- Georgia Today

Altihut: A Mountain Shelter at 3,014 Meters, Celebrated at the TBC Business Awards

Years from now, at 3,014 meters above sea level, Nikoloz Alavidze will look back on the day he first took his 15-year-old son to the Chaukhi mountains. The teenager listened patiently to his father and friends grumbling—half jokingly, half truthfully—about the lack of sanitation in Georgia’s breathtaking alpine scenery. Then he simply asked: “Instead of toasting to change, why not make it yourselves?”

That cold shower of a remark set real action in motion. The “fathers” cleared decades of garbage from the old meteorological station grounds, installed bio-toilets, and then brought to life what many thought was an impossible idea. This is how the alpine hut Altihut was born.

In 2025, Alavidze applied for the TBC Business Awards, quoting Gabriel García Márquez, and Altihut was recognized with second place for its outstanding contribution to regional development.

But let’s follow the story chronologically, with less mystery than in One Hundred Years of Solitude.

Altihut is both a mountain shelter and an alpine hotel, perched at 3,014 meters. It is the second major construction on the Caucasus ridge after the 1940s meteorological station once overseen by Lavrenti Beria—this time, however, without forced labor. The materials were produced in Switzerland by top professionals and airlifted to the site by helicopter.

Before Altihut, the alpine zone lacked even basic safety standards. The “eccentric earthlings,” as the founders call themselves, built a bridge over the Chkheri River and a helipad, both crucial for rescue operations. They also installed antennas at their own expense, providing mobile coverage across the entire alpine area.

It’s no surprise that, according to their business plan, profitability is expected in… 80 years.

“From day one we believed Altihut should be about impact—solving problems that hold back the country’s development. Instead of chasing dividends, buying Porsches, or opening a shawarma stand, we chose this path. At first, we were shocked by the tons of waste piled up here over decades. We started by removing it, step by step. Then came bio-toilets. Today the hotel is fully energy-efficient and powered by solar panels,” says co-founder Nikoloz Alavidze, quoting Ilia Chavchavadze: “Movement, and only movement, my Tergi, is the source of a nation’s strength and life.”

Love for literature reaches 3,014 meters as well: Altihut features a reading library. And if, inspired by the Caucasus views, you’re seized by the urge to write, you can send a postcard from Europe’s highest-altitude post office.

Altihut has also boosted the local community by extending the tourist season and attracting high-spending visitors. Meals are prepared exclusively with natural products from local farmers. After a hearty breakfast, don’t forget to thank not only the chef but also the sous-chefs—two horses, Nizla and Alumina, who carry ingredients up to the hut.

“Washing a single set of linens costs us 36 GEL, but we do it intentionally. Our linens are transported daily by horse to Gergeti, where a small family-owned laundry operates with USAID support. We signed a contract with them, and of course, we pay locals for transportation as well,” Alavidze explains.

And if, despite your wish, you’re not yet ready for summits and alpine nights, you can always visit their website: https://altihut.ge/en

Amid daily routines, Altihut offers real inspiration. It reminds us that there are people among us who are equally skilled at building things and telling stories.

It’s no coincidence, then, that such people gather at the TBC Business Awards—those who believe that true success is found along the way.

Lado Alexi-Meskhishvili’s Book presented with the support of TBC

On September 13, at the TBC Concept Flagship, the presentation of Lado Alexi-Meskhishvili’s book took place.

The book represents the final stage of a three-year project, which also included exhibitions dedicated to the architect in Tbilisi and Kutaisi in 2022–2023.

At the presentation, the book was discussed by Dimitri Eristavi, Levan Kalandarishvili, and Manana Arabuli.

Lado Alexi-Meskhishvili is one of those prominent architects, whose work left significant traces on Georgia and particularly on Tbilisi. He belongs to the first generation who studied architecture in Georgia. Over the course of his education and work, two fundamental changes occurred in architecture – the introduction of socialist realism (the 1930s), which supported designing national features and often directly pushed for decorativeness; and later, the USSR resolution “On Elimination of Excesses in Design and Construction” (1955), which developed speedy and economical industrial construction, while creating the basis for simplicity and strict forms of expression, therefore, banning all those decorative elements that distinguished the architecture of the former period.

