Marriott Expands in Caucasus Region

Marriott International and PASHA Real Estate Group have signed an agreement to develop new hotel and residential projects in Azerbaijan and Georgia, including a Ritz-Carlton beach resort and branded residences at Zagulba, a major residential extension in central Baku, and a new Le Méridien hotel in Tbilisi.

The Ritz-Carlton Baku, Zagulba will feature 80 guestrooms and suites, alongside 282 Ritz-Carlton branded apartments and villas with private beach access, while PASHA also plans a new tower with 238 additional residences at the existing The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Baku development.

The Zagulba Beach project combines an 80-room hotel with 282 branded homes, and the partners are planning a significant expansion of luxury hospitality in the region, with a focus on resort-led residential development.

The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Baku, Zagulba will offer residential amenities, including a clubhouse, fitness centre, swimming pool, children’s club, cinema, and private beach access, creating a coastal leisure destination intended to sit alongside the existing urban hotel and residences.

The new residential tower at the existing The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Baku site will contain 238 additional luxury residences, supported by a private lounge, fitness centre, and swimming pool, substantially enlarging the branded-residential component at the site.

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Across the border in Georgia, Le Méridien Tbilisi is planned for the Chugureti district of the capital, with 152 guestrooms, multiple food and beverage outlets, meeting and events space, a fitness centre.

This project would expand Le Méridien’s presence in Georgia, and add to Marriott’s current Georgia hotel portfolio.

They did not announce opening dates for the newly signed projects, the developments remain pipeline commitments, with design, construction, and launch schedules expected to become clearer as each project advances.

Marriott International and PASHA Real Estate Group have an existing relationship, which already spans several hotels and residential developments in Azerbaijan.

PASHA Real Estate Group operates across Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Georgia, Uzbekistan, Montenegro, and the United States, with a portfolio spanning hotels, resorts, residences, shopping centres, and mixed-use developments.

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The latest agreement gives both companies a broader mix of city, resort, and residential assets across Azerbaijan and Georgia, and signals that international hotel development in the Caucasus is moving beyond conventional capital-city accommodation toward coastal resorts, branded homes, and lifestyle-led urban hotels aimed at several different trip types.

It means that travellers will have more options for luxury hospitality and residential products in the region, which could lead to increased travel demand and economic growth.

The combination of hotel rooms and branded residences in the new pipeline reflects the growing role of residential products alongside luxury hospitality in the region, and Marriott has increasingly used branded residences to extend luxury hotel brands into long-stay and ownership markets.

Marriott’s strategy is focused on expanding its presence in the region, with a strong emphasis on developing luxury hospitality and residential products that cater to the growing demand for high-end travel experiences.