Mykhailo Mykhailovych SheveliukHead of the Ukrainian Hospitality School, Restaurant Service Expert, PhD in Cultural StudiesMykhailo Sheveliuk is a leading Ukrainian expert in restaurant and hotel service, head of the Ukrainian Horeca School, and a PhD in Cultural Studies. With over 10 years of experience in the hospitality sector, he successfully combines deep scientific expertise with the daily practice of managing top establishments. As a crisis manager and visionary, Mykhailo shapes new standards for Ukrainian service, adapting businesses to modern challenges and elevating them to a competitive international level.
Biography and EducationMykhailo Mykhailovych Sheveliuk was born and raised in the village of Poliany, Zolochiv district, Lviv region. In 2011, he graduated from high school and hesitated between "international relations" and "journalism" majors, but ultimately chose the hospitality sector. That same year, Mykhailo entered the Lviv Higher Vocational School of Restaurant Service and Tourism, majoring as a "waiter-bartender." During his studies, he completed an eight-month internship in Poland: first in a three-star hotel, and then at the four-star Arka Medical and Spa. The internship helped him learn Polish, and Polish guests did not even notice an accent.After vocational school, he continued his education at the Lviv branch of the Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts (majoring in "hotel and restaurant service"), where he received a junior specialist diploma, and at the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv (Bachelor's and Master's degrees in tourism service). Subsequently, Sheveliuk studied in the postgraduate program at the Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts, where he earned a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Cultural Studies. In his interviews, he mentions that he worked in the service sector while still a student: writing lecture notes at night and practicing as a waiter, bartender, and administrator.
Professional ExperienceEarly career. During his studies, Mykhailo worked as a waiter and senior waiter at the Kult restaurant (2012–2013), a bartender and administrator at the Ramada Lviv hotel (2014–2016), and an administrator at the Music Lab establishment (2016). This experience allowed him to see the hospitality industry from the "inside."Swiss Hotel and Valentino restaurant. In 2016, Sheveliuk joined the team of the Lviv Swiss Hotel and the Valentino restaurant as an administrator and marketing manager. He develops these establishments and continues to work there to this day. Later, at an international round table, he was introduced as the "development manager of the Swiss Hotel and Valentino restaurant."Ukrainian Horeca School. In 2019, Mykhailo founded and headed the Ukrainian Hospitality School (Horeca School). The school grew from two employees to a team of eight professionals. As the head, he organizes courses for waiters, bartenders, and managers, helps restaurants and hotels improve their service levels, and creates individual training programs. Sheveliuk emphasizes that their uniqueness lies in practical classes, through which students receive concrete algorithms for work. Applications for training can be submitted on the school's website by providing a name, email, and phone number.Pedagogical and expert activity. In 2022, he headed the examination committee for the restaurant direction at the Lviv Professional College of Hotel, Tourism, and Restaurant Service. During an international round table, he was introduced as a master of industrial training at the Department of Restaurant Business of the Lviv Professional College of Modeling and Restaurant Business. He also acts as a service trainer and consultant for HoReCa enterprises.Adaptation to the challenges of 2025–2026. As the development manager of the Swiss Hotel and Valentino restaurant, Mykhailo successfully implements crisis management strategies. Under conditions of staff shortages and constant energy challenges, he managed not only to maintain high standards of premium service but also to optimize processes to guarantee guests maximum comfort and safety. This unique practical experience of managing in turbulent times became the foundation for his new educational programs and consulting projects.Over the years of its activity, the Ukrainian Horeca School has significantly scaled its impact on Ukraine's hospitality market. Hundreds of qualified professionals have graduated from the school, and the geography of consulting projects has expanded far beyond Lviv. The team led by Mykhailo successfully implements corporate training for Ukrainian establishments, helping them introduce service standards "from scratch," optimize team workflows, and improve financial indicators through flawless service quality.
