Diana Markarashvili, manager of the Alpine Lounge Hotel & Restaurant, located in Kazbegi told BM.GE that the winter period is very difficult for Kazbegi.
According to her, the access road to Kazbegi is dangerous due to avalanches, while in winter, the roads are closed due to heavy snow for a long time and hotel reservations are often canceled.
"The season in Kazbegi starts in May, but last year the season started in the middle of July, which was probably due to environmental factors and the Russia-Ukraine War. Our goal is to offer the customers such rates that are adjusted to Georgian guests. Last year, we hosted a lot of Georgian tourists. As for this year, the occupancy rate of the hotel is 20%. From April, the cost of accommodation per night ranges from GEL 150 to GEL 350. The price change depends on the demand. We already have reservations from Europe as well as Asia, namely from Thailand and South Korea for May," said the hotel manager.
As for the current year's plans, the tourist facility plans to sign a memorandum with universities to share knowledge in the tourism and hospitality sector with students. Other conditions have not been specified at this stage.
Alpine Lounge Hotel & Restaurant has been operating in Kazbegi since 2019 and offers customers, traditional and non-traditional dishes, as well as a variety of wines, including Qvevri wines. The hotel has 18 rooms in total and can accommodate up to 40 people. As for the restaurant and terrace, it can host 50 people. At this stage, the tourist facility employs about 10 people.
