September 24, 2026, marked an important day for the professional community with the large-scale III All-Ukrainian educational and practical tourism forum "Tourism and Hospitality 2026: Realities and Opportunities". This event brought together government representatives, leading academics, practitioners, and students to discuss key vectors of industry development and transformation in modern conditions.
The event was organized by the Department of Tourism and Hotel and Restaurant Business of the Kyiv Professional College of Tourism and Hotel Management (KTGH). Welcome remarks were delivered by the college director, Anatolii Matviienko, and the Head of the Tourism and Promotions Department of the Kyiv City State Administration, Liia Korniienko. Students of the "Hotel, Restaurant, and Catering" specialty from the Tugan-Baranovsky Educational and Scientific Institute of Economics and Trade of Kryvyi Rih National University also actively participated in the forum.
Education and the Real HoReCa Sector: Mykhailo Sheveliuk's Presentation
A special source of pride for our institution was the participation of the Head of the Ukrainian Horeca School. During the panel discussion "Human Capital of Hospitality: Education, Professional Community, and Career", Mykhailo Sheveliuk — PhD in Cultural Studies, representative of the Lviv Polytechnic National University, and restaurant service expert — delivered his insights.
His presentation topic, "Education and the Real HoReCa Sector: Effective Partnership Models with Stakeholders for a Quick Career Start for Graduates," sparked lively interest among the audience. He emphasized the importance of synergy between educational institutions and businesses to overcome the talent shortage and shape a new generation of professionals who meet the modern demands of the industry.
Sharing the panel with Mykhailo Sheveliuk were Tamila Markivska (CEO of "Hoteliero"), who revealed the power of the professional community, and Kateryna Lysenko (Room Division Manager at "Edem Kyiv"), whose speech was dedicated to overcoming talent hunger and learning how to "make people fall in love with service".
A Rich Program and a Stellar Lineup of Speakers
The forum's program covered a wide range of thematic sessions. To ensure no important idea was left behind, the organizers brought together top industry experts:
Panel I. "Tourism as a Driver of Territory Development: Heritage, Business, and New Opportunities"
This section discussed the cultural and economic potential of regions. Speakers included:
- Liia Korniienko (Tourism and Promotions Department, KCSA) on Kyiv's cultural heritage.
- Liudmyla Hekaliuk (Head of the Tourism Department, Uman City Council) on heritage that works for the community economy.
- Tetiana Tymoshenko (KNEU named after V. Hetman, President of the All-Ukrainian Federation of Employers in Tourism) on cluster synergy tools.
- Vadym Hrabarchuk (President of the Business Tourism Association of Ukraine) highlighting new opportunities in business tourism.
Panel II. "Barrier-Free Hospitality: From Accessible Space to Inclusive Service"
Crucial inclusivity standards were raised by:
- Iryna Mahaletska (Head of the Training Center "Optima Hotels and Resorts").
- Mykhailo Bakaliuk (NGO "Terra Integrity", social project VYMIR).
- Iryna Chahovets (Co-founder of NGO "Terra Integrity"), who presented gamified learning solutions.
- Valentyna Tsys (Head of the KTGH laboratory) with a topic on museum accessibility.
Panel IV. "Gastronomy as an Experience: New Tastes, Formats, and Hospitality Opportunities"
Innovations in flavors and diplomacy were discussed by:
- Oleh Antipin (Brand Ambassador of "SHABO").
- Daria Makovets and Oleksandr Tanhelov (Ambassadors for "ProBar" / "MONIN"), who revealed modern mixology trends.
- Ellina Yurchenko (Kyiv School of Economics, co-owner of "Lehlych Winery").
- Viktor Fialkovskyi (Vice President of the Association of Culinary Arts of Ukraine, Deputy Director of "Diplomatic Service" Directorate of GDIP), who unveiled the art of diplomatic hospitality.
- Andrii Mahaletskyi (Founder of "Restetika", President of the Association of Culinary Arts of Ukraine).
Panel V. "Beyond Traditional Tourism: New Products, Meanings, and Experiences"
Unconventional approaches to tourism were presented by:
- Halyna Shchuka (Professor at the Ferenc Rákóczi II Transcarpathian Hungarian College).
- Pavlo Romaniv (Ivan Franko National University of Lviv).
- Dmytro Bezverkhnii (Writer and historian), who showcased Cherkasy parks as historical spaces.
- Yuliia Kolisnyk (Researcher of burial culture), who captivated the audience with noir tourism.
Panel VI. "Community Hospitality: Resources, Entrepreneurship, Leadership, and Equal Opportunities"
The potential for local development was discussed by:
- Iryna Tkach (Pirnove Village Council).
- Yuliia Zhovtovata (Nosivka City Council).
- Iryna Yatskova (Myropil Settlement Council).
Powerful Partnerships
The caliber of the event is underscored by an impressive list of state and business partners. The forum was supported by: State Agency for Tourism Development (DART), Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, KYIV, Myropil community, ZENTRO PRO, MONIN, MY KAVA, "Pervak" restaurant, SHABO, Lehlych Winery, HOTELIERO, HRG SCHOOL, Lviv National University, Kyiv School of Economics (KSE), Edem, Optima hotels & resorts, FRTU, and other esteemed institutions.
Participation in this event allowed attendees to systematize theoretical knowledge, understand real employer demands, learn about cutting-edge service technologies, and find inspiration for professional growth. We thank the organizers for this highly relevant and incredibly useful event that drives Ukraine's hospitality industry forward!
