AZE.US
About 220 buildings with a combined area of 4.5 million square meters are under construction at the Sea Breeze resort near Baku, businessman and singer Emin Agalarov said.
Speaking in an interview with the YouTube channel “Sveta Vokrug Sveta,” Agalarov said the project currently includes 15 hotels planned under international brands.
He named Rixos, Marriott, Hilton, Nikki Beach, Nobu, Cipriani, Hyatt and Swissôtel among the hotel operators expected at the resort.
The first new hotel, Radisson Blu, is scheduled to open by the end of the year, he said.
Agalarov said Sea Breeze is still developing the infrastructure needed to attract more international tourists. Many visitors currently stay in apartments, while travelers accustomed to destinations such as Dubai and Turkey often prefer established hotel brands.
“In two or three years, we will become more convenient for tourists who want to come here,” he said.
The new Marina Village complex consists of seven buildings and about 600 furnished apartments. Agalarov said all units have been sold, including about 400 apartments purchased by Israeli buyers.
Around 10 restaurants and cafes are expected to open on the ground floors of the buildings. Agalarov said roughly 50 restaurants will operate across Sea Breeze during the current season.
Brabus and Nobu developments are also being built near the marina. The Nobu complex is expected to include a restaurant, hotel and residences.
Agalarov said a shortage of trained hospitality workers remains one of the project’s main challenges. Sea Breeze currently brings some managers and experienced staff from Russia, while plans are underway to establish a local training center.
“A resort of this scale has not existed in Azerbaijan before, so the country does not yet have enough trained personnel for it,” he said.
Foreign specialists are expected to manage some hotels during the initial stage, with local employees gradually taking over.
Agalarov said Sea Breeze has already completed about 200 buildings, while approximately 250 more are at various stages of construction.
AZE.US