The Colosseum Marina Hotel in Batumi entered the summer season with promising occupancy rates, but geopolitical tensions in the Middle East temporarily impacted bookings. According to hotel director Niko Sheklashvili, the conflict between Israel and Iran caused a noticeable dip in reservations, particularly among Israeli tourists, who typically make up a significant portion of the hotel’s foreign clientele.
“The season has just begun, and overall it's going well. In June, we saw occupancy rates of around 75–80%. July started even stronger, but when the Israel-Iran conflict escalated, many Israeli groups canceled their stays. That brought our numbers down somewhat,” Sheklashvili told BM.GE. “Fortunately, we’re seeing a gradual rebound now. Some guests have returned, although not all. We still don't have an exact forecast for the full month.”
Despite the drop in international guests during the conflict, the hotel has remained relatively active thanks to its domestic base. “About 60% of our vacationers are locals,” Sheklashvili noted. “Among foreign visitors, the majority are from Israel, followed by Russians and Arabs.”
As for pricing, Colosseum Marina has made only modest adjustments this year. “We increased our prices slightly, mainly due to food-related costs,” he said. “Overall, the change is around 10%.”
Meanwhile, the broader tourism season in Adjara officially kicked off with a two-day festival held on June 21–22. The event, titled Summer Begins Here, featured performances by 11 musicians and bands. According to the Tourism Products Development Agency, a simplified procurement process was used to organize the musical program, with total expenses reaching 143,100 GEL.
