Hotel Marinela Sofia
Sofia, Bulgaria
Built 1979 · Last renovation 2019
Renovation forecast · estimate
Next renovation expected around 2027
In about 1 year (≈8-year cycle). A model estimate, not a sourced fact.
Photo via Wikimedia Commons
Timeline
1974
Construction begins as Vitosha New Otani
1979
Grand opening as Vitosha New Otani (May 24, 1979)
1997
Taken over by Ivan Zografski; rebranded as Kempinski Hotel Zografski Sofia
2016
Renovation of hotel and rooms completed (2014–2016)
2019
Rebranded as Hotel Marinela Sofia (from Kempinski Hotel Zografski)
⚖️ Star classification · Bulgaria
re-classified every 5 yearsHotel categorization is valid 5 years; a renewal application must be filed up to 3 months before expiry.
System: Ministry of Tourism (Tourism Act)
“The category certificate is valid for 5 years from the date of issuance of the order determining the category.”
Facts
Stars
5★
Built
1979
Last renovation
2019
Sources
Our iron rule: no quote, no data. Every date links back to the exact sentence it came from.
“Before June 2019 Hotel Marinela Sofia was known as Kempinski Hotel Zografski”
“From 2014 to 2016, the hotel and hotel rooms were being renovated. The design is innovative and modern, in sync with Japanese minimalism and attention to detail.”
“One of the most prestigious hotels in the Bulgarian capital is named after the entrepreneur Ivan Zografski, who took over the hotel in 1997 and incorporated it into the famous Kempinski hotel chain.”
“The grand opening took place on May 24, 1979, in the presence of distinguished state representatives.”
“The hotel was built as the Vitosha New Otani by the Japanese New Otani Hotels chain between 1974 and 1979, to the design of leading Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa (1934–2007) in the upper-class neighbourhood Lozenets.”
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For hoteliers
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<a href="https://hotelchrono.com/hotel/hotel-marinela-sofia-sofia" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> <img src="https://hotelchrono.com/api/badge/hotel-marinela-sofia-sofia.svg" alt="Hotel Marinela Sofia — Chrono Score by HotelChrono" width="240" height="72"> </a>
Frequently asked
When was Hotel Marinela Sofia built?+
Hotel Marinela Sofia (Sofia, Bulgaria) was built in 1979.
When was Hotel Marinela Sofia last renovated?+
Its most recent renovation was in 2019.
What is the Chrono Score of Hotel Marinela Sofia?+
Its Chrono Score is 5.1/10 (Ageing) — a pure freshness metric, separate from its 5-star rating.