February 13, 2025 at 8:39 pm
President of Gino Holding Nodar Giorgadze has been developing one of the most important recreation centers in Tbilisi, the Tbilisi Sea Area, for years. After creating one of the best water parks in Europe, his goal is to realize a unique seaside urban project Tbilisi Boulevard, which costs 250 million euros.
Posted by Anina Tepnadze
Gino Holding has been implementing many successful projects for many years. What is the history of the company? What path did you take before you created it?
Gino Holding's activities in Georgia begins in 2012, when I created the first Gino Aquapark in Georgia. This project was a new challenge and experience for me. My past life was not related to business activities, I spent half of my life in public service. I am a physicist, lawyer, doctor of economic sciences, at different times I worked in the Ministry of Internal Affairs and in public positions, I was the acting first minister of independent Georgia, a member of the Georgian parliament and the chief military adviser to the president. I was also the permanent representative of Georgia in the European structures of the UN. I am proud that I was the first to raise the flag of Georgia in NATO. You were also a delegate of the World War Veterans Organization in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Since 2016, I have been the Honorary Consul of Georgia in the Slovak Republic. Therefore, when I decided to start a business, everyone was amazed, but at the age of 50, I realized that it was now, now or never, it was time for me to transfer my life experience and knowledge into my own business.
I did not choose the Tbilisi Sea by chance. Compared to the city center, this is a less frequented zone, which is a factor in maintaining a pleasant and clean environment – there is unique nature, views, a forest park and, most importantly, the sea. It should be noted that already in the Soviet Union, studies were conducted where the best climatic conditions were in the field of rehabilitation and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, you can imagine that it was Baikal, Boyarsk and the territory of the Tbilisi Sea. The level of the Tbilisi Sea contributes to the formation of a humid climate, which is useful for patients with respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, in 1988-1989, it was decided to build an international rehabilitation and treatment center here. The project failed, but the microclimate did not go anywhere.
My idea was to create an aquapark in this place, to create the Tbilisi Sea as a truly unexplored climatic resort. Currently, it is Gino Aquapark ranked among the 10 best water parks in Europe – it spreads over 16 hectares and combines 10 outdoor and indoor pools, a diverse jacuzzi, up to 500 different ice skates and various attractions.
Gino Water Park it is not positioned as a seasonal entertainment venue, but as a leisure and recreation center. What are the main elements that led to the project's success?
Gino Aquapark is the best place for families to have fun and relax in all four seasons. There are areas for both children and adults, Gino Spa and Wellness Center combines 9 different types of sauna and offers visitors a wide range of massage treatments. In 2023, a 5-star hotel began operating Gino Seaside next to aquapark, which includes 218 investment apartments.
In addition to comfortable rooms, the hotel has a restaurant, bar, conference facilities and a swimming pool.
As a result of many years of work in this area, we have adopted a master development plan that is strictly regulated and provides only for low-intensity development, which eliminates unplanned and inconsistent construction from the very beginning and contributes to the creation of an ecologically clean and orderly urban space. Gino Holding has already invested 45 million euros in the construction and development of the water park, and this number is increasing every year. Hotel Cino Siside in Tbilisi has already invested up to 20 million euros.
We plan projects for the next day, build tomorrow and live today. Our projects not only meet the requirements of modernity, but also set standards for the future, based on the best experiences in the world. We create projects for people who will receive different modern living conditions from each other.
It seems that your new project too Tbilisi Boulevard is part of the big picture of the development of the Tbilisi Sea area. What can you tell us about this project?
Residents of different districts of Tbilisi today face many urban challenges: contaminated air, constant traffic jams, suddenly changed views that are radically different from the view at the time of purchase, lack of sports and children's entertainment playgrounds, lack of greenery and appropriate infrastructure. With all this in mind, we considered it necessary to create modern, ecologically harmonious living spaces like "Tbilisi Boulevard.” It will be the only multifunctional residential complex in Tbilisi that offers customers proximity to the sea. Panoramic views of the Tbilisi Sea have not only aesthetic value, but also an important element in creating a quality living environment. Therefore, long-term and strategic urban planning should include the preservation of these views and a model of urban development that is in balance with the natural environment. Coexistence, sustainable infrastructure and comfort of residents.
The project will include the development of a unique waterfront, where a promenade will be located. My dream was to have a similar boulevard in Tbilisi. This is a waterfront with an area of approximately 8 square meters, where people can walk, relax, have fun and spend time with their loved ones. Based on all this, I can say with confidence that such a project does not exist not only in Tbilisi, but also in the region.
What will be the daily routine and lifestyle of the residents of Tbilisi Boulevard?
Together with my team members, we believe that we should not divide life into bad and good parts. That is why we create places where active, healthy, fun and cognitive activities naturally merge with a person's everyday life. I believe and want to convince others that it is possible to combine the pleasant and the useful. Moreover, such a presence on “Tbilisi Boulevard” will become a part of everyday life and radically change the lifestyle of modern people.
We do all this so that peace is an integral part of everyday life for those who live here – to bring a positive attitude from here and spread it in the city or in different social circles. This is important, Thor, as a wise man said, money is nothing, money is paper if not in action. Money in action is no longer just paper.
The project is planned to have a combination of residential, commercial, office and hotel infrastructure. How do you plan to integrate these components?
