Sport and MICE tourism in Batumi

The Georgian city of Batumi, nestled into the coast of the Black Sea, is a perfect destination for travellers keen to participate in or watch sporting events, as well as those hoping to arrange or take part in MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) events. Here’s why sports fans and business travellers alike should make sure that Batumi is on their list.

Meetings, training and team-building

Batumi is also an excellent destination for business owners who want to put together team-building activities. Many of the world-class hotels available in the city are home to top-notch conferencing facilities, which are ideal places to host meetings, training events and seminars. 

Being on a business trip doesn’t mean you and your team can’t have fun! In the meeting room, you’ll be focused on the task at hand, but afterwards, you and your team can unwind enjoying some of the best hospitality found anywhere in Georgia. There may be time to relax on the beach, enjoying the sound of the gentle waves of the Black Sea lapping the shore, or for the more energetic members of the team there’s the opportunity to indulge in activities such as jet-skiing and boat rides. 

In the evening, you can gather for a delicious local meal in one of the city’s many excellent restaurants and enjoy samples of the outstanding regional wines. Then, when the day is done, sleep well in the international standard hotels, knowing that you’ll awake refreshed and ready to enjoy the next day of your business trip.

Conferences and expositions

Business travellers will find Batumi a perfect destination for meetings and conferences. The city already plays host to a variety of expositions which are held throughout the year, some with a focus on tourism and others centring more on industry- related topics. For instance, a regular Rural Tourism Conference which focuses on promoting tourism in smallholdings, farms and guesthouses throughout the Georgian countryside or the Batumi Gastronomic Forum dedicated to the promotion of local cuisine on the international level by attracting Michelin Star Chefs from around the world.

Another important and not-to-miss event around the year is the Batumi Birdwatching Festival which took place for the 10th time this year - Batumi is one of the most remarkable spots on the planet for bird migration, and it garnered attention by recording over 800,000 raptors at this previously little-known migration point. Since then, the area has gained popularity, attracting hundreds of bird enthusiasts and steadily growing in recognition. Tourister is the right event to attend for those who would like to keep apace about the latest trends in tourism and hospitality - a platform created to analyse global tourism trends and local developments in this fast-evolving landscape. It aims to enhance our readiness for the future, sustain competitiveness, and support the sustainable growth of tourism in Georgia. If you foster collaboration and emerging trends in the advertising world, AD Black Sea is a regional advertising festival held in Batumi that brings together professionals from the fields of marketing, advertising, and communications across the Black Sea region and beyond. With Batumi's constant buzz of activity, you can visit batumievents.com to stay updated on the schedule and take part in the wide variety of events happening in the city.

Football

If watching sport is more your thing than taking part, Batumi offers several extremely worthwhile options. First and foremost is attending a football game at the Adjarabet Arena, where the local team FC Dinamo Batumi play. Football in Georgia is currently extremely popular, in no small part due to the Georgian team’s outstanding performance in Euro 2024: one of the heroes of the tournament, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, played for Dinamo in 2022, and there’s an enormous street art mural of the famous player to be found on the wall of Batumi State University. Even if there’s no game on when you visit, it’s worth making a trip to the Adjarabet Arena anyway: the stadium enjoys a uniquely stylish design, having been built to resemble the traditional Georgian dance of khorumi.

Winter sports in Goderdzi

If you’re visiting Batumi in the colder season, you’ll find plenty of winter sports in the ski resort of Goderdzi, a couple of hours drive up the Ajaristskali River valley into the mountains. It’s an up-and-coming winter sports destination, with excellent, deep powder snow, gondolas to whisk you up to the ski trails, an attractive collection of piste and off-piste skiing routes, offering a wide range of snow activities, including skiing, snowboarding, heli-skiing, cat-skiing, and snow-hiking and and a well-appointed hotel with pool and sauna to unwind at the end of the day. The ‘Enchanted Forest’, offering skiing routes through beautiful alpine trees, is a particular draw of the resort. Snowboarders are also well catered for, with meadows full of pristine powder snow. 

Water activities on the Black Sea

Perhaps one of the main draws for travellers flocking to Batumi is its long beach, lined by a beautiful promenade packed with innovative architecture and sculpture. Visitors can indulge in any number of water sports straight from the beach, ranging from adrenaline-pumping activities to more relaxing experiences. Rent a stand-up paddleboard for an enjoyable punt around the calm, clear sea in the harbour, or if you prefer to get your heartbeat going, take a speedy ride on a jet-ski along the seafront or soar above the sea on a parascending trip. For those wanting to see more of the Black Sea, there are boat rides and fishing trips to choose from, with plenty to keep you active on the water for several days.

Take a trip up the Ajaristskali River

Just a short drive out of Batumi to the east is the Ajaristskali River valley, which offers many opportunities for adventurous travellers to enjoy sporting activities. The village of Makhuntseti is a great place to start, with several operators running a choice of high-octane white water rafting trips along the river offering stunning views of the unspoilt Georgian countryside. For other adrenaline-fuelled things to do in Georgia, consider a canyoning expedition into the surrounding gorges to seek out rarely seen waterfalls and views across the beautiful mountains.

This article was made in partnership with Visit Batumi.