{"id":6385,"date":"2025-10-01T13:13:31","date_gmt":"2025-10-01T13:13:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/landmarkergroup.com\/?p=6385"},"modified":"2025-10-01T13:13:44","modified_gmt":"2025-10-01T13:13:44","slug":"marco-polo-gudauri-the-hotel-that-put-gudauri-on-the-tourism-map","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/landmarkergroup.com\/?p=6385&lang=en","title":{"rendered":"Marco Polo Gudauri: The Hotel That Put Gudauri on the Tourism Map"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

In 1988, when Gudauri was still a blank spot on the world\u2019s tourism map, a new structure rose among the peaks of the Caucasus \u2014 one that would soon become the emblem of a new mountain resort. The Marco Polo Hotel was the first major development in Gudauri \u2014 the place where the resort\u2019s very first ski trail, ski lift, and tourism infrastructure took shape, and which remains a defining symbol of the region to this day.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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At the time, building a project of such scale \u2014 and in cooperation with a foreign company \u2014 seemed nearly impossible within the Soviet system. And yet, thanks to the determination of Georgian visionaries, an Austrian investor, and an international consortium, a new hotel was born in Gudauri. More than just a hotel, Marco Polo became the birthplace of world-class alpine tourism in Georgia \u2014 and even hinted at the country\u2019s future as a European-facing destination.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

A European Project Inside the Soviet Union<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The Marco Polo Hotel was unique in its origins. It was one of the first cases in which the Soviet Union granted a foreign company the right to construct and manage a tourism facility on its territory. The contract with an Austrian firm was signed in 1985, and construction began that same year \u2014 even before the snow had melted. The project was scheduled to be completed in just 18 months.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

By spring 1988, Marco Polo officially opened its doors \u2014 a collaborative product of European design, Austrian engineering, and Georgian terrain. It stood not just as a hotel, but as a symbol of what international cooperation could achieve, even within a closed system.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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A Center for Life in the Mountains<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

“After Marco Polo was built, it became the center of Gudauri \u2014 people came here not only from other regions of Georgia, but also from abroad. In many ways, skiing began here. And today, when people think of skiing, they think of Gudauri.”
(Marketer.ge, 2023)<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

From the very beginning, Marco Polo became more than a hotel. It served as the hub of life in the newly emerging ski resort \u2014 for locals and visitors alike. As Eliso Khabeishvili, daughter of one of the project\u2019s key visionaries, Soliko Khabeishvili, recalls:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

During the difficult 1990s \u2014 amid civil war and political turmoil \u2014 Marco Polo continued to operate. Helicopters brought heli-skiing enthusiasts from Europe; the hotel ran on its own resources and remained one of the few functioning institutions in the region. It was during this period that Gudauri began to establish itself as one of the premier destinations for heli-skiing in the Caucasus.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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Continuous Evolution<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

In 2023, Marco Polo celebrated its 35th anniversary \u2014 not just as a date, but as a testament to resilience. A hotel that emerged during the final years of the Soviet Union has not only survived, but continues to thrive in today\u2019s dynamic tourism landscape.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Over the decades, the hotel has undergone several transformation phases. The lobby, rooms, and restaurant have all been renovated. Three standalone chalets \u2014 \u201cSno\u201d \u2014 were added, inspired by traditional mountain architecture and offering modern comforts. The hotel\u2019s restaurant, \u201cSoliko\u2019s,\u201d blends local highland cuisine with European flavors. Marco Polo also boasts the region\u2019s only bowling center and curates four-season experiences \u2014 from skiing and heli-skiing to hiking, yoga, quad tours, and spa relaxation.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Today, Marco Polo is more than a hotel. It is the backbone of the Gudauri resort \u2014 a place where infrastructure converges, where movement begins, and where mountain memories are made beneath the snow. Whether you’re seeking adventure or serenity, Marco Polo offers a space for every guest \u2014 a coordinate etched into the living landscape of the Georgian highlands.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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A Landmark of the Landmarker Group<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Marco Polo is now part of the Landmarker Group portfolio \u2014 and stands as a prime example of the group\u2019s commitment to preserving legacy while driving innovation. Landmarker not only safeguards the hotel\u2019s historical significance but actively revitalizes it with modern standards, refreshed visual identity, and a renewed guest experience.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

This fusion of heritage and vision allows Marco Polo to remain the beating heart of Gudauri \u2014 a platform where Landmarker Group\u2019s values of authenticity, progress, and hospitality are transformed into everyday experience.<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In 1988, when Gudauri was still a blank spot on the world\u2019s tourism map, a new structure rose among the peaks of the Caucasus \u2014 one that would soon become…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6378,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[72],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-6385","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-marco-polo-hotel"},"yoast_head":"\nMarco Polo Gudauri: The Hotel That Put Gudauri on the Tourism Map - Landmarker Group, \u10e1\u10d0\u10e5\u10d0\u10e0\u10d7\u10d5\u10d4\u10da\u10dd | \u10dd\u10e4\u10d8\u10ea\u10d8\u10d0\u10da\u10e3\u10e0\u10d8 \u10e1\u10d0\u10d8\u10e2\u10d8<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/landmarkergroup.com\/?p=6385&lang=en\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"ka_GE\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Marco Polo Gudauri: The Hotel That Put Gudauri on the Tourism Map - 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