The FINANCIAL — “8 million GEL was spent on the Hotel Anaklia complex in Western Georgia; the best holiday destination for all seasons,” Ioseb Todua, General Director of Anaklia Hotel, told The FINANCIAL.
“Our hotel was the first, successful step in the development process of the Samegrelo seaside resort. It gave the green light to other investors and private companies to enter Anaklia,” Todua said.
Recently opened Hotel Anaklia is a modern hotel complex on the Black Sea coast for personal and corporate visits, the holding of events, conferences and trainings. It is located 34 km from the town of Zugdidi.
“The Hotel Anaklia project was implemented with Georgian investment. We took the first steps in tourism infrastructure development in the Samegrelo region. This investment project is really very important for the region. Our hotel is the first such hotel in Anaklia. It is the most modern hotel complex in the Samegrelo region. We began construction in 2009 and opened the hotel on 7 August, 2010.”
Q. Why did you decide to open a hotel in Anaklia? What are the advantages of the location?
A. We decided to build a hotel after Anaklia was announced to be a free travel zone. Investors were presented the land, the hotel project and open communication with the Government. It was very attractive to invest in Anaklia because of all these conditions. The advantage of Anaklia is that other large-scale complexes are planned to be built there. So this place will be totally different from other seaside resorts in Georgia. Anaklia will be developed as a modern, world class resort very soon.
It is notable that Anaklia is particularly famed for its mild climate. The president said that it is not raining in Anaklia at all and here is a special climate. Anaklia is a sandy shore resort, with recreational sands. The most important thing is that there are no insects in Anaklia at all.
Q. What will the hotel complex include?
A. In five-storey building of Anaklia hotel there is located 42 comfortable rooms. There are 38 standard rooms and three suites in the hotel. All the rooms have a beautiful balcony, with a delightful view over the beach.
Q. What facilities and services does the hotel offer customers?
A. The hotel provides a conference service. Also, it can provide excellent conditions for sports and leisure activities for every season of the year: an open swimming pool, fitness room, billiards table, games such as Backgammon and Chess; a tours and excursions service.
Riding bikes along the seashore has become a favourite pastime of our guests. They also like to play board games when they have time. A Yacht club was also opened in Anaklia this year. As for new facilities, it is located a new decorated tent for celebrations on the hotel’s grounds. This tent recently hosted lots of beautiful and ceremonial corporate events. Having a wedding ceremony on the seashore is extremely romantic, beautiful and impressive. Such ceremonies are very popular in Europe. This tendency is gradually starting to increase in Georgia as well, as many Georgian newlyweds are coming from different parts of Samegrelo for capturing the happiest moments.
Q. What kind of menu is on offer in the hotel’s restaurant?
A. Our guests have the possibility to taste Georgian and foreign dishes in the hotel’s restaurant. But we prefer to offer them Megrelian cuisine because of the hotel’s location.
Q. The hotel has a Mavritan architectural style. Why did you choose this style?
A. Out of all of the country’s seaside resorts Hotel Anaklia stands out for its Mavritan architectural style. The hotel boasts impressive-looking arches and wooden shutters. The same style is used inside the hotel as well. Our hotel is exceptional and impressive among seaside resorts in Georgia.
The beach is decorated with palm trees. A boulevard designed by Spanish architects is becoming more and more beautiful every day. Football and basketball pitches have already been built. Spending the holidays in Anaklia will become more comfortable and prestigious in the coming years.
Q. The hotel has been serving guests for almost a year. During this period how many guests did you serve in total?
A. We had quite lots of guests this year. We had both Georgian and foreign guests. Tourists from Russia, Ukraine, Armenia and Azerbaijan make up the majority of our guests here. They were coming to spend the holidays in Hotel Anaklia, to hold events, trainings and business meetings. During the summer the hotel was completely full of guests.
Hotel Anaklia is a luxury hotel, but it is affordable to average income guests. During the summer period we have many vacationing families. Children under ten stay for free. This period is attractive for those who want to rest and spend their holidays on the beach. But during the autumn and winter we cooperate with Georgian and foreign companies. So the hotel works throughout the year.
We offer our corporate clients the opportunity to plan conferences, seminars and events in the hotel’s fully-equipped conference hall. We offer them the chance to visit us and enjoy the combination of work, rest and fun in our hotel.
Q. Can Hotel Anaklia compete with the Radisson and Sheraton hotels in Batumi, or can Anaklia as a seaside resort compete with Batumi at all?
A. So far, Anaklia and Batumi complement each other and are not competitors in any way. Both of them will be one tourism product on the Black Sea. It will take years for Anaklia to be fully developed as a resort brand. I believe that Anaklia will hold an important place among other resorts in Georgia.
Q. What about your staff and the conditions you offer them? Where did you find experienced staff?
A. About 50 locals are employed at Hotel Anaklia. It was a very difficult process to find sufficiently qualified staff. Locals and people from Zugdidi are mainly involved in applying for our vacancies. The number of applicants for employment in the Hotel is increasing every day.
Q. Who are the architects of Hotel Anaklia?
A. Hotel Anaklia project belongs to Georgian designers: Givi Jakheli, the Director of LTD Kera 2009, Chief architect Nika Sebiskveradze, architects Elikashvili and Zautishvili. This company and architects won the tender. Their project was approved by Spanish architects.
Q. What about the prices you offer the clients?
A. Because of admission prices the hotel works at fully capacity during the whole year.
Q. as your slogan says Anaklia is the best place for all season. Apart from summer what do you offer on different seasons to your guests?
A. Hotel Anaklia offers its guests the best opportunities for organizing corporate events, trainings and individual recreation for all season; to spend a free time with their friends and family members at our hotel.
There is a peaceful and pleasing environment at our hotel. Modern and comfortable rooms are important condition for the leisure and business trip. With cozy atmosphere we offer delicious Cuisine, high standard service and high qualified and attentive personal service.
Q. Keti Bochorishvili, Director of the Georgian National Investment Agency, announced that Indian businessmen are interested in investing in Anaklia. Companies from Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, the UK and Turkey are all interested in opening hotels in Anaklia. In your opinion, how successfully will Hotel Anaklia compete with so many international companies?
A. I welcome this fact. Competition will increase tourist flow to the area and will support hotel business development and also the development of our hotel. The service in the area will be improved, the types of hotel products will be expanded and that will expand the types of hotel products as well. This will all be to the benefit of the client.
Discussion about this post