Pontus, Rotana and NOA unveil first Rotana ski resort in Georgia

Pontus, Rotana and Italian architecture studio NOA have unveiled Caucasus Mandili, planned as the first ski resort under the Rotana brand in Gudauri, Georgia. The five-star, four-season project is meant to expand Rotana into mountain hospitality and help Gudauri draw more visitors year-round.

Why it matters: - Caucasus Mandili would be Rotana’s first entry into the global ski hospitality segment. - The project is designed to strengthen Gudauri’s position beyond winter sports and support year-round tourism in Georgia. - Pontus and Rotana are extending an existing partnership from Georgia’s Black Sea coast into the Caucasus mountains.

What happened: - Pontus, Rotana and NOA unveiled Caucasus Mandili in Tbilisi at Stamba Hotel. - The concept is planned for Gudauri, one of Georgia’s leading mountain resorts. - The resort is being positioned as the world’s first ski resort under the Rotana brand. - The presentation drew representatives from business, hospitality, architecture, tourism and finance, along with investors, partners and media.

The details: - Caucasus Mandili is planned as a five-star, four-season resort with about 400 rooms. - Nearly half of the complex is reserved for infrastructure and guest experiences tied to year-round activity. - Planned amenities include spa and wellness facilities, indoor and outdoor pools, restaurants and bars, equipment rental for mountain activities and family-oriented features. - NOA is leading the architectural concept. - Pontus selected NOA after reviewing about 10 architecture firms. - NOA’s alpine portfolio includes Hotel Hubertus, Hub of Huts, Zallinger and Ötzi Peak 3.251 m. - NOA co-founder Lukas Rungger grew up in the Dolomites, which adds a direct mountain-design connection to the project. - The design is intended to respond to Gudauri’s landscape rather than impose a standard hotel format.

Between the lines: - Rotana is using Gudauri to add a new brand category while leveraging a market that already attracts visitors from Georgia, Europe, the Middle East and nearby countries. - Gudauri’s growing freeride and heli-ski reputation gives the project an existing winter identity to build on. - The project’s Georgian name and mandili-inspired roof design signal an effort to blend international hospitality with local cultural identity. - Pontus is framing the development as a destination project, not just a hotel, which suggests a broader bet on experience-driven mountain tourism.

What’s next: - Caucasus Mandili is expected to move from concept to development as a new four-season mountain resort in the Caucasus. - Pontus and Rotana are also advancing Pontus Rotana Resort & Spa in Gonio on Georgia’s Black Sea coast. - That Gonio project is already under construction and is set to become the first Rotana hotel in Georgia and the first Rotana hotel worldwide with a casino. - The two projects together deepen Rotana’s footprint in Georgia’s tourism sector.

The bottom line: - Caucasus Mandili is a brand-first play for Rotana and a tourism bet for Georgia: a ski resort meant to work in both winter and summer while tying global hospitality to local identity.