Georgian company Orbi Group and Block Group Leaders Irakli
Kvergelidze and Tornike Janashvili Attend a Special Holiday
Celebration
On a snow-dusted December evening in Washington, D.C., Irakli
Kvergelidze, Chief Executive Officer of Georgian company Orbi
Group, and Tornike Janashvili, Chief Executive Officer of Georgian
company Block Group, attended a private Christmas celebration at
the White House as specially invited guests of President Donald J.
Trump and First Lady Melania Trump on December 5, 2025.
The evening was an intimate holiday gathering centered around a
cultural gift to the nation: a command performance by
world-renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli, who graciously accepted a
personal invitation to perform as part of the White House Christmas
season. Held in the historic East Room, the performance was
preceded by an intimate and festive pre-concert gathering featuring
live holiday selections by the United States Marine Band. The
pre-concert reception set a joyful and celebratory tone for the
evening, with lively conversation and seasonal cocktail fare
prepared by the White House culinary team—elegant, spirited, and
unmistakably festive.
Attendance was limited to fewer than 150 guests drawn from
across business, culture, and public life. Among those present were
President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump;
Marco Rubio, United States Secretary of State; Pam Bondi, Attorney
General of the United States; Tulsi Gabbard, US Director of
National Intelligence; Susie Wiles, White House Chief of Staff; and
other distinguished Cabinet members. Widely regarded as one of the
most disciplined and effective leaders in modern American politics,
Wiles was seen engaging guests throughout the evening, ensuring the
gathering was both warm and memorable. Conversations unfolded
naturally and socially, reflecting the spirit of the holidays and a
shared appreciation for music, culture, and tradition—rather than
any official agenda.
The evening was co-produced by longtime friend and business
partner Mark Advent, an internationally recognized entertainment,
hospitality, and leisure developer, and a respected power player in
global business, real estate, and destination development. Advent
is best known for landmark projects including the New York New York
Hotel & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip, a development that redefined
experiential hospitality when it opened to unprecedented success in
1997.
“This was a beautiful and private Christmas evening centered on
music, friendship, and gratitude,” said Advent. “Irakli and Tornike
were invited as guests to enjoy an extraordinary cultural
experience. I especially enjoyed seeing Secretary Rubio smiling
from ear to ear while spending time with Ika and Toko—it was a
wonderful moment that captured the warmth and spirit of the
evening.”
Reflecting on the occasion, Kvergelidze said: “Experiencing
Maestro Bocelli’s performance in such an intimate setting was
deeply moving. The entire evening—from the lovely pre-concert
gathering to the performance itself—captured the true spirit of
Christmas.”
Under Kvergelidze’s leadership, Orbi Group has developed and
operates some of the world’s largest hospitality properties,
including its flagship Orbi City development in Batumi. Together
with Block Group, the partners continue to pursue ambitious
hospitality and mixed-use developments internationally, including
forthcoming projects in Tbilisi and Batumi, as well as a highly
anticipated collaboration with the iconic Italian hospitality house
Cipriani and Advent Allen International.
Janashvili added: “What made the evening special was its energy
and warmth—extraordinary music, gracious company, and the joy of
celebrating the season together.”
Following the Washington gathering, Kvergelidze and Janashvili
joined Advent and his partner Bill Allen, a hospitality legend in
Los Angeles and Las Vegas, for previously scheduled business
meetings related to hospitality and entertainment initiatives.
Advent Allen International, in partnership with Orbi Group and
Block Group, is preparing to announce a major integrated resort and
casino development in Las Vegas and is actively exploring a
potential U.S. public listing.
Among Advent Allen International’s newest projects is a $190
million Top Gun–inspired entertainment attraction currently in
development on the Las Vegas Strip, based on Paramount Pictures’
and Tom Cruise’s blockbuster film franchise Top Gun (1986) and Top
Gun: Maverick (2022). The attraction is envisioned as a
high-adrenaline destination that captures the spectacle,
excitement, and cinematic scale of the films—reflecting the same
bold, experiential approach that has long defined Advent’s work in
Las Vegas.
The evening concluded as it began—with gratitude for music,
friendship, and the enduring spirit of the season.
“It was beyond wonderful having Irakli and Tornike at the White
House and in America with us,” added Advent. “Together, they embody
the very best of Georgian business and hospitality. They are true
friends and exceptional leaders in every sense of the word—and I’m
already excitedly planning their return as we celebrate the United
States’ 250th birthday on the Fourth of July.”
