A castle-hotel will be built in Georgia in memory of the Battle of Didgori
Georgia will build the Sky Castle hotel-castle, a concept tied to the Battle of Didgori—one of the key events in Georgian history. The new property will become part of the Wyndham Grand Batumi Gonio resort complex under construction and will be located atop a mountain above Kvariati Beach in the Gonio-Kvariati area.
The project is being implemented by the Georgian-Israeli construction holding European Village. Sky Castle will become the fifth hotel in the Wyndham Grand Batumi Gonio complex, the first and so far only all-inclusive resort under a premium international brand currently under construction in Georgia.
The hotel is conceived not only as a luxury property, but also as an architectural symbol connected to Georgia's historical memory and the image of a medieval castle.
Didgori Battle and the Historical Meaning of the Project
Archil Partenadze, CEO of European Village, said that Sky Castle should become not just a hotel facility, but a monument to a historic event.
«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, beginning the Golden Age of Georgian history,» said Archil Partenadze.
In its concept, the developer refers to the story of the alliance between Georgia and Europe. According to Partenadze, in the Battle of Didgori, knights-crusaders who came from Jerusalem fought alongside the Georgian troops, and their route to the battlefield passed through the coast of Adjara.
“In that battle, knight-crusaders who had come from Jerusalem to help their Christian brothers fought shoulder to shoulder with the Georgians. Their route to the battlefield passed through the coast of Adjara,” noted the head of European Village.
It was precisely this historical line that became the basis of the architectural idea of Sky Castle.
“In memory of this alliance between Georgia and Europe, of the civilizational feat that united nations, we are building Sky Castle in a style close to medieval castle architecture,” Partenadze stated.
Castle on a mountain above the Black Sea
Because of its elevated location, the property will offer panoramic views of the Black Sea and the mountains. The press release emphasizes that the hotel will be “Instagrammable” both in terms of its location and its concept.
Sky Castle will also develop the idea of Luxury of Silence — a retreat in peace and seclusion. At the same time, the property will remain part of a large resort complex: the hotel will be connected by elevator to the beach and by shuttle buses to four other Wyndham Grand Batumi Gonio hotels — Aqua, Riviera, Family Club, and Villas.
Historical Reenactment Festival
The historical concept of Sky Castle is intended to be continued through an events program. As part of the project, it is planned to hold an international historical reenactment festival every year.
«As part of the project, an international historical reenactment festival will be held annually: knight tournaments, archery competitions, and performances by bards and minstrels,» said Archil Partenadze.
This format could make Sky Castle not only a place for accommodating tourists, but also an attraction in its own right. The project combines hotel development, historical symbolism, architectural expressiveness, and event tourism.
Project scale
The investment capacity of Sky Castle amounts to $155 million. More than $26 million of this sum is expected to enter Georgia's budget in the form of taxes.
The hotel is designed for 430 rooms. It will be 14–16 stories high, with a construction area of 29,210 m² and a land plot area of 9,659 m².
Sky Castle will become the fifth hotel of Wyndham Grand Batumi Gonio. Guests of all five hotels in the complex will be able to use the resort's shared infrastructure.
Resort infrastructure
Wyndham Grand Batumi Gonio is said to include more than 100 infrastructure facilities on an area of 27,115 m². The complex will include 12 restaurants, cafés, and bars, including kosher and halal cuisine, 7 swimming pools, 3 SPA areas, 2 fitness centers, 7 children’s playgrounds and clubs, a physiotherapy and rehabilitation clinic, as well as its own landscaped beach.
Thus, the historic Sky Castle concept will be combined with the infrastructure of a large all inclusive resort.
International support for the project
Representatives of international business and government structures took part in the project presentation. The Israeli Ambassador to Georgia, Walid Abu Haya, emphasized the importance of investments by Israeli companies together with partners in Georgia.
“Investments of this kind by Israeli companies with partners in Georgia are a real testament to the good relations that have developed between the two peoples and the two countries. I think every ambassador will feel satisfaction from such projects,” said Walid Abu Haya.
EMEA President of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Dimitris Manikis, emphasized the country’s potential in the hospitality sector.
“Georgia is a unique country, and it will develop in the hospitality sector. Thank you very much for your trust in Wyndham as your partner in this endeavor,” said Dimitris Manikis.
The Chairman of the Committee on Sectoral Economy and Economic Policy of the Parliament of Georgia, Shota Berekaishvili, linked the project to the prospects of the tourism sector.
“Over the next five years, Georgia may double its revenue in the tourism sector. I want to assure you that the Parliament and the Committee on Economic Policy will always provide you with support,” noted Shota Berekaishvili.
The Economic Counselor of the Embassy of the Republic of Belarus in Georgia, Denis Kozlov, noted that European Village cooperates with Belarusian enterprises in implementing projects, including the supply of construction materials and materials for the interior finishing of hotels.
“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 very gratifying that the company employs Belarusian specialists who have proven themselves from the best side in terms of competencies. We will be glad if this cooperation continues further in the best traditions of partnership between Belarus and Georgia,” stated Denis Kozlov.
He also noted the potential interest of Belarusian tourists in the new luxury property.
«Moreover, I would like to note that the project, including this luxury hotel, will, in our view, be hugely successful among Belarusian tourists who visit Georgia every year. It is gratifying that last year this number amounted to 150,000 tourists from Belarus,» Denis Kozlov said.
Wyndham Grand and complex management
The project is being developed under the Wyndham Grand brand, the highest category in the Wyndham Hotels & Resorts portfolio. According to the press release, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts brings together more than 9,300 properties under 25 brands in 95 countries, and Wyndham Grand includes 95 hotels.
The entire complex is operated by Aimbridge Hospitality — a hotel management company with 65 years of experience and a portfolio of 1,500 properties.