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By Nithyakala Neelakandan
Published on June 13, 2024
The Access Group, a leading business management software provider valued at over $1.3 billion, is expanding its footprint in the North American hotel tech market with the acquisition of SHR Group. This move integrates SHR’s advanced capabilities into Access's AI-powered platform, further enhancing their end-to-end solutions for the hospitality industry.
SHR Group, based in Houston, Texas, specializes in hotel and casino technology. This acquisition is set to complement Access’s previous acquisition of Guestline, a Property Management Software (PMS) provider with a strong presence in DACH and Europe. By merging SHR’s 2,000 hotel customers with Guestline's 3,000 properties, the combined client base will experience improved efficiency and profitability through a complete digital guest journey.
The integration of SHR solidifies Access Hospitality as one of the few comprehensive software providers in the global hotel industry. SHR’s offerings include a dynamic Central Reservation System (CRS), Internet Booking Engine (IBE), Customer Relationship Manager (CRM), Revenue Management System (RMS), and digital marketing and loyalty program tools. Leveraging AI, SHR customizes content on direct booking sites to increase relevance and maximize revenues through conversion, upselling, and cross-selling.
This strategic acquisition will enable Access to further penetrate the US market and cater to larger hotel groups with more complex distribution needs than smaller boutique and independent operators. Access employs a modular approach, allowing hoteliers to customize their tech stack while ensuring seamless integration of key components.
Jonah Paransky, appointed as Access President of the Americas earlier this year, said “This deal has taken us a step closer to achieving our goal of being the global go-to technology partner for hotels, helping them deliver exceptional guest experiences and increase their profitability. SHR’s pioneering use of technology and laser focus on customer experience make it a natural fit for Access. This acquisition is a key milestone in our drive to grow our market share in the US and tap into the massive growth opportunity the market presents.”
The Access Group, with more than 7,000 employees worldwide, provides software solutions across multiple sectors, including hospitality. Their hospitality division currently supports over 20,000 hotels, multi-site pubs and bars, restaurants, food-to-go, and leisure operators. This division aims to enhance guest experiences and improve venue profitability through fully integrated software solutions.
Champa Magesh, MD of Access Hospitality, commented “We’ve always worked to provide world-class products and unrivaled technological capabilities and SHR embodies that ambition. SHR is undoubtedly the world’s leading automated hotel technology platform and a significant addition to our hospitality offering. In this competitive and increasingly complex industry, leveraging AI’s immense potential will give hoteliers a competitive edge – enabling them to revolutionize guest experiences, drive operational efficiencies, and increase revenue. It further bolsters our accommodation offer following the acquisition of Guestline last year – a leading hotel distribution and operations platform provider.”
Rod Jimenez, CEO of SHR, echoed this sentiment, saying “Access is already a leader in providing software and services to UK and European hotels. Its focus on offering solutions that support customers with their entire operations enable hoteliers to deliver excellent guest experiences cost-effectively, profitably and sustainably. By joining the Access Hospitality family, SHR’s customers gain access to a complete suite of products and services. The ability to draw on the expertise of Access’ extensive network of partners will not only help our customers; it will provide us with the ability to accelerate capabilities and innovation across our products and customer support services.”
About SHR
SHR Group, established in 2004 and headquartered in Houston, Texas, with offices in Europe and Asia-Pacific, is a leading global specialist in technology and services for the hotel sector. Dedicated to keeping its clients ahead in a fast-paced and competitive market, SHR empowers hotels and resorts to enhance revenue and customer lifetime value throughout the guest journey. This is achieved by integrating the potential of AI with a dynamic product suite of automated and integrated solutions. Additionally, SHR Hotel Services focuses on providing the hospitality industry with a competitive edge through exceptional digital services and consultancy. For more information about SHR, visit www.shrgroup.com.
About The Access Group
The Access Group, headquartered in the UK, is a leading provider of business management software for small and mid-sized organizations in the UK, Ireland, USA, and Asia Pacific. It serves over 100,000 customers across commercial and non-profit sectors, enhancing their productivity and efficiency. The company's innovative cloud solutions revolutionize business software usage, enabling employees to focus on what matters most. Founded in 1991, The Access Group employs approximately 6,800 people. For more information, visit www.theaccessgroup.com
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By Nishang Narayan
Published on July 12, 2025
Mews has announced a strategic integration with Salto’s smart locking system, enhancing its Digital Key offering and paving the way for a more seamless, contactless guest experience. Through this partnership, hotels using Salto’s access control can now enable guests to unlock rooms via their mobile devices using the Mews Hospitality Cloud—eliminating the need for physical keys altogether.
