PM Opens Welcome Challenge Global Forum

On October 22, the Prime Minister of Georgia Mamuka Bakhtadze opened Welcome Challenge, an annual Global Forum for Hospitality and Travel Industry Innovations being held in Georgia on October 22-23 at The Biltmore hotel in Tbilisi.

The PM briefly spoke of the achievements Georgia has had in the hospitality industry and his optimism that Georgia is on the right path of development. He highlighted the increased interest from international audiences in the country, as well as foreign investors.

"Georgia is an ideal hub for tourism and economic development," he said. "The government has many plans in this direction and a positive outlook, not least in the booming startup sector."

The event is hosting up to 25 of the world’s best startups in the hospitality industry and includes the most interesting innovative initiatives in this sector. The forum is a Georgian initiative and will include a start-up competition that allows real, live feedback on product and business ideas and offers ambitious business people the opportunity to pitch their ideas to serious investors.

Forum speakers will include venture capitalists and senior industry executives from the United States, Estonia, Denmark and Japan: Richard McAniff (former Microsoft Executive Vice President), Yrjo Ojasaar (Change Ventures), Jan Rosenbom (Keystones) and Kei Hareyama (Rock Climbing Partners), Dawn Drew (former Executive VP of National Geographic).

The motto of the forum is “We Are Looking for the Disrupters of Tomorrow.” It creates a space for start-up creators to interact with speakers and venture capitalists, promoting informal networking opportunities and the formation of more formal mentorship connections. Creators will benefit from professional, high-level feedback on their ideas.

For the latest news and results of this forum, go to www.georgiatoday.ge

By The GT Team