A new hotel named Sno officially opened in the village of the same name in Kazbegi Region, eastern Georgia, this year. It is the same village where the head of Georgia's Orthodox Christian Church, Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II, was born.

The 34-room hotel was built with the funding of the Patriarchate of Georgia and its parish and its profit will be spent on development of the village. Around 40 locals are employed at the hotel.

The surrounding area is stunning and the service and staff professional, friendly and welcoming, and be sure not to miss out on their colorful and delicious breakfasts!

The opening ceremony was attended by the Catholicos-Patriarch, Prime Minister of Georgia, Giorgi Kvirikashvili, President Giorgi Margvelashvili and representatives of the government, diplomatic corps and Georgian Orthodox Church. The PM said that opening of the new hotel in the Patriatch’s hometown was symbolic, as the profit from it will be spent on the needs of the village population.

In his speech, the Prime Minister talked about ongoing and future infrastructural projects in the region.

“Construction of the Kobi-Gudauri cable way will be completed next year to transform Stepantsminda, Sno and the region into a winter resort. Such hotel resources, such as this in Sno, directly relate to Gudauri potential,” Kvirikashvili stated.

“We are in a very important region, the Sno valley which protects Georgia from the north. This hotel was built not because someone would benefit from it, but to contribute to the region’s development and set an example for the other regions,” the Patriarch stated.

Sno is a tiny settlement located about 5 km from Stepantsminda. The home of the Patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church is here, and there is a small church in the courtyard of the residence. Sno also boasts a large statue of King Vakhtang Gorgasali, and a tower fortification from the XVI century.