If you look at the boom in new hotels in Central Asia and the South Caucasus that has taken place in the past twelve months, 2022 begins to look auspicious. Take the Accor group as an example which, following a series of strategic signings, has grown its regional presence by more than 60%, if you don't mind. The Group signed fifteen new projects under six hotel brands, adding more than 2100 rooms to its existing portfolio of 24 hotels in these regions.

We interviewed our Regional Managing Director, Vladimir Efimov, to better understand how this boom has impacted IT solutions demand in this region's hospitality market.

What trends do you notice in hotel openings by region?

There is good momentum in developing and opening new hotels in Uzbekistan. This is where one of our significant projects, Silk Road Samarkand (8 hotels and 11 restaurants), has taken place using some of the products we offer, such as Oracle OPERA, MICROS Simphony, and TNG, developed by HRS.

What is particularly important for this region’s hoteliers?

We regularly communicate with hoteliers at various venues and play an active role in the hotel community as a member of the hotel associations in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Georgia. It is essential for regional hoteliers that they optimize their costs and increase their profits. More control, quicker decision-making, and communication with the customer give our clients an advantage in the hospitality market.

Are there any technologies that are particularly in demand in the region?

We have more than 60 solutions available worldwide; however, there is a growing demand for cloud solutions in the region, and Oracle, our global partner, is promoting this dynamic solution. In particular, we are talking about OPERA Cloud Property Management System and Oracle Simphony Cloud, although traditional on-premise solutions are still available. During the year, we completed more than ten cloud projects, which took place at both branded and independent hotels.

Do you have any statistics from the countries that chose the cloud version?

Yes, the cloud was very popular in Georgia, where we secured eight OPERA Cloud projects, and in Ukraine, where we have already implemented three projects.

In Azerbaijan, the cloud option was chosen by Marxal, who created the Basqal Resort & SPA and the Shabran Wellbeing Resort, which each have more than ten restaurants and work on Simphony Cloud. Furthermore, we are implementing the first Simphony Cloud installation in Mongolia for 20 fast-food restaurants belonging to one of the famous international chains.

Do you have any unique plans for 2023 in this regard?

This year we plan to expand our range of IT solutions into countries where Cloud technology has yet to reach; for example, Central Asia. We will also continue to focus on developing our TNG system.

Last year we introduced TNG GO!, TNG Medical, and the updated TNG Loyalty; this year, we will offer TNG Golf and TNG Staff Meals. These will all be excellent additions to the EECA markets.

In 2022, Uzbekistan's fiscal and taxation systems were changed, and Kyrgyzstan will be changing its approach this year. Fiscal solutions are only one of the things that need to be considered; legal requirements also vary in different countries, so HRS will adjust these in the special editions we produce.

We are constantly improving our solutions and services to make our customers happy. If they are delighted, their guests are happy too, and everyone benefits from this.

About HRS Hospitality and Retail Systems

HRS Hospitality and Retail Systems is Oracle's largest hospitality partner worldwide, providing coverage in 90 countries to more than 11,000 customers. With over three decades of experience in installing and maintaining hospitality systems, our commitment to providing exceptional support extends 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, all in your local language.