“Bakhmaro should not become a resort with 10,000 hotel rooms, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t need a big investment,” says Giorgi Kechakmadze, founder of Panorama Bakhmaro, speaking on Business Morning.
According to Kechakmadze, the past winter season was successful in terms of supply for the resort, but more activity is needed to raise its profile and attract greater awareness.
“The winter season went well for all five companies operating here. We’re seeing interest from European skiers - people used to skiing in the Alps or Japan. This year, we hosted 111 guests. While that may seem modest, it’s a meaningful number for us. We’re already seeing bookings for next season, with 200 out of an expected 250–300 guests already confirmed. One guest often leads to ten more in the future. The guides here are excellent, and the companies we work with also serve as informal promoters of the resort,” he said.
Kechakmadze emphasized that Bakhmaro should retain its character as a destination for wild, off-piste skiing, rather than turning into a high-density resort. However, he underscored the need for well-directed, large-scale investments to support the region’s sustainable development.
“I strongly believe Bakhmaro needs significant investment. I welcome the involvement of companies like Orbi and Zaza Zoidze’s investment group. While I personally didn’t support the initial version of their project, I understand that it has been revised and is now heading in a better direction. This kind of investment will benefit the resort. Despite our best efforts, we cannot develop at the necessary pace alone,” he said.
Kechakmadze added that current development efforts are being monitored, and there’s an ongoing effort to refine the master plan in a way that balances growth with environmental and aesthetic concerns.
Regarding Panorama Bakhmaro, he noted that the hotel is expanding steadily. A new phase of development is being launched with Czech investment partners, amounting to EUR 300,000.
“These are partners from Prague who visited us and offered their support. Construction of a new 25-room hotel is already underway. This expansion will allow us to increase both our guest capacity and employment opportunities in the area,” he said.
