Over 100 projects are being implemented simultaneously at the GORO construction site

The construction of a large-scale mountain resort at the foot of the Vyshchyi Verkh massif at an altitude of 650 m above sea level, near the villages of Volosyanka and Verkhnya Rozhanka (5 km from Slavske), began a year and a half ago.

"Today, I can say that the construction is already visible, and our plans are starting to come to life, – says Volodymyr Harazd. – Regarding our landmark object, the Welcome Center, we are completing the framework here, and its future silhouette is already emerging. In the near future, I hope, by the end of the summer, we will see its almost final appearance and move on to interior work. We are already finishing the laying of our own electrical network. I think by the end of July, we will connect to the grid and get a constant current. This means this project can be considered completed, and it is a basic one. Because, having electricity, we know that all systems will work."

Preparations for the creation of a snowmaking system and a cable car are underway, the construction of which will begin in a few months.

The interviewee emphasizes that there are many elements that need to be coordinated so that the future client receives a so-called seamless service. This is separate work with the service team, the hotel operator, and mobile operators.

Regarding mobile communication, says Volodymyr Harazd, it is currently very good in some places and simply disappears in others:

"Operators understand that this territory is actively developing, so a different quality of communication is needed. This involves network restructuring, new technologies, equipment, and wide coverage. And this needs to be worked on right now."

Will the season start this year?

The best European practices that will be implemented at GORO Mountain Resort and the international format of the mountain resort are attracting attention today. Will the season start this year? In what form and what exactly will be available to guests?

This year, they will start building an artificial lake on the summit, and they plan to complete it by the end of 2027. Given the pace, they plan to open the resort in winter in test mode, but without a hotel.

The opening of the first hotel is planned for the second half of 2028. By this time, the testing of the mountain system for skiing should be completed, and guests will be able to enjoy their vacation.

Last year, the first ski slope was already prepared at the resort. In the near future, they will start laying underground engineering networks for snowmaking systems, after which they will begin building power grids, and only then will the slopes be finally formed.

GORO's automated snowmaking system will be controlled by AI

The GORO Mountain Resort artificial snowmaking system is a fully automated infrastructure complex developed specifically for this resort. In May 2026, a contract for its creation was signed with a global industry leader – the international company DEMACLENKO from Italy.

"We had long negotiations, we looked at the implementation of their projects at the best resorts in Europe, – explains Volodymyr Harazd. – We traveled there, talked to operational directors about how this system works, its drawbacks and advantages, and received references. And when we realized that we were on the same path with these partners, we signed the agreement. The company is providing us with this system on a turnkey basis."

 What does the GORO Mountain Resort snowmaking system look like? In reality, it is hidden within the mountain massif and is invisible to the human eye.

"This is an underground water supply network, just like in any city. We will draw water for the pipeline from the lake, which we will start building on the Vyshchyi Verkh summit this year. We will pump water into the lake from the river. We conducted studies and measurements of the river for three years, obtained all environmental reports and permits to carry out this water intake. The lake fills up within 14 days. And when the weather permits turning on the snowmaking system, it snows all the slopes within five days. After that, snow groomers come out and compact the snow so that skiers can ski on the slopes."

Thanks to DEMACLENKO technologies, the snow cover of the Ukrainian resort will meet all the standards of the International Ski Federation (FIS) for conducting competitions of the highest level. The company supplies not just equipment, but integrated software SnowVisual, which fully automates the snowmaking process using AI.

"Artificial intelligence will control the snowmaking on all slopes, " says Volodymyr Harazd. - If snow on a slope melts somewhere, the AI suggests where exactly to add snow: we can see where skiers ski more, where it's more interesting for them. The work of artificial intelligence is based on "reading" customer needs and desires. Innovations will also concern water usage and electricity consumption during snowmaking. IT systems will monitor this."

The system guarantees 100% snowmaking on all slopes of the first stage GORO. The first part of the system on 17 hectares will be implemented in 2026, the rest in 2027. The investment cost solely for the snowmaking of the first stage is 25 million euros.

Building in the mountains is more complex: longer logistics, capricious weather, and altitude

"Your city" asked Volodymyr Harazd how much more complex it is to build in the mountains, especially when it comes to such a large-scale and high-tech facility with complex engineering solutions.

