow opening before full completion of all facilities.

Peter

I emailed them about a week ago to clarify the opening date, I am still awaiting a reply.

Peter - I hope you have better luck then me.

Chiller

Hi, Just received e-mail from Hotel to give me prices as from this Friday 15th July, so something is happening. Tonyt.

Hi All,

This just gets stranger. The reply from the Kempinski Group is that it will open at the end of the year.

My reply is to refer them to this thread, particularly Tony's message re the email from the hotel itself, then something for them to chew on -

Something is wrong here, and I ask that you refer this matter to higher management within the Kempinski Group. It could reflect very badly on the good reputation of your company if this hotel is opened in an unfinished state, without your knowledge.

I await your reply with great interest.

Is this the twilight zone, or what?

Peter

Have had a further message from Kempinski insisting that the hotel will not open until the end of the year

All I can conclude is that if it opens for this season, it is NOT opening as a Kempinski hotel, but by the owner as a private venture outside of the umbrella of the Kempinski Group.

Make of this what you will, but to my mind you are not buying the Kempinski brand and the implied quality of a member of that group!!

Peter

(Edited by me to remove content of the email)

Peter of York. if you care to send me you e-mail address, I will forward copy of e-mail sent to me as I am unsure how to get it on forum, you may have the knowledge and you are welcome to show it.

Please note that the content of e-mails should not be reproduced on the forums without the author's written consent.

David

The information received was from milena@profi-tours.bg. hope this does not contravene any rights. Tonyt

The plot thickens!!

Someone called "In the Know", (and undoubtedly is), has put a message on the Beachbulgaria site to the effect that the hotel is opening of the 15th July as the "Grand Hotel Hermitage", with the Kempinski brand being added "shortly afterwards".

Messages I placed on that thread have been deleted, I wonder why?

My reply is as follows -

Thanks for this information "In the Know", it appears that you are!!

This hotel was described in 2005 holiday brochures as the "Kempinski Grand Hotel", and all over Europe and possibly even further afield, tourists have bought summer holidays expecting to stay in a fully established "Kempinski" hotel.

However, when these brochures were printed, and the holidays bought, this was NOT a "Kempinski hotel", it is NOT a "Kempinski" hotel now, and will not be until the end of the year.

In fact, the agreement for the "Grand Hotel Hermitage" to become part of the "Kempinski" group, was not signed until 20th May 2005, as reported on a number of internet sites.

Are the tourists who will be staying in a non "Kempinski" hotel, which is unfinished and a training camp for new staff, be getting a part refund of what they have paid to experience the "Kempinski" brand?

And, are they all being made aware they will not be staying in a real "Kempinski" hotel?

Peter

I have spoken to Balkan Holidays this morning on why when trying to book on to the kempinski there is no availibility.

They said the hotel is due to open on 15th July and the hotel is fully booked. Dates I gave them was from 21st Aug to end of Sept.

Could this be a script they are working from.

Chiller,

Probably, they will only have a certain number of rooms allocated. The saga continues on

Click Here

If it is not deleted by certain powers that be!!

Check your personal messages.

Peter

*Edit to shorten link which was stretching the page - Glynis*

I have spoken to my travel agents, and they have confirmed with me via Balkan Holidays that the Kempinski Grand Hotel Hermitage opened today as planned.

She has asked me to contact them again after next Wednesday when the first of the agents reports will be coming in, on how the hotel is running.

We are due to travel on the 8th September and our travel company(First Choice)are still refusing to refund any monies to us because they say the hotel will be open.The travel rep said they have been told to refund people who have booked to the 15th August only and then the situation will be reveiwed.Does anybody have anymore up to date info?

I am travelling with Balkan Hols via Thomson (21st Aug), I have been told the hotel is open, as in my previous post

Hi All,

I've been keeping an eye on this hotel for some time, as the above messages indicate.

I would refer your travel agents/companies to the actual Kempinski web site at -

http://www.kempinski.com/development/en/index.php?l1=new_projects&category_id=86

As you will see, it plainly states the hotel is not opening until the end of this year.

Emailing Kempinski, I got a response from the company which appears to be handling bookings for the hotel on behalf of Kempinski -

American Communication Center
TRUST International Hotel Reservations Services GmbH
A Cendant Company

1155 South Semoran Blvd.
Suite 1129
WinterPark, FL 32792

They were adamant that the information on the Kempinski web site is correct.

If you end up in an unfinished hotel with workmen on site, which is not yet operating as a member of the Kempinski group and lacking advertised facilities, I think that your Trading Standards departments could have a field day!!

Arguably, perhaps you should be able to cancel, but I'm not qualified to judge, and perhaps the advice you can obtain though this site might assist.

If you can't or don't want to cancel, another view is that this hotel 'as is' might be a better bet than some of the alternatives I have heard of some people being offered. Up to you to make that decision.

Hope this helps,

Peter

Have just been in touch with First Choice at last and they have now told us that we can amend our holiday free of charge but cannot give a refund yet because the contractors still say the hotel will be open which i think we all know by now that this is a load of rubbish.Will keep you all informed.