Pontus Capital is developing one of Georgia's largest hotel complexes on Gonio resort that will be managed by the UAE brand Rotana Hotel Management Corporation PJSC
Pontus Capital is a private equity firm that invests in the fastest-growing sectors of the Eastern European economy. The company manages assets worth over $50 million. Its investment strategy offers investors exposure to alternative asset classes with long-term investments in resilient businesses that lead to better returns.
Pontus Capital's investment strategy centers on identifying swift-growing sectors and backing tenacious businesses to attain superior stakeholder returns. Pontus Development, Pontus Capital's portfolio company, primarily focuses on the real estate and tourism sector. The company is developing a 5-star hotel on Gonio seaside's first line, 14 minutes from the center of Batumi, on the Georgian Black Sea coast.
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The hotel will be built according to the brand's standards and managed by Rotana Hotel Management Corporation PJSC, a prominent hotel management company headquartered in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates. Founded in 1992, the company has experienced substantial growth and is now recognized as one of the leading hotel brands in the Middle East, Africa, and Turkey. Rotana currently manages a portfolio of over 100 hotels and resorts. The company has a significant presence in the UAE, operating 43 properties, including luxurious 5-star hotels, resorts, and apart-hotels.
Pontus Development is offering a unique investment opportunity in the Georgian hospitality market through the ownership of hotel rooms managed by a renowned international hotelier. With numerous serviced apartments and branded residences available for investment in the country, this innovative approach provides individual and corporate investors with the potential for higher returns than traditional real estate investments in Georgia. The Pontus Rotana Resort & Spa Gonio, the country's first Middle East hotel, is the region's largest hotel. The prestigious Rotana Hotel Management Corporation PJSC will manage it. Cushman & Wakefield, a highly reputable commercial real estate services firm, verified this project's feasibility and profitability. Investors can acquire ownership of the project by purchasing hotel rooms, with revenue sharing based on the ownership structure of the hotel. This offering presents a rare investment opportunity in Georgia's hospitality market that should interest sophisticated investors seeking diversified investment strategies.
Georgia has one of the most favorable investment climates in the region, making it an attractive destination for investment. It is one of the few countries with free trade agreements with China and the EU. Significant structural reforms have been carried out to simplify business and construction permit procedures, cut red tape, simplify licensing and permitting regimes, and improve tax and customs procedures. Such reforms have led to an approximation to EU legislation and a significant improvement in the World Bank Doing Business Indicators. In 2020 Georgia was ranked number 7 in the World Bank's most recent "Ease of Doing Business Index". The economy of Georgia also rates twelfth in the Heritage Foundation's Economic Freedom Index (2021) and eighth in the Economic Freedom of the World report by the Fraser Institute.
The Gonio is a picturesque coastal resort renowned for its stunning beaches, cleanliness, and breathtaking sunsets. Gonio is also close to the foothills of green mountains, providing a stunning backdrop for visitors to enjoy. The hotel's private beach will offer guests a serene environment to relax and soak in the sun while enjoying the waters of the Black Sea.
Gonio resort, the tourist suburb of Batumi, also known for its famous Gonio-Apsaros Fortress, is the oldest citadel in Georgia, whose formation dates back to the Roman Empire. Occupying 4.5 hectares (over 11 acres) near Batumi in Adjara Region, Gonio Fortress is a rare and vital link to Georgia's ancient past.
Batumi international airport is only 7 minutes from Gonio, 14 minutes from Batumi center, and a 10-minute drive to the Turkish border near Sarfi.
Real estate is one of the key areas of focus for Pontus Capital and its development arm, Pontus Development. The company is meticulously scrutinizing multiple ongoing pipeline projects within Georgia. Pontus Capital has set its sights on the ambitious goal of expanding and developing the highly esteemed Rotana hotel brand and its associated entities throughout Georgia. Notably, the Gulf countries have shown a burgeoning interest in Georgia, and Pontus Capital is strategically leveraging this upward trend by penetrating the market with the first-ever Middle Eastern brand. This move is poised to yield substantial dividends.
Guy Hutchinson, president & CEO of Rotana says “We are excited to be partnering with Pontus Capital to debut the first Rotana branded five-star property in Georgia. Complete with a glamourous seaside, a variety of fine-dining venues and elevated recreation facilities, Pontus Rotana Resort & Spa, Gonio will deliver on our singular brand promise of 'Treasured Time' for guests and visitors alike. The 600 key property marks a momentous milestone for Rotana as we continue to expand our footprint internationally with new regions in the pipeline and we look forward to the successful launch in 2026.
The company believes that the recently signed free trade agreement between Georgia and the United Arab Emirates is poised to unlock fresh opportunities in the tourism sector. As a result, the Gonio project, while significant, is not the sole focus, and the entity has indicated that it will explore alternative investment avenues in the near future.
Irakli Varshalomidze, managing director at Pontus Capital explains “we welcome visitors to discover our country's culture, stunning landscapes, and generosity; to experience the potential of Georgia's rapidly growing economy and explore the exciting investment opportunities, including our own flagship project in Gonio together with Rotana.”
Pontus Capital Portfolio
Pontus Development – Developing a 5-star hotel on the first line of the seaside in Gonio. While a large number of serviced apartments are offered for investment in Georgia, Pontus Development has decided to create a brand-new concept – a hotel managed by an international hotelier, which guarantees the best available ROI on the investment property market of Georgia. Project feasibility and profitability are approved and conducted by Cushman & Wakefield.
Pixel Outdoor - Advertising company with over 3,000 m2 of advertising space and full packages of advertising services. The company was founded in 2011 and holds up 40% of the total market size in Adjara, Georgia.
Geverse Construction - the construction company founded in 2016, performs construction of high quality comfortable and modern housing in Georgia.
Heca Biotech – The pharmaceutical company develops molecules and formulas and invests heavily in R&D to develop internationally accepted and useful drugs.