Book team:
Editor: Dimitri Eristavi
Texts: Levan Kalandarishvili, Dimitri Eristavi, Ketevan Jananashvili
Visual concept and design: Manana Arabuli
Project Coordinator: Mariam Tsikaridze
Printed at IMAK PRESS, Istanbul / 2024

The book was published with the support of TBC, within the framework of the 2022 exhibition project Lado Alexi-Meskhishvili – Architect on the Edge of Epoches, curated by Dimitri Eristavi and Lado Shonia, in collaboration with Nini Palavandishvili. TBC Concept Flagship, Marjanishvili 7, Tbilisi, Georgia.

The publishing partner of the book is the Kakha Bendukidze Knowledge Fund.

TBC Tech School Opens Registration for High School Students

With the start of the new academic year, learning opportunities have also resumed at TBC Tech School’s online courses. Following five successful semesters with more than 3,000 participants, registration is now open for the autumn semester, specifically for high school students.

TBC Tech School offers a unique opportunity for 9th–12th graders across Georgia to master technologies and explore diverse innovations in the field—entirely free of charge and accessible from anywhere in the country.

Registration began on September 16 and will remain open until September 28. After a two-stage selection process, chosen participants will receive three months of free training in:

This year, TBC Tech School introduces an exciting new feature: an AI-integrated learning module across its courses.

To ensure broad access to high-quality education, all programs are delivered online and remain free for students from any region of Georgia.

At TBC Tech School, believing in your goals is the first step—because each step you take here can become the beginning of something big in the world of technology.

Over 60,000 Customers Benefited from TBC’s Back-to-School Offers

As a customer-oriented company, TBC consistently supports its clients during life’s important moments with tailored and valuable offers.

Back-to-school season, Black Friday, New Year’s… these are the occasions TBC customers look forward to the most, knowing they will receive diverse offers designed to meet their needs.

To ensure that each campaign aligns with the interests and requirements of all types of customers, the TBC team carefully plans months in advance, basing decisions on customer feedback.

“Through customer analytics, we identify which products and partner companies will be most relevant for specific offers and how well we are meeting customer needs. In every campaign, our goal is twofold: to deliver maximum value to our customers and to give partner companies the opportunity to present their products to TBC’s audience,” – Aka Sanikidze, Product Owner.

This customer;-focused approach consistently delivers strong results, as demonstrated by the success of this year’s back-to-school campaign.

“With our carefully designed offers, we made back-to-school preparation easier for over 60,000 loyal TBC customers, delivering tangible value across all the outlets essential for September preparations. As a result, the number of transactions tripled, once again proving that customers eagerly respond to the right offer at the right time,” – Beka Chaphodze, Head of TBC’s Offers Team.

During the campaign, the average daily turnover of TBC’s partner businesses increased fivefold, underscoring how TBC’s initiatives not only benefit customers but also significantly support and strengthen its partner businesses.

TBC Business Mobile Banking Named Best in Central and Eastern Europe by Global Finance

International financial publication Global Finance has named TBC Business Mobile Banking the best in Central and Eastern Europe.

TBC received awards in three categories:

Best Mobile Banking Application
Best Information Security and Fraud Management
Best Social Media Marketing

The winners were selected by a jury of invited professionals representing various industries. Selection criteria included the strength of digital customer acquisition and service strategies, customer engagement with digital services, growth trends in digital users, diversity of products and services, as well as the design and functionality of web and mobile platforms.

“For TBC, recognition from Global Finance is of great importance. This award confirms that we are creating secure financial services and delivering the best experience for our users. Our team remains committed to simplifying everyday business processes,” said Ana Tatishvili, Head of the TBC Business Mobile Banking team.

Global Finance, founded in 1987, is read in 190 countries worldwide. Its awards are recognized by the financial community as a trusted standard for evaluating banking excellence.

TBC x Giorgi Mamardashvili – Inspiring the Next Generation of Goalkeepers in Georgia

In collaboration with Giorgi Mamardashvili and in support of the new generation, TBC has launched another inspiring initiative.

“Kari” (The Goal) – this is the name of the project that will span the entire country, with its main mission being the promotion of goalkeeping in Georgia.

On streets, in parks, and in courtyards—where children are always playing football—our project will bring everything a young goalkeeper needs. Among them: foldable goals, which we will leave as gifts for those who dream of becoming goalkeepers and who see Mamardashvili as their source of inspiration.

