Running a hotel in a War Zone

50 Shades of Hospitality

In 2016, Vasily Grogol was hired by an investor to create a feasibility study on a hotel project in Kyiv, Ukraine. In 2017 he moved to Kyiv and worked on opening not only a boutique hotel called BURSA but also a gallery for young, Ukranian artists. At the age of 24 he became the Executive Director of BURSA Hotel and gallery and his goal, in his own words “is to change the perception of Ukraine on the international level. BURSA design is simple and unpretentious, yet our service is friendly and tactful. We want everyone who comes to Kyiv to experience the city as we see it, and to feel the spirit of our community.”
In addition to finding investors, Vasily personally interviewed and hired everyone that works with BURSA, from architects and designers to the constructors. He hand-picked vintage furniture from Amsterdam, Paris, Guangzhou and Oslo for BURSA’s restaurant and library and he made sure to implement sustainable policies, such as recycling, sustainable heating and chargers for electric cars. In addition, he led partnerships with local talent and family businesses, including White Sprut, which produces our 100% organic toiletries, and Ukranian designer Slava Balbek.
And then COVID hit and like many hoteliers, it was a challenging period for Vasily and his team.

Just when the COVID pandemic began to subside, war broke out in Ukraine and Vasily has now spent the last year trying to run a hotel in a war zone while finding ways to support the war effort. In this podcast he describes the nightmarish reality of waking up to the sound of bombs and having to quickly find solutions for their guests while protecting the hotel itself.

This is the story of a young man who is tireless, upbeat and a hopeless (or should we say “hopeful”) optimist and we are sure that his story will inspire and impress our listeners.