U.S. Hotel Chains Accelerate Expansion in Georgia’s Luxury Market

U.S. Hotel Chains Accelerate Expansion in Georgia’s Luxury Market

In partnership with European Village.

On May 15, the Israeli-Georgian real estate developer European Village signed a Letter of Intent with Aimbridge Hospitality, the world’s largest third-party hotel operator, to manage a new luxury hotel currently under construction in Batumi. 

Headquartered in the U.S., Aimbridge oversees a portfolio of more than 1,500 hotels worldwide, primarily in the upscale segment, and brings over 65 years of industry experience to the table.

A few days earlier, on April 29, 2025, in Dubai, Best Western Hotels & Resorts inked a deal with the European Village to launch the Grand Life WorldHotels Luxury project in Batumi. One of the oldest hotel brands in operation today, Best Western will celebrate its 80th anniversary in 2026.

The new hotel will be part of the Grand Life WorldHotels Luxury collection, the premium segment of Best Western’s portfolio. As one of the brand’s most exclusive offerings, it will be one of just eight properties worldwide to have the WorldHotels Luxury designation. Grand Life WorldHotels Luxury will also be the first of its kind in Eastern Europe, and the ninth hotel globally to carry this label.

“WorldHotels is all about exclusivity and personal character. The concept behind the Batumi property is a perfect fit for our values—it offers guests an authentic, one-of-a-kind experience, delivered with the hallmark of international luxury”, – said Wytze van den Berg, Vice President EMEA at WorldHotels.

The Grand Life WorldHotels Luxury project will bring a five-star city hotel to Batumi’s newly developing center, steps from the Black Sea. The two-block complex will feature 86 hotel rooms and 69 branded residences, with access to more than 100 infrastructure facilities, including signature restaurants and bars, a full-service spa, fitness and wellness centers, conference halls, and covered on-site parking.

Earlier, Aimbridge Hospitality partnered with European Village on a similarly high-profile venture: Wyndham Grand Batumi Gonio—Batumi’s first luxury branded resort to offer an all-inclusive experience. European Village is the developer behind both projects and remains a prominent force in Georgia’s branded hotel real estate.

“The luxury segment in Batumi holds tremendous potential and is experiencing strong momentum. Today’s agreement is the latest milestone in our ongoing effort to develop new tourist infrastructure in Georgia”, – said Archil Partenadze, General Director of European Village.

Archil Partenadze states that Georgia’s luxury hotel market is still in its early stages, with a limited supply of high-end branded properties, but steadily growing international demand, and while there are currently no comparable properties on Georgia’s Black Sea coast, that’s beginning to change, as European Village takes the lead in developing the first of their kind.

The Grand Life WorldHotels Luxury is scheduled to open in 2028.