Sheraton Grand Tbilisi Metechi Palace
Sheraton Grand Tbilisi Metechi Palace is a five-star Sheraton hotel in central Tbilisi overlooking the historic Old Tbilisi area.
Last updated August 24, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Sheraton Grand Tbilisi Metechi Palace is a five-star hotel in Tbilisi, Georgia, positioned in a central location with views toward Old Tbilisi. The property opened in May 1991, shortly after Georgia regained independence, and became one of the country’s prominent internationally managed hotels. It was initially developed during the late Soviet period as a joint venture involving Russian investors and the Austrian-based ABV Leasing-und Hotel GmbH, and was operated under ABV’s Marco Polo Hotels chain. The wider Marco Polo group also had hotels in Moscow and Saint Petersburg. The hotel’s early operating years coincided with the Georgian Civil War and severe instability in Tbilisi. As a result, occupancy was reportedly very low during its first years. The property’s lights were switched off at night to reduce the risk of attracting sniper fire, illustrating the difficult conditions under which the hotel began operations. In 1997, the three Marco Polo properties joined Sheraton Hotels, and the Tbilisi hotel was renamed Sheraton Metechi Palace Hotel. This change connected the property to the international Sheraton network while preserving its local Metechi Palace identity. In August 2007, the hotel was acquired for US$68 million by Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority through its Georgian subsidiary, RAKIA Georgia LLC. The property later underwent a substantial closure and refurbishment period. It closed on December 1, 2014, for a renovation reported to have cost more than US$40 million. After the refurbishment, it reopened on June 20, 2019, under its current name, Sheraton Grand Tbilisi Metechi Palace. The Sheraton Grand designation placed the property within the upper tier of the Sheraton portfolio and signaled its repositioning toward luxury and premium business and leisure hospitality. The hotel’s business scope includes guest accommodation, food and beverage services, meetings, conferences, events, and wellness-related facilities. Its location gives it relevance to visitors seeking access to Tbilisi’s historic districts as well as to corporate, diplomatic, and institutional travelers. The property is operated within Marriott International’s hotel portfolio, although the available reference material does not establish its current ultimate owner. In July 2022, it served partly as a stay-over hotel for players participating in the FIBA U20 European Championship Division B. The hotel remains an active Sheraton property in Georgia.
History
Sheraton Grand Tbilisi Metechi Palace was built during the Communist period and opened in May 1991, only a short time after Georgia became independent. The project was structured as a joint venture involving Russian investors and ABV Leasing-und Hotel GmbH, an Austrian-based company. It was initially managed by ABV’s Marco Polo Hotels chain, which also operated hotels in Moscow and Saint Petersburg. The hotel began operations during a period of intense political and military disruption. The Georgian Civil War affected Tbilisi and sharply limited tourism and business travel. During the hotel’s first few years, occupancy was reportedly very low. Security concerns were so serious that the property turned off its lights at night to avoid drawing sniper fire. These circumstances made the hotel’s early history unusually difficult for an international hospitality property. In 1997, the three Marco Polo hotels joined Sheraton Hotels. The Tbilisi property consequently became Sheraton Metechi Palace Hotel, linking it to Sheraton’s international reservation, operating, and marketing network. The renaming represented a major change in brand affiliation while retaining the local Metechi Palace name associated with the building and its Tbilisi setting. In August 2007, Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority purchased the hotel through its subsidiary RAKIA Georgia LLC. The reported transaction value was US$68 million. The property later closed on December 1, 2014, for a large-scale refurbishment. The renovation was reported to have cost more than US$40 million and kept the hotel out of operation for several years. The hotel reopened on June 20, 2019, as Sheraton Grand Tbilisi Metechi Palace. The new name placed the property within the Sheraton Grand tier and marked the completion of its repositioning and refurbishment. Its current role combines premium accommodation with restaurants, wellness services, meeting facilities, and event spaces. The hotel’s central location and outlook over Old Tbilisi support both leisure tourism and business-oriented hospitality. In July 2022, the property was partly booked as a stay-over hotel for players of the FIBA U20 European Championship Division B. The available reference material identifies Marriott International as the operator but does not establish the current ultimate owner or identify individual hotel executives. The property is presented as active.
- 2022
Hosts championship participants
[1]The property is partly used as accommodation for players competing in the FIBA U20 European Championship Division B.
