MINISTRY OF ECONOMY
AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
OF GEORGIA

On October 23 - 26, Georgia will host the Welcome Challenge, the Hospitability and Travel Industry Innovations Global Forum. The Forum will be held for the first time in Georgia within the framework of the Check in Georgia project. The Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Irma Kavtaradze participated in the press conference dedicated to the Welcome Challenge. The Deputy Minister as well as Giorgi Chogovadze, the Head of the LEPL National Tourism Agency of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, Saba Kiknadze, the Founder of the Caucasus Travel and Gela Andrew Suli, the Founding CEO of the CBC Georgia answered the questions of the media.

Irma Kavtaradze said that the hosting Welcome Challenge in Georgia has double importance – first of all, it will highlight Georgia at the world map as a fast growing tourist destination and it is also a great chance for Georgian startups, since they will have the opportunity to to share their business ideas with international investors. 

The Welcome Challenge has four important components. One of the components is the Symposium, where the leading professionals from around the world will share their views and experiences. Discussion panels and master classes will also be arranged. One of the most important events at the Forum is the competition of the startup companies and the pre-selected 36-startups from different countries around the world will compete for the prize. According to Irma Kavtaradze, there will be two Georgian startups among those competitors. In addition, one more participant will be selected from Georgian startups until October 22 to participate in the competition.

The Forum also provides grounds for meetings with potential investors who will also participate in the round table talks and share experience with the Forum participants. At the same time, the investors and the startups will have the opportunity to participate in ‘Match up’ and B2B meetings.

The partner of the Forum is the UN World Tourism Organization, and the Chief Speaker is the founder of Expedia, the Virgin Group’s shareholder, the US TV presenter and the writer Richard Bangs. Among the speakers there are Dawn Drew, the Vice President and Publisher of National Geographic Traveler,  the managers of theBooking.com Trip Advisor as well as the experienced investors, founders and lawyers of the USA, Japan and Europe.