It should be noted that Tbilisi Boulevard with a total investment of 250 million, it is the largest project in the portfolio of current projects Gino Holding. It is practically a resort in the city, changing the phenomenon of life at sea, from a short vacation experience to everyday comfort. It will be a 30-hectare eco-city in the city, all components of which take into account modern green approaches. For example, most of the buildings will be equipped with solar electric panels, which will significantly reduce the electricity bill, 3000 trees of a unique variety will be planted, an underground parking lot will be established, only electric vehicles will be allowed to move around the territory, etc.
The project will unite residential, commercial, office and hotel infrastructure in one space. There will be a shopping mall, a 5-star hotel Gino Seaside Hotel Tbilisi, two independent hotels/apart-hotels, hotel boulevard, business center with workspaces and offices, clinics, restaurants, cafes, school, garden, separate building for 1000 cars for parking, Rehabilitation and wellness center, etc., of course we will provide spaces for active recreation: squares, courts, cycle paths and gyms. Similar infrastructure and services are focused on peace, a sense of security and exclusivity, increasing the value of real estate and improving the quality of life.
Who are your partners in this large-scale project?
Participated in the project on Tbilisi Boulevard Central Bank of Georgia, which finances one part of the project, the residential zone, and the other part is financed by the Slovak State Bank Exim Bank together with a Slovak investor. As for other partners, in the infrastructure section, negotiations are actively underway with leading world brands, as well as schools and kindergartens with a high reputation. According to the development plan, all these elements in unity will create a space where people's everyday life will be pleasant, comfortable and productive. When I thought about the development of this neighborhood, the starting point was always a person satisfying his needs and improving his life. I will be happy if it works out.
Slovakia holds a special place in your life and, in addition to Georgia, you are a citizen of this country. What would you say about Slovakia and its business institutions?
My life and business activities in Slovakia began in 2003. I am very grateful to Slovakia because it is a country where I could implement my business ideas, create important projects and bring benefits to society. My business activities in Slovakia include the areas of tourism, energy and agriculture. The holding has implemented several significant projects, including Gino Paradise Bešeňová — Thermal Aquapark, which is one of the most famous holiday complexes in Central and Eastern Europe and is visited by more than 600 people annually. In addition to business, I am actively involved in charity activities. To date, I have invested 000 million euros in Slovakia and 130 million euros in Georgia. Over the next 120 years, more than 5 million euros will be invested in projects planned and planned in both countries.
What criteria do you use when selecting projects?
Gino Holding implements various projects in Georgia and Slovakia: in addition to the aquapark, which we have already mentioned, we have a hotel and wellness center in the historical city of Mtskheta Gino Wellness Mtskheta, a boutique hotel and wellness center in Akhaltsik, on the territory of the 11th century Rabati fortress Gino Wellness Rabath, Hotel Gino Sunrise Batumi in Adjara, Batumi, a five-star multifunctional hotel complex in the center of Tbilisi Gino Grand Hotel Melikishvili and so on. Then. I will separate from projects in Slovakia
Hotel Gino Park Palace, a boutique hotel and restaurant in Orlova, located in a 16th century palace and twice awarded the European Best Historic Wedding Palace. The hotel features a café, lobby bar, atrium, restaurant, wellness and fitness center, baroque chapel, wedding pavilion and 6,5 acres of historic English forest park. We also have solar power plants in Slovakia, which we organized in 2010-2011.
This is an incomplete list of projects that I am implementing in Georgia and Slovakia with my team, the total investment value of which is 250 million euros to date. This number increases every year with the development of projects and the addition of new products. Traditionally, an investor always tries to achieve the highest possible profit with the lowest possible cost. I always try to bring profits back into the business and reinvest them. I look at all projects this way: how much it will benefit the people and the country. That is why they say that I am an emotional investor.
Main areas of investment Gino Holdings are tourism, entertainment and renewable energy. What innovations do you plan in these areas?
Of the current projects, a very important one is a hotel with an investment value of 22 million in Tbilisi, on Melikishvili Street. For many reasons (location, historical building) it was one of the most challenging projects. I am glad that we have already advanced to the finals and will finish this summer. Gino Grande will be a 5-star hotel with a wellness-spa center, fitness center, bar on the 0th floor and all necessary services, including underground parking for 79 cars. We have agreed on the management of the hotel with several international brands.
We are planning another project in Bakuriani – it will be a 5-star boutique hotel, the main advantage of which is geothermal pools. The only place in Bakuriani is where geothermal water rises, and our hotel is built right there. I believe that unloading in a geothermal pool after skiing will be a very pleasant experience for vacationers.
We continue to develop the water park - the plan is to cover the largest curling pool, which will increase the indoor usable area by 3000 m2500 during the winter season. This will allow us to host 5000 visitors at a time during the winter season and increase the number of visitors to XNUMX at the same time in the summer.
After Slovakia, we are also considering investing in the Georgian energy sector and the construction of a 50 MW solar power plant in Gardabani. The total investment volume is 28 million euros, and 3,5 million euros have already been invested. Gino Holding's investment activities in the energy sector will increase even more. In this regard, the Black Sea submarine cable project is very important, the implementation of which will increase the enormous energy potential of Georgia.