Georgia to Build $155 Million Sky Castle Luxury Castle Hotel Above the Black Sea

A new premium hotel property is set to appear in Georgia — Wyndham Grand Batumi Gonio — Sky Castle. The Georgian-Israeli construction holding European Village has announced the launch of a castle-hotel project on a mountain peak above Kvariati Beach in the Gonio-Kvariati area, a tourist zone of Batumi.

Sky Castle will become the fifth hotel within the Wyndham Grand Batumi Gonio complex currently under construction. It is the first and so far the only all-inclusive resort under an elite international brand being developed in Georgia. The project is positioned as a luxury property. The company emphasizes that this format still remains rare for Georgia’s hotel market.

The investment capacity of Sky Castle will amount to $155 million. Of this sum, more than $26 million is expected to go to Georgia’s state budget in the form of taxes. The hotel will include 430 rooms, with a height of 14–16 floors. The total construction area of the project is 29,210 m², while the land plot covers 9,659 m².

A Castle Hotel on a Mountain Peak

Sky Castle will be located on a mountain peak above the Black Sea. According to the developer’s concept, the hotel is intended to become “Instagrammable” both because of its location and its architectural design.

The architecture of the property is inspired by the image of a medieval knight’s castle. The project includes massive stonework, vaults, arches, towers, Gothic elements, natural materials, and panoramic views of the sea and mountains.

The hotel will be connected to the beach by an elevator and to the four other hotels of the Wyndham Grand Batumi Gonio complex — Aqua, Riviera, Family Club and Villas — by shuttle services.

The concept of Sky Castle is called Luxury of Silence — a holiday in peace and seclusion. According to the developer’s vision, this format should distinguish the new property from other resorts in the region.

Infrastructure of Wyndham Grand Batumi Gonio

Sky Castle will become part of the shared infrastructure of the Wyndham Grand Batumi Gonio complex, which includes more than 100 facilities across an area of 27,115 m².

Among them are 12 restaurants, cafés and bars, including kosher and halal cuisine, 7 swimming pools, 3 SPA zones, 2 fitness centers, 7 children’s playgrounds and clubs, a physiotherapy and rehabilitation clinic, as well as its own landscaped beach.

Guests of all five hotels in the complex will be able to use the entire resort infrastructure thanks to shuttle services.

International Partnership and the Role of Wyndham

The project is being implemented under the Wyndham Grand brand, the highest category in the Wyndham Hotels & Resorts portfolio. Wyndham is the world’s largest publicly traded hotel company by number of hotels, with more than 9,300 properties under 25 brands in 95 countries. The Wyndham Grand brand accounts for 95 hotels within the company’s overall portfolio.

Operational management of the entire complex has been taken over by Aimbridge Hospitality, a hotel management company with 65 years of experience and a portfolio of 1,500 properties.

Dimitris Manikis, President EMEA at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, linked the project to the development of Georgia’s hospitality sector.

“Georgia is a unique country, and it will develop in the hospitality sector. Many thanks for your trust in Wyndham as your partner in this endeavor,” said Dimitris Manikis.

Israel’s Ambassador to Georgia, Walid Abu Haya, noted that such investments reflect the level of relations between the two countries.

“Investments of this kind by Israeli companies with partners in Georgia are real evidence of the good relations that have developed between the two peoples and the two countries. I think every ambassador would feel satisfaction from such projects,” said Walid Abu Haya.

Belarusian Materials, Specialists and Tourists

Belarusian enterprises and specialists are also participating in the project. Denis Kozlov, Economic Adviser at the Embassy of the Republic of Belarus in Georgia, said that the company cooperates with Belarusian businesses in the implementation of its projects.

“It is very important for us, and we are pleased that the company works with Belarusian enterprises in implementing projects. This includes both construction materials and materials for interior finishing in hotels. It is also gratifying that Belarusian specialists work in the company and have proven themselves from the best side in terms of their competencies. We will be glad if this cooperation continues in the best traditions of partnership between Belarus and Georgia,” said Denis Kozlov.

He also emphasized the prospects of the future luxury hotel for Belarusian tourists.

“Moreover, I would like to note that the project, including this luxury hotel, will, in our opinion, enjoy huge success among Belarusian tourists who visit Georgia every year. It is encouraging that last year this number amounted to 150,000 tourists from Belarus,” said the Economic Adviser at the Embassy of the Republic of Belarus in Georgia.

Tourism as an Economic Driver

Shota Berekashvili, Chairman of the Sector Economy and Economic Policy Committee of the Parliament of Georgia, also spoke at the project presentation. He pointed to the growth potential of the country’s tourism industry.

“Over the next five years, Georgia may double its revenue in the tourism sector. I want to assure you that the parliament and the Economic Policy Committee will always provide you with support,” said Shota Berekashvili.

The developer of the project is European Village, a Georgian-Israeli construction holding that has twice been included among Georgia’s top 10 brands by Forbes Georgia.

Archil Partenadze, CEO of European Village, emphasized that Sky Castle is conceived not only as a hotel property, but also as a project with historical meaning.

“Sky Castle is not just a hotel. It is a historical monument. Nine centuries ago, on August 12, 1121, in the Battle of Didgori, Georgian troops under the command of King David the Builder defeated the Seljuk army and defended Georgia, ushering in the Golden Age of Georgian history,” said Archil Partenadze.

According to Partenadze, the historical concept will also be continued in the complex’s event program.

“As part of the project, an international festival of historical reconstruction will be held annually: knight tournaments, archery competitions, performances by bards and minstrels,” he said.

A New Property for Luxury Tourism in Adjara

Sky Castle may become one of the most notable hotel projects in Adjara. Its distinguishing features include its location on a mountain peak, castle-style architecture, luxury positioning, access to all-inclusive resort infrastructure, and management in partnership with international hotel companies.

For Georgia, the project is important as an example of the further development of resort infrastructure in the premium segment. For Batumi and the Gonio-Kvariati area, it is a new property capable of strengthening the tourist offering through unusual architecture, an international brand, and a format of relaxation in peace and seclusion.

FAQ

What is Sky Castle in Georgia?

Sky Castle is a luxury castle hotel in the Gonio-Kvariati area near Batumi, being built as part of the Wyndham Grand Batumi Gonio resort complex. The hotel’s concept is inspired by the Battle of Didgori in 1121.

What was the Battle of Didgori?

The Battle of Didgori was a battle fought on August 12, 1121, in Georgia, where the troops of King David the Builder defeated the Seljuk army. The victory opened the Golden Age of Georgian history. The concept of the Sky Castle hotel is dedicated to this event.

How is Sky Castle different from other hotels in Batumi?

Sky Castle is Georgia’s first luxury all-inclusive hotel under the Wyndham Grand brand, located on a mountain above the sea. It is designed in the style of a medieval castle and will host an annual historical reconstruction festival.

When will Wyndham Grand Batumi Gonio Sky Castle open?

The exact opening date had not been announced at the time of the announcement. The developer is the Georgian-Israeli holding European Village.