Welcoming in the New Year Crown Style

Since 2005 we have been here in Bansko for the Winter Season but Never has it been so, so busy crazy busy and the City is in an amazing buzz, huge numbers and people of all nationality i have meet and talked with South Africans, Australians, Chinese Japanese really no joke along with the usual Macedonians, Serbians, Romanians, Russians here in there droves plus half of Greece or thats how it feels, the Rich and Fashionable of Bulgaria, from Sofia, Varna and Plovdiv in massive numbers more S class Merc's Range Rovers and Cayenne's than ever and off course the good old English contingent.

All in all a great start to the 2012/2013 season, obviously there are the usual queues at the Gondola but worst i am sorry to say much worst. Our Ski hire partners actually run out of equipment and their quota of lift passes for the week.

But never fear Crown is here, and for our IPM Clients we arranged a mini bus and other transportation up the mountain and passes via an inside friend ;) and great skiing has been had by all, up top weather is stunning and ski conditions fab.

However the numbers and Gondola queues have as if by design, added huge weigh to the credibility off the recent local protests that closed roads to the town and local business petitions (of which we where part off) to the government for permit's to start the next Gondola so pressure mounts all round and we believe these are the political shows that will see soon the start of construction.

More new and exciting business are opening including a great specialist wine's spirits and Cigar shop with just a stunning and exclusive selection of beverages and for all Crown IPM clients there is a 10% discount.

Really a great selection 

Wines, Whiskey, Cognac's Port Champaign and cigars if there your thing

A new Italian designer shop owned by a Milan design house, (Yana went mad, forth coming birthday present already chosen) a fab French owned and run, French Sandwich Shop Le Retro (http://www.le-retro-bansko.com) serving sandwiches and quiche's to die for really, a pre order and delivery can be arranged and delivered to the Park reception either direct or via reception. 

Thus far the new restaurants and hang-outs have proved to be great and constant in their food quality and service and our favourite remains Euphoria, great atmosphere good food lovely service. The mehana's remain as always a lovely tourist adventure with the potential for great food but a possible down on service and sometime price so please be carful.

For New Year we have a lovely number of owners in both Hill and Park and have arranged for everyone a great Crown New Year bash at Euphoria with transport to and from the complex, should be a great night watch out for the pictures on the blog.

So all that remains it to do is thank everyone for working with us during this last year and we hope the coming New Year brings everyone Good fortune, health, Love and wealth and that together we can continue to take the complex forward along its road to a more solid and sustainable future where everyone can enjoy and benefit form the potential it has to offer.

HAPPY NEW YEAR ONE & ALL

Winter & the 2012/13 Ski Season Well & Truly Here

Looking Fab Bansko's Town Centre, Winter Wonder land 

Its been snowing hard for 3 days now and the slops are open, and by end of the week even the run down to the town will be fully operational a great start to the season and the Town is a buzz, as reported in our last post lots of new clubs bars and restaurants and even the existing ones have upped their game with major improvements our current fav place to be is Euphoria, food greatly improved on from last year, great friendly staff and a cool atmosphere, lets see how they hold it together through the season.

Chateau Antique open and looking great, the Friendly bar now Penguins (the name doesn't do the interior justice) not sampled the delights of either yet but will and will let you know our thoughts. But considerable time and money has been invested and serious people are at the helm of each endeavour.

Château Antique

Penguins

Also improved finally is the road leading up to our region YES its been properly made and tarmaced finally, no more 2 mile an hour through it in the Crown Smart, and yes the corner hotel (no release as to whats its to be called yet) is nearly complete and they have done a great job a million times better than that concrete eye-saw that been there for so long.

Roads done and what an improvement 

Opening soon.

At the St John Complex we have been seriously busy also, at the Hill the mains water pipe has been properly repaired and path way re-enstated, still some small finishing works to do but the weather beat us, and we will pick up these in the spring, UBB came to the party and properly contributed their share of the funds necessary to complete the works.

To match the stone work we had to source from the Strandza mountains in the far south of Bulgaria near the Turkish boarder 

In the Park the big project has been the roof repairs, major works there and when we set to it what a mess, but with the right people proper materials and me being on the roof far to many time for my liking , not the easiest roof to get a round on, it looks beautiful and dramatic form the ground and believe me its pretty dramatic up there also. With the weather closing in rapidly and temperatures dropping fast it was a bit of a race against time and conditions but we got all OA areas properly secure along with Block entrance lobby roofs and now they have the required integrity, i believe we did a proper belt and braces job and even worked in Vaka Flex as a finishing element to pick up the excess movement potential between the existing materials and new, its a wonderfully resilient roofing material suitable for the extreme temperature differentials the Bansko region endures.  

a remade valley

Remade double pitch valley

Some of what we had to deal with

Just got the lobby roofs done and complete before the first snow came.

One of the more difficult areas of repair the construction joint between blocks

Moving forward we are testing emergency lighting to all common areas Friday, pre season common area glazing cleaning well under way, IPM winter watch in place, test running lifts for winter operation small issue with hydraulic oil temperature, on first morning operation floor levels are out of sink working with supplier for solution this will be a temperature control system in the motor rooms and adjustment controls setting, other wise very happy with the lift and when emergence call system put in place confident full operation can be had across the complex.

Working on a number of cost effective and efficient heating and hot water solutions for apartment please contact for information, as well thermal efficiency ideas for apartments. Heating solutions will consist of 20, 25 and 50% consumption saving options for hot water 40% saving potential.

Our G4 internet and TV solution is just about to get better with a smart TV conversion solution for all HDMI ready TVs, so no need up grade the TV to get all the benefits of G4 technology, watch this space.

Other Big news for the resort and region the NEW Airport starts construction summer 2013 YES you heard it right Pirin Airport the former military airport near the village of Musomishte in the municipality of Gotze Delchev start summer 2013 see web site http://www.hwreit.eu/en/contents/pirin-airport for more detail.

Also big changes around the access to the gondola which will now be, for foot and vehicle access via the Glazne river bridge entrance at BRT, and sets the precedence for what we are told will be the new and exciting location for the next Gondola which if true will set the stage for the next evolution of the resort, including additional ski runs etc, when we here your hear it next.

The new mayor and his team have started to put in place proper resort management  structures and this has included the introduction of proper blue zone parking areas in place through out most of the town and active from 7am to 10pm at 1.2 leva an hour not bad value and perhaps finally we can move around the town properly with out having to worry for crazy parking antics of our European friends, we as always remain excited for the future and believe the resort is starting to make it way towards being a real and serious contended amongst other more well know and well established resorts, and we believe and are working towards taking the St John Village complex along that road also.