""In reality, cost estimates always include a term like 'mountain coefficient'. And we've seen in practice that it's not just theory, it's indeed practice, " says Volodymyr Harazd. - " Undeniably, building in the mountains is more complex, logistics are longer. Of course, all this affects the cost of work. To optimize working hours, we have to find accommodation for builders on-site. Ultimately, this allows the local community to earn some money even before the resort is launched."

Besides complex logistics, construction in the mountains largely depends on weather, altitude, and season.

"In mountain conditions, especially at altitude, on the peaks, we cannot build in winter, " emphasizes the interlocutor. - "So we have to plan our work process to finish, say, by November, and resume them in March. If we're talking about the foothills, where we start, the weather conditions are not felt as strongly there."

Volodymyr Harazd also spoke about unpredictable situations and unexpected surprises that occur during work in mountain conditions.

"We always conduct geological surveys before starting construction. And the geology showed that there are no rock formations in this section. " he clarifies. – "And when we started the work, we suddenly encountered rock. Such force majeure situations, unfortunately, sometimes lead to long delays, as we have to change the technology, prepare for work in new conditions, and mobilize other machinery. There are sections where standard equipment cannot operate. In such cases, we involve specialized equipment, which is non-standard and sometimes unusual."

Despite all these factors, recently the construction pace of the resort has been affected by a shortage of labor.

"Considering the situation, we are moving at the pace we can. We are on schedule, but sometimes we see that we could do it faster, because all the solutions are ready, there is financing. At the same time, I can say that today not only local specialists or companies from Lviv and Kyiv are working for us. Gradually, the whole of Ukraine is working with us. You can come here and find a job. And we are sincerely happy about that."

Upgrading the service model even before the resort opens

During the construction of GORO Mountain Resort, the team demonstrates maximum flexibility. Management promptly changes management decisions and integrates new approaches to adapt the infrastructure to the highest tourist expectations.

 "There are things we cannot influence, and this prolongs the implementation of projects. COVID became such a brake. – we could have started this project earlier. We abandon something or implement something new, " explains Volodymyr Harazd. – Yes, we decided not to start the project from the side of Verkhnya Rozhanka village and began construction from the side of Volosyanka. We abandoned it because our consultants advised us to start from where there is already hotel infrastructure. We didn't even think about it at the time. We also didn't initially plan to build our own hotels at GORO Mountain Resort."

 "Before we started building the hotels, we already had four projects in our drawer that we paid for and which we also abandoned over time, " the interlocutor continues. – We were looking for the most perfect option that could become not just another resort, but an international hub".

The GORO project is not static; it is being improved for the comfort of tourists. It is worth noting that the service model improvements are happening even before the resort opens, so that future guests receive first-class service without any compromises.

According to Volodymyr Harazd, this year the team visited neighboring resorts to assess the organization of their rental and customer service systems. If previously the management was primarily guided by European experience, then the analysis of Ukrainian realities forced a complete change of approach.

That is why the team set itself the goal of completely eliminating huge queues and ensuring fast service so that every guest can quickly get quality skis or a bicycle. Volodymyr Harazd says that at resorts, similar organizational moments are formed in an instant, so thanks to a thorough analysis of the work of colleagues in the market, it was possible to make adjustments and eliminate potentially vulnerable service areas even before the official opening of the season.

Construction pace GORO

Commenting on the pace of work, Volodymyr Harazd noted that about 10% of the first phase facilities have been built so far, but the team has about six months in total. The first phase itself is divided into two sub-phases. In essence, one-third of the planned is implemented this year, and of this part, almost 30% is already ready, while another two-thirds will be built next year. At the same time, the builders have already created a significant backlog, which will allow them to complete half of the work planned for the second year of the first phase before the end of this season. The company's CEO added that the management assesses success not so much by percentages as by concrete tasks that need to be completed by the end of the year.

"GORO Mountain Resort – is a project of hope, – believes Volodymyr Harazd. – Building a large-scale European resort in Ukraine right now – is our conscious choice and great responsibility. We strive to create impeccable quality and are proud that together we are laying the foundation for the future of Ukrainian tourism and the economic recovery of Ukraine."

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