
ABOUT THE EVENT
Branded residences are transforming the way people purchase homes, invest in real estate, and experience hospitality. This forum will explain what branded residences truly are, how the model operates in established markets, and whether it can succeed in Southeastern Europe.
Across two days of panels and conversations, the event will explore real-world projects and market insights, focusing on how brands, design, and operational models shape both the buyer experience and the business strategy behind residential developments.
WHO IS SPEAKING
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Corporate Global Director Business Development
Dianne Daudin-Clavaud has nearly 20 years of international experience across the MENA region and Europe, with a career spanning hospitality, communications, business development, and investment. She began in Saudi Arabia, leading marketing for Rosewood Hotels in Riyadh and Jeddah, which set the path for her focus on hospitality-led development.
She has worked with startups, public-private initiatives, and global firms on strategic growth. In Lisbon, she co-founded an investor network, opened a restaurant, and served as General Secretary of the French tech community. She is also a board member of the American Business Group in Lisbon.
Dianne is currently Corporate Director of Global Business Development at Nobu Hospitality, where she leads global growth, partnerships, and investment strategy for the brand’s hotels and residences.
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Managing Partner | Lead Architect
Elitsa Panayotova is Managing Partner at United Master Architects (UMA), with over two decades of experience in architectural design and strategic urban development. Her portfolio encompasses high-impact projects across Bulgaria, including Grand Hotel Varna, SiteGround Headquarters, Sofia Ring Mall, Residential Park Sofia, and Business Park Sofia, which span office, residential, commercial, hospitality, and industrial assets.
Elitsa’s work is rooted in the integration of sustainable architecture with long-term urban strategy. Alongside her design leadership, she is actively involved in shaping city policy through initiatives such as SofiaGREEN and the Clean Air Fund, promoting healthier and more resilient urban environments.
Her current focus includes hospitality and public infrastructure projects that reimagine how architecture can serve both community and context.
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Founder / DirectorIvaylo Lefterov is the founder and director of Aspire Hospitality, with over 25 years of experience in hospitality real estate development, architectural planning, and concept strategy. His career spans multiple international markets, including Bulgaria, Italy, Norway, Iceland, and the United States.
Ivaylo has led the development of high-end hospitality projects in partnership with brands such as Rosewood Hotels, Nobu Hotels, Six Senses, Raffles, Discover Collection, and Mandarin Oriental, guiding them from initial concept through brand alignment and operational planning.
In addition to his work at Aspire, Ivaylo serves as Executive Advisor at Northern Xplorer, a Norwegian company developing zero-emission cruise vessels, where he is responsible for creating the onboard hospitality vision.
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Founder / CEO
Bernhard “BB” Bohnenberger is the co-founder and CEO of Discover Collection, following a distinguished 28-year tenure at Six Senses, where he served as President until mid-2019, after the brand’s acquisition by InterContinental Hotels Group.
BB’s earlier operational leadership spans prominent luxury hotels, including Hilton in Geneva and Hong Kong, Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel, Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Munich, Hotel Baur au Lac in Zurich, and The Peninsula Hong Kong.
A graduate of Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne, he has served on its International Advisory Board since 2013 and was honoured with the school’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014
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Managing DirectorArch. Tsvetan Petrov is the Managing Director of IPA – Architecture and more, one of the leading architectural practices in Bulgaria. With a degree from the University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy (UACEG) in Sofia and additional specialization at ENSA Bretagne in France, he has over 20 years of experience in large-scale urban and architectural design.
Under his leadership, IPA has grown into the country’s largest architecture and engineering firm, having completed over 800 projects and received more than 50 national and international awards. Tsvetan is recognized for his strategic role in shaping Bulgaria’s contemporary built environment and for leading the design of some of its most high-profile residential and infrastructure developments.
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Head of Residential Services
Iavor Perduhov is Head of Residential Services at C&W Forton in Sofia, where he leads the firm’s residential advisory platform for developers, buyers, and institutional clients. Before joining the company in 2021, he spent over a decade working in Canada's highly competitive real estate markets, where he developed a strong foundation in commercial real estate practices, complemented by forward-thinking residential expertise.
He has built successful collaborations with some of Bulgaria’s most prominent developers, including BLD, PPS, Kambanite Residential Park and Art Build Up.