While young goalkeepers usually guard makeshift goals built from random objects, we hope that real equipment will give them extra motivation and help them defend a proper goal with even more determination.

The main heroes of Kari are the children who seize every opportunity to play football. For the new generation—those who dream of turning football into their life’s path—the most important step is to believe in their own strength. We, at TBC, stand with them every step of the way, reminding them that success comes to those who pursue their goals with purpose, resilience, and persistence.

As part of the project, TBC has already gifted future goalkeepers in Gori, Borjomi, Kvareli, and Tbilisi. Many more cities are ahead, where we will gradually expand.

For TBC, supporting a development-oriented new generation has always been a priority—especially the one that stubbornly defends its goal. From now on, they will be able to guard real goals and confidently say: “I’ll dive and I’ll save it!”

TBC Supports Georgian Business Expansion at the “Georgia–Uzbekistan Silk Road” Exhibition in Tashkent

With the support of TBC for Business, the “Georgia–Uzbekistan Silk Road” business exhibition will be held in Tashkent.

In recent years, Uzbekistan has become an increasingly attractive destination for investors. Rich in energy resources and home to 38 million people—more than 60% of whom are young—the country naturally drives demand for services, consumer products, and modern technologies.

Recognizing this potential, the Sales Association, which unites over 100 members, will host a large-scale conference in Tashkent on October 8–9 under the title “Georgia–Uzbekistan Silk Road.”

“The Sales Association team began preparations for this major exhibition six months ago and invested significant effort into shaping its concept. The event will include several activities and closed-format meetings. In total, representatives of 46 companies and nearly 200 visitors from Georgia will participate, providing a direct opportunity to connect with Uzbekistan’s key stakeholders. On the second day, an exhibition will take place, expecting around 4,000 guests. This offers Georgian businesses a truly unique chance to establish themselves in the Uzbek market, especially given the genuine interest and trust in Georgian products and services,” said David Chikvaidze, President of the Sales Association.

The brand that brings this trust and experience closer to Georgian companies is TBC. Its decision to support the business exhibition directly reflects the bank’s mission—to be the No. 1 partner for businesses at every stage of their growth.

“This support gives companies a real opportunity to take their first steps in a foreign market much more easily and safely, expand their potential partner network, establish connections, learn the specifics of the market, and position themselves effectively in a new environment. In parallel, TBC is also ready to consider financial support if needed, enabling businesses to turn their ideas into real projects and launch operations with confidence. Initiatives like this create the best opportunity for companies to meet local businesses, hold B2B meetings, explore the Uzbek market, and continue their operations with more knowledge and assurance,” said Vefkhvia Lominashvili, Head of Business Segment Management at TBC.

Detailed information about the conference and participation is available at.

TBC Concept and Visa: Exclusive Dining Offers at Cafés and Restaurants

TBC Concept, together with Visa, has prepared yet another special offer tailored to customers’ needs and benefits.

From September 19 to November 23, every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, TBC Concept Visa debit cardholders will instantly receive 20% cashback—up to 150 GEL in total—when paying at more than 35 selected cafés and restaurants.

The offer is valid not only in Tbilisi but also in partner dining locations across other cities and regions.

Tbilisi:

Iasamani, Honoré, Palmebi, Giorgobistve, Steakhouse N1, RED Yard, Weller, Craft, Madre, Giorgio, Chez Kinsky, Kobo, Radio Bombay, Weller Vake, Tsiskvili Terrace
Silk Hospitality: Grand Café, Laan Thai, Bell & Gray, Filini Restaurant, Umami Asian Fusion, Iveria Café, Republic 24, Republic Restaurant
Paragraph: The Talan Lobby Lounge, Ostigan Grill, Eary Rooftop Bar & Terrace, Chinari Sky Bar

Other cities and regions:

Doli Kutaisi, Doli Telavi
Silk Hospitality: Iveria Café, Umami at Clouds, Medea Restaurant, Botanico Café, Kokhta Bakuriani

The offer applies to both existing and new TBC Concept Visa debit cards, as well as their digital versions: TBC Concept Visa Platinum and Visa Signature.

Please note: the cashback is available only at physical locations when paying through a TBC POS terminal.