The project in the field of hospitality industry implies creation of centers of attraction and comfortable accommodation for the tourists in the most fascinating places in Armenia that are currently visited to a limited extent due to the low level of infrastructure nearby.
Project Objectives:
- Putting Armenia on the map of the most popular tourist destinations, providing the habitual level of comfort while visiting;
- Popularization of the country, its history and culture;
- Creating new job opportunities and improving the living standards for the local residents;
- Return of investments in the period of less than five years from the moment of project launch.
“Seven Views” projectimplies creation of high-class accommodation in immediate vicinity to the tourists attractions in Armenia, together with the location of these objects in the most picturesque and specific locations .
Each facility of Seven Views is supposed to be provided with its own style – organically fitting it into the location and theme of the corresponding tourist attraction. This includes combining the details of local architecture with ultramodern elements and bringing together the culture and history with the level of comfort of chain hotels. Each project is intended to use different formats of the rooms – foremost among which will be separate houses, providing a high level of privacy.
The project proposes to set up the highest possible level of environmental responsibility and the use of local resources – along with the use of renewable energy sources. It is also proposed to create a menu for the restaurants based on locally grown organic products (within 50-100 km).
The project involves creating of Seven Views facilities in seven different locations throughout Armenia.
Key Features:
- Location in the spots with unique views;
- Availability of nearby places with high tourist attractiveness potential;
- Privacy and seclusion for guests;
- High quality service – meeting international standards;
- National component in the style and architecture, authenticity and well-developed image;
- The prevalence of local products and regional specialties in the cuisine;
- Covering of 70-80% of personnel through the local population;
- Stable tourist flow during first 2/3 years.
Target audience of the Project:
- People with average, above average and high incomes;
- Age group: 28+;
- Singles, small companies, couples and families with children;
- Tourists interested in: history and traditions, recreation and nature tourism, discovering new paths and committed to the international standards of accommodation concerning the level of comfort, service and food.
The Tatev Monastery is the largest Armenian Apostolic monastery in Armenia, under the protection of UNESCO as a cultural and architectural heritage and is one of the most attractive tourist destinations.
Wings of Tatev – a cableway was included in the Guinness World Records as world’s “longest non-stop double track cable car”l, is located in immediate proximity to the monastery. It annually records a 25-35% growth in the number of tourists, vividly illustrating the annual increase of visitors.
The landscape surrounding the monastery amazes its guests no less than the monastery complex itself: the valley, forests and rocks evoke associations with the Himalayas, while the alpine meadows (located over 1,800 meters above sea level) and snow-covered peaks rearing up against them – make Tatev one of the most beautiful images of Armenia.
Detailed statistics on the use of the Wings of Tatev cable car and user structure are presented below.
Even rejecting the fact that only about 50-60% of tourists visiting the monastery are using the cable car, we can confidently ascertain the presence of a large number of potential consumers for hotel services in this area.
Tatev Monastery is located in 200 km from the capital – mainly along a mountain road, and it takes about 3,5-4 hours to get there.
- The level of development of the tourist infrastructure in the region is extremely low:
- The valley, surrounding the monastery has one of the best views in Armenia. However, there is not a single decent hotel and practically no good restaurants within a radius of 20 km from this location. The nearest hotels that meet the standards of 4-5 stars according to European classification, are located in more than 120 km from the place;
- The majority of tourists visiting the monastery stay in the nearest town of Goris, where only two hotels can be considered more or less decent;
88% of tourists visiting the monastery of Tatev, despite the difficult and long journey, prefer to return and only 12% stay overnight. 160,000 out of 182,000 prefer exhausting trip (450 km and about 8 hours on mountain roads) to return on the same day, instead of staying.
The only reason for this is the lack of places with proper service where one can stay overnight. Plus, the lack of additional entertainment (besides the monastery and the cable car) which could make people stay in this picturesque and attractive corner of Armenia.
Attracting at least 7-8% of tourists visiting this region annually, the hotel can count on at least 8,000-10,000 guests per year. Obviously, if implemented thoroughly, the project can expect much higher number of the guests.
In addition, we have identified 5 different tours and entertainments near the Tatev Monastery, which can be offered, as well as be of interest themselves – for the tourists visiting this region.
As an illustration of how the project can be implemented, we have prepared an example of the concept for the Tatev Village facility – a hotel that could be located in close proximity to the world-famous Tatev Monastery.
A small village, which is based on the image of a historic Armenian home, complemented by a modern level of comfort, will be able to attract a large number of tourists that intend to get acquainted with the Armenian culture.
