Operating in a warzone: How a Ukrainian hotelier is offering sanctuary to refugees

A Ukrainian hotelier has described how his business has moved to provide sanctuary to refugees as Russia continues its invasion of the country.

 

Artur Lupashko, who operates Ribas hotels, a group of 26 properties, said that where his hotels were once aspirational retreats, they now provide respite for fleeing refugees.

 

He told The Caterer: “The main reason people used to visit our hotels was to have fun and chill. Now it is to feel safe. There are places to go when we hear the [air raid] alarm and we also offer food at low prices three times a day. We want people to feel safe. Many are traumatised.

 

“The guests are a little different as now most are refugees who have left the east of Ukraine. We also have some international guests, who are journalists and people coming in to help with the war.”

 

The majority of the group’s hotels operate in the west of Ukraine and are being run on a skeleton staff as a large number have joined the army or left the country.

 

Lupashko added: “At the moment the majority of our hotels are operating on the west side of Ukraine and in Odessa, where our head office is. But we are operating with 20-30% of employees, so we’re only using the people who can work since many are volunteering, have joined the army or have left Ukraine.”

 

He added that it was important for the business to support those employees who wished to stay with the business.

 

“We want to keep people in work and on a salary,” Lupashko said. “We’re not operating at 100% but those hotels that can open are all operating. We’re running on break even at best.”

 

Prior to the Russian invasion Ribas hotels turned over some £15m from 1000 bedrooms across 26 hotels, with all except one in Poland operating in Ukraine.

 

Lupashko explained that supplies were available to all properties and that most suppliers were working on the same basis of low to no margin.

 

He said: “So far there’s not a great problem with food and beverage. Most suppliers haven’t changed their prices and some, like us, are working on the basis of no profit. Energy costs are rising but at the moment the situation is good as everyone is supporting each other.”

 

He added that the majority of refugees were grateful they had the option of waiting in comfortable hotels.

 

“But as pleased as we are to look after them, we’re happy that they are checking out to go back home and returning to cities like Kyiv,” he said. “These cities are starting to come back to life and I’m sure that during the summer people will return to our hotels not to hide from bombs but to chill and return to reality.”

 

Looking ahead, Lupashko was confident of the attractiveness of Ukraine to both hotel investors and guests in the long term.

 

He said: “After the war the situation will change as we don’t expect much tourism for the first few years. But there will be travel from those working on new projects or investing. Even now some of the projects in the west of Ukraine are continuing to be built. Of course we will win and investors are still confident in the country. On the east it’s hard to say, but on the west it’s likely we’ll continue.”