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A Hotelier in Weston-Super-Mare is set to close its 54-room property to the public for a year in order to house Ukrainian Refugees.
The news, announced via the hotelier’s grandson’s Linkedin page, comes as the hotel is set to welcome the refugees later this week.
Alex Demetriou, who also works in the industry as an investor, said that what is happening in Ukraine “resonates with us all”, especially as his family lived through the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974.
His post read: “After 62 years of operating her hotel on Weston Seafront, my Grandmother has decided not to open to customers this year and instead to give her 54 bedroom hotel to house Ukrainian refugees who will arrive this week.
“What is happening in the Ukraine resonates with us all, but in particular with the older members of our family who lived through the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974 where we lost family and my grandparents lost their homes which they have not been able to return to 48 years later.”
It continued: “We have been brought up to do good where we can and if we were privileged enough to have success in business, make sure we give back. My grandparents have always led by example and my grandmother continues to do so today.
“Thank you to the team at Regency Purchasing Group, Grand Pier and our other businesses and friends for donating the gift packs and we hope that the Ukrainians will not be away from their homes for long, but in the meantime they are welcome to stay as long as they need as my grandmothers guests. I feel proud and privileged to call this lady my grandmother.”