In addition to the visual and architectural components, the project involves the maximum possible use of local resources, as well as traditional technologies and methods of construction and decoration.
Tatev Village Concept
It all starts with the name! The majority of the hotels located near the monastery are not related to it except their location. Most of them use an indication of the villages Halidzor or Shinuhayr located nearby in their titles. For us, the most logical step is building a direct connection between the facility and the monastery that our potential guests are visiting. The name “Tatev Village” could be the best in this case.
The “Village” part in the title indicates the image of the village / settlement, the idea of which ideally forms the basis of the concept for this project. We perceive Seven Views as a modern reading of an old Armenian settlement, such as it was 1000 years ago. The complex is supposed to be formed from separate villas and residential rooms, which will recreate the historic country house of the region, using the most modern elements and meeting high standards of comfort and style.
Various room groups will differ in furniture, lightings and decorations – which will additionally create a uniqueness and project identity. However, regardless the style, each room will have stunning views of the valley and each individual villa will have its own terrace and small garden – enhancing the feeling of communication with the nature and staying in a real village house.
In addition, it is supposed to include a swimming pool in the facility – based on the visitor’s requests. 20% of the surveyed tourists (out of 182,000) reported about their desire to see the pool. It’s due to mention, that there is no pool in none of the hotels nearby or even in the town of Goris.
The stylistic reference examples, illustrating the basic architectural concept of the first 5 stars village-hotel and its visual image are below >>> >>>
Guest Houses
Restaurant
Swimming Pool
Rooms
The use of building materials in interior of the rooms, low-rise construction, stone or concrete floors, the combination of modern interior with genuine old restored furniture and objects will create a unique atmosphere of a boutique hotel, conceptually repeating the old Armenian village. To enhance this effect, it is proposed to vary the combinations of furniture in the rooms, which will make each of them unique and exclusive.
The concept of a country house with a 1000-year history allows to avoid perfectly smooth lines in the construction (they will be just unnecessary in this particular case), which will greatly simplify the finishing process and the project implementation dates.
In addition, the selected concept and architectural style will reduce the costs of construction by 30-40% in relation to the standard approach, as well as significantly reduce the costs associated with hotel equipment. At the same time, many elements of the facility can be manufactured using local forces, which will help to optimize overall costs and will add authenticity to the Tatev Village.
In addition to the architectural component, the project also aims to recreate the everyday processes of the village of the 10th century. Starting from plowing with oxen – as it was done in the ancient times, followed by cultivation and manual harvesting of agricultural crops. We have allocated 2 hectares farm land and small gardens attached to the guest houses of the complex for this purpose. The project also provides for a central square where produces and stores with tasting rooms will be located. Here the guests can personally plunge into the manufacturing process, find out historical facts, try and purchase natural products of 5 main areas:
- Winery – where the traditional wine-making process will be shown. The basement floors will accommodate a large storage cellar and a cold room – where unfinished wine will be stored, which is very popular for this region;
- The production of fruit varieties of vodka (mulberry, dogwood and pear) which this region is very famous for to this day;
- Production of national meat delicacies – basturma and sujukh, which will serve as an excellent snack for tasting the first two productions;
- Traditional cheese factory, as well as the preparation of products based on milk (butter, yogurt, sour cream, etc.);
- Bakery – where they will bake the traditional method of pita bread and other types of bakery products.
All raw materials for production will be purchased from local farmers. We have a preliminary agreement with them already.
The square is also designed for celebrations, festivals, the local products and crafts market, as well as a concert venue, accommodating from 800 to 1000 people.
A mason’s workshop will be located in the backyard of the main square, where in the daytime the master will work on decorative stone processing, both for the needs of the project itself, as well as for creating souvenirs and presenting the process.
The choice of the location for the Tatev Village facility is driven by the complete compliance with all the necessary parameters and conditions defined by us at the level of the Seven Views concept.
The plot has a total area of 4,65 hectares and is located near the village of Shinuhayr, 5 minutes drive (4km) from the Tatev Wings cable car. The land is located on the first line of the valley and provides incredible views.
Authors:
Aghasi Kntekhtsyan – author of the project;
Tigran Movsisyan – architecture
Aleksandra Kntekhtsyan – moodboard creator
Dmitriy Gorbunov – financial calculations
Philipp Trufanov – content writer
Authors:
Aghasi Kntekhtsyan – author of the project;
Tigran Movsisyan – architecture
Aleksandra Kntekhtsyan – moodboard creator
Dmitriy Gorbunov – financial calculations
Philipp Trufanov – content writer