Temur Ugulava, a Georgian businessman and prominent figure in Georgia’s hospitality industry, associated with the reinvention of Tbilisi’s landmarks, including Fabrika, Stamba, and Rooms spaces, died at the age of 56, his family and relatives confirmed on June 22.
According to media reports, Ugulava succumbed to a serious illness while receiving treatment abroad.
Ugulava founded the Adjara Group, one of Georgia’s largest hospitality companies, in 2010. The group developed the Georgian hotel brand Rooms Hotels, which operates in Tbilisi and several Georgian towns, including Bakuriani and Kazbegi, as well as Stamba Hotel. It also operates the Holiday Inn Tbilisi and manages the Tbilisi Sports Palace.
The group’s portfolio includes several major urban development and commercial projects, among them Fabrika Tbilisi, a former Soviet sewing factory converted into a popular multifunctional urban space featuring a hostel, cafés, bars, creative studios, and event venues, as well as Radio City, and the coworking space D Block. In the agricultural sector, Adjara Group owns Udabno, a company that manages one of Georgia’s largest almond orchards.
Ugulava previously owned AdjaraBet, the country’s leading gambling company, which he sold in 2019. His other business ventures included Setanta Sports, an international sports broadcaster, the online marketplace Veli Store, and the scooter-sharing service Scroll.
Ugulava was regarded as one of Georgia’s most influential business figures, with many political and public figures expressing condolences over his death.
His founded Adjara Group said in a condolence statement, “Temur’s contribution to modern Georgia was remarkable. He created projects that transformed not only the country’s hospitality industry, but also its cultural and social landscape.”
“He deeply believed in the uniqueness of Georgia and wanted as many people as possible to discover our country, its culture, its people, its nature, and its potential. Through the projects he created, thousands of people got to know and fall in love with Georgia.” the group added.
Last updated on June 22 at 16:00
