EXECUTIVE
HR RETREAT 2026

WORKWELL BALKAN

🇧🇬 🇲🇰 🇷🇸 🇬🇷 🇸🇮 

Organized by:
Media partner:

Connect. Rethink. Recharge.

Three immersive days for HR leaders and professionals from across the Balkans to explore ideas, share perspectives and shape the future of work – together.

18-20 NOVEMBER 2026

WED Afternoon – FRI NOON

GRAND HOTEL THERME

BANYA, BULGARIA

DOZENS OF

HR & PEOPLE LEADERS

THE CONVERSATIONS
THAT SHAPE THE
FUTURE OF HR

From HR to Business Performance

What changes in 2027?

AI in Practice

Use cases in recruitment, support, learning, analytics and productivity.

Talent in Southeast Europe

Retention, skills shortages, salaries, hybrid work and Gen Z across four markets.

Benefits People Actually Use

From benefits catalogue to adoption, personalization and measurable utilization.

Manager Effectiveness

Why managers remain one of the biggest drivers of and boost performance and burnout.

Mental Health Without Theatre

What employers can realistically influence, how to build psychological safety and where responsibility should stop. 

Employee Energy & Performance

Movement, sleep, recovery and daily habits as productivity infrastructure rather than perks.

The New EVP

Salary + flexibility + development + purpose + wellbeing + leadership: what actually changes employee decisions.

Measuring ROI

What HR should track beyond participation usage, engagement, retention, indicators, absenteeism and employee sentiment.

SPEAKERS

Voices that inspire.
Conversations that matter.

We bring together forward-thinking HR leaders, experts and practitioners from across the Balkans to share insights, challenge perspectives and shape the future of work – together.
Conference language: English
Translation will be provided via an app

MODERATOR

Ana Kostovska

Ana Kostovska is an organizational psychologist, HR and organizational development consultant, trainer, founder of CSD Sonik, co-founder of the SynapseHR Consultants Collective, and host of the WellKit podcast. With over 18 years of experience, including senior HR leadership roles, her work is united by one goal: helping organizations achieve sustainable results while creating workplaces in which people can thrive and realize their potential.

SPEAKER

Josif Damjanov

Josif Damjanov is the Founder and CEO of FitKit, a regional employee wellbeing platform that helps companies provide flexible access to fitness, wellness and health-related benefits across Southeast Europe. With experience working with employers across multiple markets, Josif focuses on how companies can move beyond traditional benefit packages and create wellbeing programs that employees actually use. His work sits at the intersection of employee engagement, benefit utilization, personalization and measurable business impact. 

SPEAKER

Tsanislav Genchev

Tsanislav Genchev is an HR Manager at NOTO, a rapidly growing Bulgarian fintech company developing software for the prevention of financial fraud and money laundering. He has five years of experience in the field, having worked for international companies in the automotive, agriculture, and retail sectors. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Financial Management and Marketing from UZF University. He is also a Communications Consultant for America for Bulgaria Foundation, working to strengthen the private sector and related democratic institutions in Bulgaria. For more than five years, he has been a guest trainer in the ABLE Mentor mentoring program, focusing on career guidance and development. He also supports several youth organizations in Bulgaria.

SPEAKER

Ivana Dojchinovska-Stojanovikj

Ivana Dojchinovska-Stojanovikj is an HR and organizational development consultant, trainer, career development expert, founder of PRUDENS HR Consulting, and co-founder of the SynapseHR Consultants Collective. With over 20 years of experience in human resources, including senior HR leadership roles in large organizations, she specializes in organizational design and change, HR strategy, performance management, leadership and employee development. Her work focuses on helping organizations build practical and sustainable people management systems that align business priorities with employee growth, engagement, and performance.

To be announced soon..

SPEAKERS FROM ACROSS THE BALKANS

🇧🇬 BULGARIA
🇲🇰 NORTH MACEDONIA
🇷🇸 SERBIA
🇬🇷 GREECE
🇸🇮 SLOVENIA
🌍 AND BEYOND
THE EXPERIENCE

More than a conference.
A retreat for mind, body
and future.

Inspiring keynotes, interactive discussions and regional benchmarks – balanced with wellness, movement and meaningful connections in a setting that helps you think, create and recharge.

THE VENUE

Grand Hotel Therme

Our host for transformative three days.
Where nature, wellness and hospitality create the perfect environment to learn, connect and restore.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

EVENT DATES

18-20 November 2026

Three-day International Conference

GRAND HOTEL THERME

Banya, Bulgaria

Our host and event venue.
The largest and most prominent
5-star SPA hotel in Bulgaria.

ACCOMMODATION

All-inclusive accommodation is included for all participants at Grand Hotel Therme. Enjoy 5-star comfort, thermal water, SPA, wellness facilities, gourmet food and more.

TRANSPORT

Optional transportation from Sofia to Grand Hotel Therme and back. More information upon registration.

MEALS & BEVERAGES

All meals, beverages and coffee breaks are included through the event.

Conference language: English

Translation will be available upon request.

WHAT TO BRING

For the conference: Business casual — professional, comfortable and effortless. For activities: Comfortable clothes and shoes for indoor and outdoor sports activities. For dinners & cocktails: Feel free to dress up and bring your favorite evening look. For the SPA: Don’t forget your swimsuit — robes are provided by the hotel.

MORE INFORMATION

Detailed agenda, speakers and program updates will be shared regularly. Have a question? We’re happy to help.

CHOOSE YOUR EXPERIENCE

INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCE

1 participant | Single accommodation

Includes:

  • Full access to the 3-day Executive HR Retreat
  • Accommodation at Grand Hotel Therme
  • All-inclusive hotel experience
  • Full conference programme & networking events
  • SPA & wellness facilities
  • Organised activities and experiences
  • Networking evenings
€899

€699

Early bird | Until 30th of September

-20 %

DOUBLE EXPERIENCE
2 participant | Double accommodation
of the total price when booking

Be part of the region's most exclusive HR Retreat.

DATE & TIME

18-20 November 2026

LOCATION

Grand Hotel Therme 
Banya, Bulgaria

AUDIENCE

Dozens of HR & People leaders from the Balkan and beyond

CONTACT

events@coolfit.bg
+359 897 062 743