Economic cooperation between Georgia and Israel is gaining new momentum. The first stage of preparations has been completed as part of the official visit of Dr. Akram Hasson, a member of the Israeli Knesset, one of whose key objectives was the organization of the upcoming Georgia-Israel Business Forum in Jerusalem. Israeli House NET hosted a member of the Knesset within the framework of public diplomacy.
According to Dr. Hasson, the forum will encourage Israeli business circles to further expand their investments in Georgia. He noted that a new wave of investment will build on the successful track record of Israeli investors already operating in the country, as well as on the support that will be available to new business initiatives.
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Demonstrates Strong Interest in Georgia
One of the key areas of focus for the Jerusalem Business Forum is cooperation between Israeli companies and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s largest hotel chains. This partnership is viewed as an important catalyst for the introduction of international standards, the attraction of new investment, and the continued development of the tourism sector.
Itsik Moshe, President of the Israel-Georgia Chamber of Business and founder of Israeli House NET, presented Wyndham executives with 15 new hotel and aparthotel projects across the countries where Israeli House NET operates. Approximately 50 percent of the projects presented are being developed in Georgia, including two owned by Badagoni, one of the country’s leading wine companies.
Particular interest was drawn to the Art Registry Collection project, a unique seven-star hotel complex located in the historic district of Old Tbilisi. The project stands out for both its location and its architectural concept. Following years of planning, negotiations, and the acquisition of the necessary permits, the project has entered its final phase and is expected to be ready for the continuation of construction by the end of the summer.
The meeting at Israeli House NET was attended by senior representatives of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, including Dimitris Manikis, President for the EMEA region, and Sergey Egorov, Head of Development for Israel, Eastern Europe, Georgia, Central Asia, and the CIS countries. They reaffirmed that Wyndham’s operating model is regarded as one of the most flexible and developer-friendly systems in the global hospitality industry.
Expanding Tourism Potential
Tourism ties between Georgia and Israel began in the late 1990s through the efforts of the Israel-Georgia Chamber of Business, at the request of the Government of Georgia and with the involvement of the Government of Israel, and have continued to strengthen ever since.
According to the latest figures, tourist arrivals from Israel to Georgia are growing at an average rate of 30 percent annually, making the hospitality and tourism sectors increasingly attractive destinations for investment.
The Israel-Georgia Chamber of Business, which has played an important role in the revival of tourism from Israel to Georgia, together with the governmental and institutional bodies involved in this process, has been one of the key organizations promoting tourism development. According to its forecasts, the number of Israeli visitors to Georgia will exceed 500,000 in 2026, while their contribution to the Georgian economy is expected to reach USD 700 million.
The growth of the tourism sector is further supported by the European Association for the Preservation and Promotion of Jewish Culture and Heritage (AEPJ), which develops international Jewish heritage tourism routes with the support of the Council of Europe. In Georgia, this initiative is coordinated by Israeli House NET, creating significant opportunities for the development of Jewish and Biblical tourism.
Badagoni: Expanding from Wine into Tourism and Real Estate
Badagoni, one of Georgia’s leading wine producers, is actively expanding its presence in the tourism and real estate sectors.
Located adjacent to the historic Alaverdi Cathedral, the company’s Alaverdi Resort has already become one of its flagship developments. The resort is seamlessly integrated into Alaverdi’s cultural and natural environment, attracting considerable interest from both international investors and representatives of the tourism industry.
A further indication of this interest is Wyndham Hotels & Resorts’ decision to select Alaverdi Resort for inclusion in its global network.
At the same time, Badagoni is developing another large-scale project in Ponichala Wyndham Residence Tbilisi Gate, which will also include capital from Israeli investors. The development envisages the creation of modern residential and tourism infrastructure. The combined investment value of the Alaverdi and Ponichala projects is estimated at approximately USD 100 million.
The strategic importance of the Ponichala project is further enhanced by its proximity to large-scale investment zones planned by EMAAR, one of the world’s leading real estate development companies. EMAAR is implementing multi-billion-dollar developments in the Tbilisi and Gonio areas, with a combined investment value estimated at USD 6.5 billion.
The international promotion of these projects is being actively supported by the Israel-Georgia Chamber of Business, which plans to officially present both hotels at the upcoming Jerusalem Business Forum. Cooperation with the Chinese company Leapmotor in the field of high-tech infrastructure development is also under discussion.
Wyndham Grand Batumi Gonio: A New Landmark on the Black Sea Coast
On 16 June, the Georgian-Israeli holding company European Village unveiled its new project, Wyndham Grand Batumi Gonio / Sky Castle.
The development will be constructed on the Adjara coastline in the architectural style of a medieval fortress and will be based on the concept of an “Instagram Hotel-Monument.” Its ambition is to serve both as a tourist attraction and as a modern high-end hotel destination.
Particular significance is attached to the fact that Wyndham Grand Batumi Gonio will become Georgia’s first fully fledged all-inclusive hotel, introducing an entirely new offering to the country’s tourism market.
A Strategic Partnership Creating New Opportunities
Israel was one of the first countries in the 1990s where private investment played a leading role.
The ongoing initiatives between Georgia and Israel once again highlight the breadth of cooperation between the two countries across tourism, real estate, infrastructure, hospitality, and investment. The projects currently underway are creating new economic opportunities, supporting the attraction of international capital, and contributing to the full realization of Georgia’s tourism potential.
Following the global crises of the past seven years, the upcoming Georgia-Israel Business Forum may become an important platform for advancing bilateral cooperation to a new stage and laying the foundation for numerous future investment projects.
By Team GT
