The participation of Varna University of Management at the third edition of Tour Expo Destination Varna was very active and attractive.

The exhibition gathered in the Palace of Culture and Sports in Varna nearly 100 Bulgarian and international branch organizations, hoteliers, restaurants, transport companies, hotels and hotel chains, companies for hotel and spa equipment, high schools, as well as companies offering innovative services in the field of tourism.

Recognizing that education and training in tourism are of high importance to the development of the industry, VUM stand offered to all visitors, exhibitors and guests detailed information on the bachelor’s and master’s programmes offered by the university, as well as on the thematic events organized in the Culinary Arts Institute’s training bases.

The event was opened with a formal ceremony attended by representatives of local authorities, industry organizations and businesses. The honored guests were delighted to enjoy the irresistible culinary temptations prepared by the students of the Culinary Arts Institute, and all visitors curiously followed the culinary demonstration of a seasonal dessert – brownie with coffee and walnuts, lime espuma, mandarine jelly and autumn flowers.

In addition to the exhibition, a conference part was held, during which up-to-date topics in the field of tourism were discussed. The VUM Vice Rector (Research) Prof. Stanislav Ivanov was actively participating in a discussion panel on the Future of Digital Tourism, and the Programme Director of the Tourism and Hospitality Management School Assoc. Prof. Maya Ivanova took part in another interesting discussion on the Competitiveness of Bulgarian Hotels in the next 10 years.

Assoc. Prof. Ivanova moderated one more panel on the “New Generation of Employees in Tourism”. In the beginning, VUM lecturers Assist. Prof. Irina Petkova and Assist. Prof. Irena Erbakanova presented the Next Tourism Generation (NTG) project, in which Varna University of Management is the Bulgarian representative in a consortium of 14 partners from 8 countries, as well as its goals, objectives and current development. They commented on the need to initiate certain measures with training and education of tourism employees, in order to address the coming dynamic changes in the environment and customer behaviour in the industry. The focus of the follow-up discussion, moderated by Maya Ivanova, was on the business perceptions on the future skills and how to train them.

All visitors to the VUM stand had the opportunity to participate in a special raffle for a 2-seats voucher for one of the thematic dinners of the Culinary Arts Institute. The lucky one in this year’s edition is Mrs. Sonia Vraykova from Varna. Congratulations!