Hotel Intourist Palace - For Those Who Know and Appreciate the Best!
Hotel Intourist Palace is located in the heart of Batumi city, on the Black Sea coast, just in front of the well-loved evergreen boulevard and only 100 meters away from the beach. In its 76 years of existence, more than one million foreign travelers, businessmen, politicians, diplomats, artists and athletes have visited Intourist Palace. If you want to feel the splendor and luxury of the hotel, visit one of Georgia’s most wonderful resort cities, Batumi. Georgia Today met General Manager of Hotel Intourist Palace, Mrs. Tugce Turk Ayag, to speak about this fabulous hotel.
Mrs. Tugce, the Hotel Intourist Palace has a very long and interesting history. When and how was it founded?
The 5-storey Hotel Intourist Palace was constructed in 1939 by famous Soviet period architect Alexey Shchusev. Where the Hotel now stands was once the unique St. Alexander Nevsky state cathedral which belonged to the world’s most famous houses of worship for its architectural significance and rare beauty. It is known that the church was founded on September 25th in 1888 and Russian Emperor Alexander III and his family were present at the ceremony. The cathedral was a functioning building from the beginning of the 19th century to 1936, when it was destroyed by Soviet atheists. The foundation of the cathedral became the basis of a new building, Hotel Intourist. The Hotel was chosen as a meeting place for the three allied heads of government, but at the last moment the meeting place was transferred to Yalta. During the hotel’s 70-year existence it has undergone a major overhaul and was redesigned twice in 1979-1980 and 2005-2006. The hotel’s distinctive feature is its original semicircular facade with the view of boulevard and alley which leads to the main colonnades of Batumi boulevard.
What distinguishes Hotel Intourist Palace from other existing hotels in Batumi?
Hotel Intourist Palace is a top-class hotel and an ideal choice for guests of good taste. Here, one will relax in an elegant and luxurious atmosphere. Additionally, you will be provided with the most modern amenities, sports and fitness center. The hotel’s classic rooms are furnished with wooden furniture. All rooms are equipped with air conditioning, a mini bar, a safe, a TV and free internet. The Hotel has an indoor and outdoor pool, sauna, restaurant, terrace, night club and casino. I cannot say that other hotels have less service, but the fact that we are an international brand already means an advantage.
The success of any company or organization depends on the service. What do you do to improve the quality of service you offer?
Our service is different. Here, trainers take care of our personnel’s professional skills, teaching them with international standards, not local. It is very important to us that the competition has increased. Several top hotels have already opened in Adjara. Intourist Palace welcomes competition if it will be based on the right principles. Our Hotel by meaning works for the business segment. We have absolutely everything a person could possibly need for valuable and comfortable relaxation. Despite high competition, the amount of work has not decreased but is in fact unusually high. So, the demand for the Intourist Palace is high, which is an incentive for all of us.
In your opinion, why should a vacationer choose Hotel Intourist?
Because each visitor receives special attention and high quality service. This approach to our guests makes our hotel a postcard of Batumi. That is why the majority of tourists in Batumi express their satisfaction with Hotel Intourist service the most. Visitors say this: “Intourist is still Intourist.” Our goal is to offer comfort, luxury and elegance. The hotel has 145 rooms. In addition to the standard rooms, we have the highest standard improved design and luxury categories- premieres and presidential apartments. In order for you to spend a pleasant evening or more, our hotel offers a wide choice of restaurants and bars. Restaurant ‘Tbilisi’ offers delicious dishes in a pleasing and high-class environment. Banquets, parties, weddings and other celebrations can also be organized; in cafe-bar ‘Bakuriani’ you will find a beautiful, comfortable atmosphere and live music. If you want to feel the rhythm and energy of life, then you can visit our night club. We provide two conference halls for any kind of conference and meetings, as ideal for private negotiations as for large meetings.
Mrs. Tugce, some months ago Hotel Intourist Palace moved to Metro Holding management. What innovations will this change bring?
We have gradually rehabilitated and renovated the hotel inventory, the rooms and the hotel’s restaurants. As I mentioned above, highly skilled trainers are retraining our staff. We are preparing a new menu and for the summer season we will offer new services to our guests, both half board and full board packages, as well as a variety of tours. Our great attention is paid to charity: we make a modest contribution to the development of sports and the arts in Adjara.
We look forward to welcoming you to come and see for yourself the wonders Intourist Palace can offer you.
24-hour room service; 24-hour banking service; Currency Exchange; Cable TV; Minibar; Restaurant Tbilisi; Winter Garden “Bakuriani”; Georgian Wine House; Bar on Swimming Pool; Swedish Breakfast; Catering; Conference and banquet halls; Fitness Center; Beauty Salon; Sauna; Hamam – Turkish Bath; Jacuzzi; Spa Center; Indoor and Outdoor Pools; Transportation Services; Wireless high-speed internet; Night Club “Discorium”; 24-hour Casino.
Meri Taliashvili