Educational and Scientific AchievementsPhD and researcher of cultural tourism. Mykhailo Sheveliuk defended his PhD thesis, "Cultural Tourism of the Lviv Region: Trends and Prospects of Development," on June 28, 2023. The dissertation is dedicated to the specifics and prospects of cultural tourism in the Lviv region amid digitalization and modern challenges. The author underscores the inseparable connection between culture and tourism and emphasizes that cultural tourism brings not only economic but also socio-cultural benefits, fostering creativity and the development of local communities. The work analyzes factors influencing the development of tourism, including the COVID-19 pandemic and Russian aggression, and outlines the problems of the tourism industry in the Lviv region.Textbook for master's students. In 2024, Sheveliuk became a co-author of the textbook Hotel and Restaurant Business for the master's program at the National Technical University "Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute." The textbook covers the organization of scientific research, cross-cultural management, business ethics, HR management, development, international service standards, innovations, and digital technologies. Mykhailo prepared the fifth chapter in collaboration with the teaching staff of the Tourism and Hotel-Restaurant Business Department. The purpose of the publication is to prepare highly qualified specialists capable of solving complex innovative tasks in the HoReCa sector.Scientific publications. Mykhailo's scientific portfolio includes articles in the field of cultural tourism and the hospitality industry:* "Features of the development of structural components of cultural tourism in the Lviv region" (2019);* "The concept of cultural tourism and its classifications" (2020);* "Digitalization in tourism: innovative trends and priority areas of development" (2021);* "Tourism in the Lviv region facing the challenges of the corona crisis and military conflict" (2022).In 2025, he co-authored the article "Service Quality Standards and Their Impact on Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty in the Hospitality Industry" with R. P. Sherstiuk and I. I. Stoiko, published in the journal Tourism and Hospitality Industry in Central and Eastern Europe (Issue No. 13). The publication analyzes how service standards affect customer satisfaction and loyalty in the hotel and restaurant business.
Participation in Forums and Public SpeakingIII International Scientific and Practical Forum (April 2025). At the forum "Hospitality Industry: State, Development Trends, and Industry Prospects," held on April 23–24, 2025, at Lviv Polytechnic, Mykhailo Sheveliuk delivered a presentation titled "How to Create a Service That is Remembered at First Sight." He spoke about key guest expectations in 2025, the role of emotional service as a strategic advantage, and shared case studies from the Swiss Hotel and Valentino restaurant under wartime conditions.International Round Table "Tourism, Hospitality, Creative Industries" (April 2025). On April 16, 2025, the Department of Tourism and Hotel-Restaurant Business held a round table, during which Sheveliuk delivered a presentation "How to Create an Unforgettable Guest Experience in HoReCa and Attract Guests in 2025." The organizers introduced him as the head of the Ukrainian Hospitality School, a master of industrial training at the Lviv Professional College, and the development manager of the Swiss Hotel and Valentino restaurant.Tourism and Hospitality Forum 2025 (October 8–9, 2025, "Arena Lviv"). At this large-scale event, which brought together over 40 key industry speakers, Mykhailo delivered a solo presentation on the topic "Future Service Trends: What Guests Expect and What Employees Do Not Forgive." His report resonated significantly within the professional community, as it was based on real HR management insights and a deep understanding of guest psychology during crisis challenges.
Mission and PhilosophyHe believes in the potential of Ukrainian hospitality and builds his career in Ukraine on principle. Responding to the question of why he declined offers to work abroad, he explains: "I believe in my country, in Ukrainians. We can not only follow the trends of European restaurants but also create trends here, in the center of Europe. Try to make something of high quality, valuable, and competitive here." His goal is to popularize Ukrainian hospitality globally and raise service standards so that Ukraine can compete on a worldwide level.
Current and Future ProjectsBook on modern service. As of 2026, Mykhailo is in the final stages of preparing his original book dedicated to modern service in HoReCa for publication. It accumulates his years of experience and will contain practical advice, real crisis case studies, and tools for team management, staff motivation, and building an emotional connection with the guest. The book will be published in both print and electronic formats.Further development of Horeca School. The hospitality school is constantly developing: it conducts courses for bartenders, waiters, and managers, and offers consultations on opening establishments and implementing high service standards. According to Mykhailo, they strive to create trends in Ukraine and help establishment owners improve service quality.
Personal Brand and Digital PresenceMykhailo actively shares his expertise and market analytics not only at offline events but also in the digital space.Mykhailo Sheveliuk is a hospitality and service expert. Combining practical experience in restaurants and hotels with academic research, he created a platform for training professionals through the Ukrainian Horeca School. His reports at international forums and round tables shape new approaches to service, and his scientific publications are dedicated to cultural tourism and digital trends. Mykhailo's main goal is to make Ukrainian hospitality recognizable worldwide and elevate service standards to a level that guests will never forget.The Hospitality Service School "HoReCa School" can also be found on social networks: Telegram – HORECA SCHOOL, Facebook – Школа Гостинного Сервісу (Hospitality Service School), and Instagram – HORECA SCHOOL.