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Director Business Development
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Head of Creative
Raoul Fokké is the Head of Creative at The Orange Studio in Amsterdam, where he leads branding and creative strategy for clients across the hospitality, luxury lifestyle, and real estate sectors. With a background in marketing and a strong focus on narrative design, Raoul helps companies craft identities that feel intentional, human, and distinct—across digital platforms, physical spaces, and customer experiences.
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Director Business Development
Dayana Kanazireva is a member of the Board of Directors at OKOL Lake Park, Bulgaria’s largest Golf & Residential community, where she leads development strategy, marketing, and sales operations. She also oversees the pre-opening phases of both the 18-hole championship golf course and the 5-star Pullman Resort Hotel (operated by Accor). The project spans 3,000 decares and integrates more than 650 residential and vacation homes alongside leisure, wellness, and educational infrastructure.
In addition to her role at OKOL Lake Park, Dayana serves on the boards of Novotel Sofia (a 4-star business hotel operated by Accor) and the American English Academy, an international K–12 school in Sofia. In addition to her work with Markan Holding, she serves as a member of the Advisory Board of the Bulgarian Council for Sustainable Development and the Regional Development Council of Samokov.
LOADING . . .
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An investor-focused look at how branded real estate is financed and structured.
The discussion covers capital soruce, funding models, and approaches to managing risk in large-scale hospitality and residential developments.
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A focused exploration of the branded residence buyer. From emotional drivers and brand alignment to investment rationale.
Key themes include buyer segmentation, pricing logic, and the channels that convert interest into sales.
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A conversation on how regulations, certification systems, and responsible design practices are playing a role on residential real estate
The session explores how developers and investors respond to evolving standards, balancing compliance, and impact.
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Branding is more than visuals - it’s a strategic layer that shapes how residential and leisure projects are developed, positioned, and priced.
This panel explores how brand frameworks drive commercial decisions and long-term value.
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A developer’s perspective on aligning concept, product, and financial logic.
The conversation explores how branded residence offerings are tailored to meet evolving buyer expectations, encompassing ownership models, lifestyle strategies, and a clear investment framework.
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How do architects and developers shape destinations together?
We will unpack the relationship between design philosophy and development strategy—linking spatial language to branded product identity and investor expectations.
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What sets branded residences apart from standard residential projects in terms of layout, flow, and user experience?
This panel explores how masterplanning and architectural design respond to operational needs, service integration, and brand standards.
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PANELS
TICKET TYPES FOR THE EVENT
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Day 1 – Single Day Access
Valid for 30 September
€115.00 + €1.80 booking fee
(20% off early bird)
Includes:
• Full access to all sessions on Day 1
• Coffee breaks and informal networking
• Entry to the Cocktail Reception
• Printed event materials
Topics covered:
• How branded residences are structured as investment products
• The role of public institutions in enabling real estate and tourism development
• Understanding today’s buyer and aligning product with demand
• Using branding and design to position and differentiate projects
• Turning development concepts into financially viable residential offerings
• Legal and operational models that govern branded real estate
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Day 2 – Single Day Access
Valid for 1 October
€100.00 + €1.80 booking fee
(20% off early bird)
Includes:
Full access to all sessions on Day 2
Coffee breaks
Entry to the Networking Breakfast with speakers and institutional guests
Printed event materials
Topics covered:
Regional priorities for hospitality-led development and branded residences
How design and planning contribute to identity, community, and value
Certification systems and responsible investment strategies
Planning and design approaches that shape the emotional and spatial experience
Institutional perspectives on sustainable urban growth
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Valid for 30 September & 1 October
€183.00 + €2.00 booking fee
(20% off early bird)
Includes:
Full access to all forum sessions across both days
Participation in the Cocktail Reception and Networking Breakfast
Access to networking lounges and coffee service
Printed event materials
Priority seating in main sessions
Topics covered:
Investment models, buyer behavior, and branding strategies
Public-private coordination and destination-led development
ESG and certification in real estate
Masterplanning, spatial storytelling, and long-term value creation
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Item descriptionValid for 30 September & 1 October
€650.00 + €2.00 booking fee
Strictly limited to 20 participants
Includes:
Full access to both days of the forum
Reserved seat at the invitation-only Strategic Networking Breakfast with forum speakers, institutional leaders, and key partners
Entry to the Cocktail Reception
VIP badge, priority check-in, and front-row seating
Coffee service, networking areas, and printed materials
Ideal for:
Senior professionals, investors, operators, and policy stakeholders seeking high-level connections and strategic dialogue on the future of branded residences in Southeast Europe.