- 2019
Reopens as Sheraton Grand Tbilisi Metechi Palace
[1]The renovated hotel reopens on June 20 under its current Sheraton Grand name.
- 2014
Closure for refurbishment
[1]The hotel closes on December 1 for a major refurbishment project reported to cost more than US$40 million.
- 2007
Acquisition by RAKIA Georgia
[1]Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority acquires the hotel through RAKIA Georgia LLC for a reported US$68 million.
- 1997
Property joins Sheraton Hotels
[1]The Tbilisi hotel becomes part of Sheraton Hotels along with other Marco Polo properties and adopts the Sheraton Metechi Palace Hotel name.
- 1991
Hotel opens in Tbilisi
[1]The Metechi Palace Hotel opens in May in Tbilisi, shortly after Georgia’s independence, under the management of ABV’s Marco Polo Hotels chain.
Products and positioning
A premium international five-star hotel combining the Sheraton global hospitality platform with a central Tbilisi location, historic-city views, business facilities, event services, and leisure amenities.
Hotel accommodation · 1991
Guest rooms and suites
The hotel’s core offering is premium accommodation in central Tbilisi. Its positioning emphasizes the Sheraton Grand service platform, access to historic Old Tbilisi, and a full-service environment suitable for leisure travelers, business guests, and organized groups.
Restaurants and bars
Food and beverage services
The property provides hotel-based dining and beverage services for overnight guests, local customers, meetings, and events. Specific restaurant names and concepts are not established in the supplied reference material.
Hospitality events
Meetings and events
Meeting, conference, and event services extend the hotel beyond transient accommodation. These facilities support corporate functions, institutional groups, private celebrations, and other organized gatherings, although the supplied material does not provide detailed room capacities or venue names.
Wellness services · 2019
Spa and wellness
Spa and wellness facilities form part of the property’s premium hospitality proposition. The available source identifies a spa among the hotel’s offerings but does not provide a detailed treatment menu, operating structure, or facility specifications.
Brand decisions
2019
Reopened under the Sheraton Grand identityGeneration changeBackground
After closing for refurbishment in 2014, the property completed its renovation and prepared to return to the Tbilisi market.
Action taken
The hotel reopened on June 20, 2019, as Sheraton Grand Tbilisi Metechi Palace.
Aftermath
The reopening established the current name and refreshed premium positioning of the property.
2014
Closed for comprehensive refurbishmentStrategyBackground
The property required a major modernization after years of operation and closed on December 1, 2014.
Action taken
The hotel undertook a refurbishment reported to cost more than US$40 million.
Aftermath
The hotel reopened in 2019 with a renewed premium positioning and the Sheraton Grand Tbilisi Metechi Palace name.
Reported refurbishment cost. More than US$40 million (2014-2019 refurbishment period)
1997
Adopted the Sheraton affiliationStrategyBackground
The former Marco Polo Hotels property became part of Sheraton Hotels together with other hotels in the Marco Polo group.
Action taken
The Tbilisi property was renamed Sheraton Metechi Palace Hotel and operated within the Sheraton network.
Aftermath
The change gave the hotel an international Sheraton brand identity and connected it to a broader global hospitality platform.
Recent events
- 2022
Hotel accommodates FIBA U20 European Championship participants[1]
Other
The property was partly used as a stay-over hotel for players competing in the 2022 FIBA U20 European Championship Division B.
- 2019
Property reopens as Sheraton Grand Tbilisi Metechi Palace[1]
Product launch
Following its refurbishment, the hotel reopened on June 20 under the Sheraton Grand Tbilisi Metechi Palace name.
- 2014
Sheraton Metechi Palace closes for major refurbishment[1]
Other
The hotel closed on December 1, 2014, to undergo a major renovation project reported to exceed US$40 million.
- 2007
RAKIA Georgia acquires the hotel[1]
M&A
Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority acquired the hotel through RAKIA Georgia LLC for a reported US$68 million.
- 1997
Sheraton Metechi Palace joins the Sheraton hotel network[1]
M&A
The Tbilisi property and other Marco Polo Hotels properties became part of Sheraton Hotels, after which the hotel adopted the name Sheraton Metechi Palace Hotel.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/sheraton-grand-tbilisi-metechi-palace · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled