Hospitality
Hospitality runs through my veins
Exclusive Interview with: Artemiy Vasilchuk – CEO, Vasilchuki Restaurant Group
In this interview, Artemiy Vasilchuk, CEO of Vasilchuki Restaurant Group, delves into his path from a family-driven inspiration to becoming a leader in hospitality at a young age. With over 40 successful restaurants across Europe and Asia, Artemiy’s vision for Chaihona No 1 in Dubai Marina marks the group’s foray into the Middle Eastern market. He shares how his family’s influence and his passion for innovation have helped shape the group’s unique fusion of Slavic, Asian, and Arabic cuisines. Looking ahead, Artemiy reveals exciting plans for expanding Vasilchuki Restaurant Group’s presence in the UAE and beyond.
Can you share a bit about your journey and what inspired you to take on such a leadership role at such a young age?
My father is my inspiration and played a massive part in my journey to becoming a restauranteur. We have 40 successful restaurants in Europe and Asia, and they’re all homegrown brands that my father and uncle carefully created from scratch. Hospitality runs through my veins and has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember; in fact, some of my earliest memories are in our family restaurants that, for many years, were the only places I dined at while tasting and sampling new menus, dishes and concepts for Vasilchuki Restaurant Group to bring to market.
How has your experience working alongside your father shaped your approach to restaurant management and innovation?
My Father and our Group Head Chef Sergei Suschenko, are very ambitious and creative people, so being around them is inspiring as they built the Chaihona no1 by Vasilchuki brand from scratch and have such a great synergy. I’m only 23, so I bring a very fresh and young perspective to the group, which is exactly what we need in Dubai with the competitiveness of the market, but my father takes a more traditional approach. There is room for both, so we’ve worked hard in Dubai to keep the brand’s core and adapt its offering to suit this market, which has been fun to do alongside my father.
Chaihona No. 1 by Vasilchuki is your first venture into the Dubai dining scene. What makes this restaurant a luxurious addition to Dubai Marina’s culinary landscape?
There’s no other concept like ours in Dubai, so we’re a new and exciting addition to the Marina dining scene. Sergei has added an Arabic element to the menu for our Middle East launch, and it’s been so successful as our guests can try authentic Slavic food if they’d like but also enjoy Arabic dishes. Our Shawarma is incredibly popular as we serve the juicy meat on a skewer so it can be sliced and shared, which is so lovely for groups served with Hummus and baba ghanoush and a special kebab sauce and herby yoghurt dip if you fancy trying something less traditional.
How do you integrate Slavic, Asian, and Arabic flavours into a cohesive and luxurious menu at Chaihona No. 1?
Our Head Chef, Sergey, specializes in creating unique dishes and menu concepts, so he enjoyed combining all three cuisines into one menu. He has one of the world’s largest cookbook collections, with over 3000 books he’s amassed from his travels worldwide. He sought inspiration from there and did extensive trials of combining ingredients and flavours to understand what works and what doesn’t. He enjoys pushing boundaries, so we’re not surprised when he makes unusual suggestions, as more often than not, they turn out to be delicious.
Can you share any unique dishes or concepts that embody your vision of luxury dining at Chaihona No. 1?
Our dine and shop concept is a really unique as there isn’t many places that have a small market and flower shop inside them.
With over 40 restaurants worldwide, how does Chaihona No. 1 by Vasilchuki in Dubai Marina fit into the overall strategy and vision of the Vasilchuki Restaurant Group?
Our launch in the Marina was our way of introducing ourselves to the region, and now, as it’s been so popular, we’re focusing on expansion and growth.
Looking ahead, what are your plans for expanding the presence of Vasilchuki Restaurant Group in the UAE and beyond?
Our launch in Dubai Marina is only the start for us in the Middle East. We have plans to expand and operate 30 restaurants in the Middle East within the next three years and have a few more currently under construction scheduled to launch this year.
Hospitality
HOP INTO EASTER AT MCGETTIGAN’S WITH FAMILY ROASTS, EGG HUNTS AND CLASSIC SUNDAY FAVOURITES


This Easter, McGettigan’s is bringing together hearty roasts, family-friendly activities, and laid-back celebrations across its venues in Dubai. From lively family days with quizzes and egg hunts to traditional Sunday roasts for a relaxed gathering, there is something for everyone this Easter Sunday.
Easter Family Roast & Quiz at McGettigan’s Ibn Battuta Gate
Expect a lively Easter Sunday packed with family-friendly entertainment, including a quiz and activities for all ages, alongside McGettigan’s signature roast. Younger guests can also enjoy an Easter egg hunt, adding to the festive atmosphere and making it a perfect day out for families.
- Who – Families and groups
- What – Easter Sunday Roast with family quiz, entertainment, and egg hunt
- Where – McGettigan’s Ibn Battuta Gate
Easter Sunday Roast with Egg Hunt at Souk Madinat Jumeirah and Expo City
For a more relaxed Easter celebration, McGettigan’s at Souk Madinat Jumeirah and Expo City will host a laid-back family roast with a light touch of festive fun, including an Easter egg hunt for younger guests. Ideal for those looking to enjoy quality time with family in a more casual setting.
- Who – Families and casual diners
- What – Easter Sunday Roast with egg hunt
- Where – McGettigan’s Souk Madinat Jumeirah and McGettigan’s Expo City
Traditional Easter Roast at McGettigan’s JLT and DWTC
For those who prefer to keep it classic, McGettigan’s JLT and DWTC will be serving up their traditional Easter Sunday roast, complete with all the hearty favourites and signature dishes the brand is known for. A perfect option for a relaxed gathering with friends or family.
- Who – Friends, couples, and groups
- What – Traditional Easter Sunday Roast
- Where – McGettigan’s JLT and McGettigan’s DWTC
Hospitality
CELEBRATE EASTER WITH A FAMILY-FRIENDLY BRUNCH AT LA PISCINE,AL RAHA BEACH RESORT & SPA

Al Raha Beach Resort & Spa invites guests to celebrate Easter with a lively beachfront brunch at La Piscine. Taking place from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM on April 5, the Easter Brunch brings together great food, feel-good music and a vibrant, family-friendly atmosphere by the sea.
Set against La Piscine’s relaxed poolside and beachfront backdrop, the afternoon’s culinary offering features an international buffet with live stations, brought to life with a DJ and saxophonist spinning upbeat sets throughout the day. For younger guests, the experience leans into the spirit of Easter with great kids’ activities, including egg hunting, glitter face painting, and a dedicated kids’ corner.
Guests can also make the most of the long afternoon with complimentary access to the resort’s pool and beach, along with a Spa voucher, making it more than just brunch, but a full day out in the sun.
Easter Brunch Details
Location: La Piscine, Al Raha Beach Resort & Spa, Abu Dhabi
Time: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM, April 5th
Kids Policy
Ages 5–12: 50% discount
Below 5: Complimentary
Hospitality
THE IMPACT OF AI IN THE F&B INDUSTRY: LEADING RESTAURANT TECH COMPANY HELPS RESTAURANTS STAY AHEAD WITH ITS AI-POWERED TOOLS

AI has been steadily transforming the F&B industry across production, distribution, food safety, supply chain and restaurant operations. Now as more restaurants are increasingly adopting AI-powered systems, these tools are becoming an active element in streamlining day-to-day operations, bringing a transformative shift within the industry. Supporting this shift is Foodics, a leading cloud-based restaurant operations and payment tech company in the MENA region through its AI-powered business intelligence solution, Foodics BI.
Numerous opportunities and challenges have been brought by AI across different sectors, particularly in the F&B and hospitality industry. Today, restaurateurs can leverage AI in various ways whether it’s improving overall operational efficiency, assisting customer-related services in front office, streamlining back-end operations, tackling food waste, forecasting demands and trends, enhancing guest journeys through personalized experiences, optimizing menus, improving marketing efforts, performance tracking and more.
By using AI, restaurant owners can operate their business with a data-driven approach. One of the significant advantages of AI-powered tools tailored for restaurants is its ability to analyze large volumes of real-time data, allowing restaurateurs to make sense of the information and transform it into insights that will help them make the right decisions. In an industry shaped by constantly evolving customer behaviour, rising operational costs, increased demand for efficiency, these tools are becoming more essential for restaurants looking to thrive and stay profitable.
At the forefront of this shift in the industry is Foodics. The Saudi-born restaurant operations and payment tech company is helping restaurateurs stay ahead in the industry by supporting them in navigating this evolving landscape through Foodics BI – their advanced AI-powered business intelligence tool that provides restaurants with real-time, data-driven insights for seamless restaurant operations and smarter decision making.
Over the past year, Foodics BI has been a gamechanger for restaurants in the region, enabling them to harness the power of their own business data to make smarter, faster and more strategic decisions that will drive operational efficiency, enhance guest experiences, increase profitability and unlock new revenue opportunities for growth.
Some of Foodics BI’s key features include revealing in-depth and real-time operational insights including sales performances and customers’ buying behaviour, AI-powered forecasting for smarter inventory planning to reduce food wastage, automated reporting and historical data analysis to identify seasonal changes and trends, all using predictive analytics. Additionally, Foodics BI enables seamless remote management, allowing operators to conveniently access and monitor restaurant data anytime and from any location.
By transforming data into meaningful and actionable insights, Foodics BI is empowering restaurants to operate efficiently, adapt to market changes and customer demands, and scale sustainably in a competitive industry.
Beyond restaurants, AI-powered systems are also transforming the wider F&B industry, such as supporting quality control and safety in food processing facilities by detecting defective and contaminated products, monitoring food production processes and ensuring product consistency, optimizing distribution routes throughout supply chains to reduce food spoilage, identifying functional ingredients, improving shelf-life predictions and more.
AI-powered tools are undeniably reshaping the food and beverage industry by offering solutions that help businesses streamline their operations efficiently, bring accuracy and innovation. As AI technologies evolve, their integration will continue to redefine and shape the F&B landscape.
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