Seasonality remains one of the main challenges for Batumi’s hotel sector. Mamisа Varshalomidze, General Manager of Blue Sky Apart Hotel, said extending the tourist season is particularly important, as operating large-scale infrastructure at high capacity for only a few months is difficult.
Despite poor weather in June, the hotel recorded high occupancy in July and August, with occupancy remaining at no less than 95% during the period, Varshalomidze said in an interview with BMGTV. In September, however, tourist flows have already started to decline noticeably, although the hotel’s occupancy rate has not yet fallen below 50%.
“The decline in tourists and the slowdown of the season have been clearly noticeable over the past week. This is quite problematic from both a financial and long-term perspective. Operating such large infrastructure on a two-month season alone is a significant challenge for both the private sector and the state,” Varshalomidze said.
According to her, extending the tourism season should be one of the key priorities for both the private sector and the government. Another challenge is the trend toward shorter stays, as frequent guest turnover at a large hotel creates additional pressure in terms of staffing and service. Blue Sky Apart Hotel comprises 795 apartments in Batumi and is part of the Blue Sky Tower, a GEL 200 million investment project by developer Like House.
