Natia Chkhartishvili shares Shilda's ambitious expansion plans

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05.11.2016 (Hvino News). The London's Mayfair Times magazine in its November issue published an interview with Natia Chkhartishvili focusing on Georgian wine  (click on the scan to enlarge).

Natia is known as founder of successful British jewellery brand Eshvi. Her UK-based family also owns wine and brandy production business under the Shilda brand in Kakheti, Georgia. She is daughter of Vano Chkhartishvili, former minister of  economy and MP of Georgia, who is currently considered as one of Georgia's wealthiest businessmen with estimated wealth of around $100 million.

Noticing the lack of knowledge of Georgian wine internationally, Natia and her family formed
Shilda - "a wine company that aims to help the country’s small, traditional winemakers showcase their wine globally".

Author Reyhaan Day points out that Natia wants to make Georgia – and in particular the wine region of Kakheti – a true international destination.

In her interview entitled "A Fine Vintage" she explains that a series of contemporary buildings surrounding Shilda’s vineyards, including luxury accommodation and a spa, are currently being constructed. "This will be one of the most innovative projects in the Kakheti region", - says Natia.

Rest areas will be developed on Georgia’s all main roads

04.11.2016 (Hvino News). Travel in Georgia will become more comfortable after the country’s National Tourism Administration introduces its plan of opening rest areas along all major thoroughfares across Georgia.

Head of the Georgian Tourism Administration Giorgi Chogovadze revealed the plan in his interview.

Chogovadze said rest stations would be spaced roughly 40 minutes apart on motorways at which drivers and passengers will be able to rest, eat, or refuel.

"According to our plan, on all central road arteries in Georgia there will be such services available,” Chogovadze said.

He added that there were three such road arteries in the country:

• From Tbilisi to Kakheti in Georgia’s east
• From Tbilisi to Kazbegi in Georgia’s north
• From Tbilisi to Georgia’s west

The Head of the Tourism Administration said the scale of such stations might not be as big as the one near Gori in central Georgia, but they all will include toilets and other necessary infrastructure.

Georgia’s PM Kvirikashvili Introduces Tourism Development Fund

06.10.2016. Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili announced at an official presentation Tuesday that the country’s Co-Investment Fund will establish a USD 680 million Tourism Development Fund for eight large-scale projects in Tbilisi, Guria, Ajara and Samegrelo (Megrelia).

Kvirikashvili said he hopes the Fund will mark a major turning point in the development of Georgia’s tourism sector.

"Georgia has a great deal of potential when it comes to promoting the tourism industry. We can’t spare any effort in becoming a distinct destination on the global tourism map…Awareness and interest towards Georgia are growing on a daily basis and setting up the Tourism Development Fund is a very timely step towards achieving this goal,“ Kvirikashvili said.

The Prime Minister also announced that a multifunctional retail and tourism complexes would be constructed near Tbilisi’s central Freedom Square, Sololaki Ridge and Tabor Mountain.