Over the centuries, Georgia, situated south of Russia and north of Türkiye and Armenia, was contested by many powers before becoming part of the Russian Empire in the 19th century.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Georgia regained its independence in 1991. In the past decade the country has seen a significant rise in visitors drawn by its dramatic landscapes, ancient history, distinct customs and celebrated cuisine. That tourism surge has fueled a growing hospitality sector, with new hotels, restaurants and tour operators appearing alongside expanded international flight connections that bring more leisure and business travelers.
Rooms Hotel Kazbegi © Rooms Hotel
Founded in 2012 by entrepreneur Temur Ugulava and led by CEO Valeri Chekheria, ROOMS Hotels has developed into an independent lifestyle brand offering a collection of high-quality properties that remain affordable for many travelers. Each property highlights notable Georgian architecture and design, with projects by Tbilisi-based Adjara Architects. All four ROOMS properties are members of the Design Hotels collection, reflecting their commitment to distinctive architecture and interior design.
The group raised local hotel standards when it opened its first ROOMS Hotel in Kazbegi (officially Stepantsminda) in 2012. Located in Georgia’s northern Caucasus mountains, the property is housed in a former Soviet-era ski center that has been carefully restored into a modern mountain lodge with 155 rooms. ROOMS Hotel Kazbegi offers a gym, spa and an indoor pool with views of Mount Kazbek, as well as a restaurant sourcing ingredients from regional farmers. The property operates year-round and caters to both winter sports enthusiasts and mountain travelers.
Rooms Hotel Kazbegi © Rooms Hotels
In 2014 ROOMS converted a historic publishing house into ROOMS Hotel Tbilisi in the capital. The 122-room property quickly generated buzz for its blend of industrial fixtures, contemporary art and lively social spaces. The hotel houses two restaurants, indoor and outdoor bars, and a vibrant atmosphere both day and night. Its central location makes it an excellent base for exploring galleries, parks and cultural institutions in a walkable city.
The brand expanded again in 2019 with ROOMS Hotel Kokhta in Bakuriani, a mountain resort known for skiing and outdoor recreation. Kokhta offers ski-in/ski-out access and has 95 guestrooms, catering to winter sports enthusiasts as well as summer hikers and nature lovers. The area’s highest peak, Mount Kokhta, reaches roughly 7,200 feet, and the surrounding terrain attracts free-skiers and trekkers. Bakuriani is a small ski town of about 2,000 residents located in Georgia’s mountainous southwest region—approximately a five-hour drive from Kazbegi and about 2.5 hours from Tbilisi.
Rooms Hotel Kokhta © Rooms Hotels
Bakuriani has quietly become one of the world’s notable under-the-radar ski destinations, offering excellent powder conditions at a lower cost than many high-end Alpine resorts. The resort has emerged as a venue for international snowboarding and skiing competitions, drawing athletes and visitors to the southern Caucasus Mountains.
In March 2022 Bakuriani hosted slopestyle events during the 2021–22 FIS Snowboard World Cup, marking a first for Georgia. The destination also staged events during the 2023 FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboarding World Championships, reinforcing its growing reputation in winter sports.
Rooms Hotel Kokhta © Rooms Hotels
In the fall of 2023 ROOMS opened its fourth property, ROOMS Hotel Batumi, the group’s first seaside hotel. Located in Batumi on Georgia’s Black Sea coast, the hotel sits in the historic quarter within an eight-minute walk of the seafront promenade. The 120-room property features a rooftop viewing area, outdoor pool and bar, two restaurants, a fully equipped gym and two conference rooms. ROOMS Hotel Batumi pairs a historic façade with a contemporary interior that emphasizes natural materials and geometric design elements.
Together, these four properties showcase ROOMS Hotels’ focus on design, local materials and thoughtful hospitality, offering varied experiences across Georgia’s mountains, capital and coast.