Mercure Hotel opens in Georgia’s capital

An international hotel chain operating in 51 countries has opened in Georgia’s capital city.

Four-star hotel Mercure Tbilisi Old Town opened yesterday in the centre of old Tbilisi, only a five-minute walk from Metekhi Cathedral.

French hotel group Accor Group, which operated the Mercure Hotel chain worldwide, invested $16 million USD (about 36 million GEL) to build the Mercure Tbilisi Old Town hotel.

The facility was built by Macro Construction firm and featured a restaurant and several bars, including a rooftop terrace that offered panoramic views of Tbilisi.

Tbilisi Mayor David Narmania welcomed the opening of the new hotel.

"The opening of a Mercure Hotel in Tbilisi proves the interest of investment opportunities and touristic potential of the city is growing. Touristic infrastructure develops very fast in Tbilisi which brings new job opportunities,” he said at yesterday’s hotel opening ceremony.

"We welcome investors’ activities and try to create comfortable conditions for them. Thanks to the Entrepreneurship Support Programme we opened four new hotels within an eight month period of time,” he added.

Narmania thanked the hotel administration for opening its doors to shelter victims of the Tbilisi flood before the hotel officially opened. About 40 people temporarily stayed at the hotel after the June 13 flash flood destroyed their homes. In addition, the hotel administration provided basic medical aid for flood-affected families.

At the opening ceremony Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said he was happy to see another international hotel brand open its first facility in Georgia.

"During our Government’s time about 100 hotels have opened in Tbilisi. Currently 15 new hotels are being built in Tbilisi and 70 hotels in the regions. We are glad that Accor Group decided to enter Georgia. It proves the confidence in our country. This means tourism is one of the fastest growing fields in Georgia,” said Garibashvili.

International holding firm Macro Construction entered Georgia in 2013 and building the Mercure Hotel was the first project the company had completed. Meanwhile the company was working on the Green Budapest residential complex in Tbilisi’s Saburtalo district – its largest construction project in Georgia. When complete 100 million GEL will be invested in the project. The residential complex is due to open in May 2016.

Looking ahead Macro Construction planned to build several new hotels and implement various projects in Georgia. (agenda.ge)