Back when Georgia wasn’t yet on the tourist map…
At a time when Georgia wasn’t yet visible on the international tourist map, Hotel Marco Polo began operations in Gudauri.
A hotel that not only started welcoming guests but also laid the foundation for mountain tourism, winter sports, and hospitality culture in Gudauri.
Meet “Marco Polo” – Gudauri’s first full-scale hotel and one of the foundations of resort development from 1988 to the present.
First steps in the resort’s history
Marco Polo Gudauri opened in 1988 – precisely when Gudauri was being used as a military assembly base by the Soviet Union and simultaneously began its development as a ski resort.
It was the first hotel equipped with full infrastructure in Gudauri and was initially conceived as the main tourist facility of the resort – with its scale, location, and service standards.
Indeed, Marco Polo became the cornerstone that laid a real foundation for the development of winter tourism and, moreover, even turned it into a four-season resort.
An idea that proved stronger than challenges
The idea of Marco Polo emerged in the 1980s – when Gudauri was taking its first steps as a resort.
The hotel’s opening in 1988 was associated with serious challenges:
Infrastructure was practically non-existent. Team formation, service standards – everything had to be created from scratch, while the economic and political environment was extremely unstable.
Nevertheless, these difficulties couldn’t overshadow the main vision – Gudauri’s potential as an international ski resort.
Development that never stopped
From 2009, Marco Polo Gudauri came under unified management.
From this stage, the hotel’s infrastructure renewal, service standardization, and gradual development began, which continues to this day.
Stability, experience, and emphasis on high standards became the main axis that distinguishes Marco Polo’s operation from others.
Khizhina – a gathering place for mountain lovers
Khizhina, like Marco Polo, is an integral part of Gudauri’s history.
This space was initially a resting place for workers, then a radio and medical point, and today, one of the liveliest après-ski restaurants in the mountains.
In 2023, Landmarker Group fully restored Khizhina, and it has become a favorite gathering place for loyal Gudauri residents and guests, both for dining and entertainment – in an authentic mountain environment.
What problems do Marco Polo and Khizhina solve in Gudauri
“Marco Polo Gudauri” and “Khizhina” address two significant challenges in the region:
First – positioning Gudauri as a four-season “destination”.
Neither facility depends solely on the winter season and attracts different types of tourists throughout the year.
Second – creating stable jobs and establishing service standards, which directly contributes to the development of the hospitality industry in the region and strengthening the local economy.
What we’re proud of
“The most prideful fact is that we have the longest and most stable operation in Gudauri.
Marco Polo since 1988 and Khizhina since 2009 – under unified management. Over these years, high-standard service has been established, local staff have been strengthened, and hospitality culture has developed.” – Anni Kokaia Co-Founder of Landmarker Group
Marco Polo Gudauri is a full-scale mountain hotel with 123 rooms and 3 chalets.
It features a spa zone, pool, sauna, restaurant and lounge bar, meeting rooms, après-ski events, entertainment activities, and the world’s highest padel court.
Khizhina Mountain Restaurant – a panoramic mountain restaurant with Georgian and European cuisine, an après-ski zone, direct access to ski slopes, and full of seasonal musical and entertainment events.
Marco Polo Gudauri remains Gudauri’s most reliable facility to this day, having withstood the test of time, maintaining high standards, and continuing to care for the region’s development and creating a perfect experience for guests.
Article author: Ana Tchintcharauli