This move streamlines the check-in process, reduces manual front desk tasks, and strengthens overall security. Matt Welle, CEO of Mews, said, “Every step of the guest journey should be effortless. With Salto smart access for hospitality compatibility, more properties can reduce the friction around arrival and check-in. Digital Key is a win-win because it’s as much about operational efficiency as it is about improving guest satisfaction.”
Early results from Belgian brand YUST, which operates a hybrid model for short and long stays, show the integration’s impact. At its Antwerp property, 12% of guests checked in using Digital Key in the first month without any promotional push, and 64% of those with an active digital key used it to access their rooms. Dirk Van Gompel, CTO of YUST, shared, “Digital Key makes it easy for guests to go straight to their room, while creating real-time savings for our team, who can then focus on building real human connections.”
Salto’s Nora Urquiza highlighted the value of this collaboration, stating, “Our integration with Mews reinforces our commitment to delivering a seamless, secure, and modern digital experience through strong technology alliances.”
Beyond convenience, the integration also cuts down on environmental waste by removing the need for plastic keycards and supports a fully digital, on-the-go check-in and check-out process. Fully embedded within the Mews Hospitality Cloud, the Digital Key capability allows hotels to customise and automate the guest experience, opening new avenues for upselling and enhanced guest engagement.
Mews has been on a roll with tech enhancements, recently rolling out a Multicurrency feature for customers across Europe.
By Manu Vardhan Kannan
Hospitality tech firm OYO has entered a strategic partnership with leading online travel platform Yatra, bringing over 500 company-serviced hotels under mid-premium and premium brands to Yatra’s booking platform for the first time. These hotels will cater specifically to the rising demand in the business travel segment across India.
The hotels listed include OYO’s SUNDAY, Palette, Clubhouse, Townhouse, Townhouse Oak, and Collection O brands. The collaboration covers key business hubs like Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, and Ahmedabad, along with fast-growing industrial and transit corridors.
OYO plans to list 1,000 more company-serviced hotels on Yatra by September 2025, enhancing Yatra’s accommodation offerings in emerging metros, where business travel is expanding due to infrastructure growth and regional economic activity.
India’s business travel sector reached $38.2 billion in 2024, making it the 8th largest market globally and 4th in Asia-Pacific. The OYO-Yatra partnership aligns with this growth by offering curated business accommodation solutions with added benefits such as:
Yatra, with over 800 large corporate clients and 10,000+ SMEs, earns 65% of gross bookings from corporate and B2B travel. This partnership adds substantial value to its users by expanding quality lodging options in previously underserved regions.
Earlier this year, OYO launched Oravel Travel Solutions, a vertical focused on corporate travel, offering end-to-end services like smooth check-ins, meal plans, event support, and custom holiday packages.
Speaking on the development, Varun Jain, COO of OYO, shared:
“While direct demand continues to be our mainstay, contributing nearly 80% of our total business, we are now looking to tap into a niche segment of business travelers who are exploring emerging business hubs. This partnership also opens up opportunities to cater to companies embracing blended travel programs, combining business and leisure.”
According to the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), the business travel market is on track to return to pre-2019 levels by 2025, backed by strong corporate earnings and a rise in in-person meetings. This trend suggests a sustained increase in demand for reliable and quality stay options.
With this partnership, OYO and Yatra are set to redefine India’s corporate travel landscape, delivering convenience, flexibility, and consistency for the modern business traveler.
Published on July 3, 2025
XECH is making bold strides in its retail journey with the opening of its latest Experience Centre in Ahmedabad, located at Dhanlaxmi Complex, Ashram Road, Usmanpura. Designed to provide an immersive, hands-on shopping experience, the store caters to walk-in customers, resellers, and corporate buyers alike. This is XECH’s third major retail expansion, following the successful debut of its Hyderabad Experience Centre on 31st May, 2025, at Rudram Towers, PG Road, Secunderabad, and its flagship outlet in Pune which launched on 19th October, 2023.
The Ahmedabad inauguration saw participation from the company’s leadership team and local channel partners, making it a standout moment for tech enthusiasts and the retail community in western India.
Each of XECH’s stores is strategically set in high-growth urban centres, functioning as brand hubs where customers can explore the expanding range of lifestyle tech products, smart gadgets, and premium corporate gifting solutions. With robust expansion plans in place, XECH is targeting a 2X revenue growth this fiscal year, driven by its omni-channel approach, innovative product portfolio, and scalable business model. These Experience Centres are central to XECH’s goal of bridging the digital-physical divide — creating spaces where quality, speed, and tangible engagement meet.
Speaking on the expansion, Mr. Pranay Punjabi, Founder and CEO of XECH Technologies Pvt. Ltd., shared,
“Each city plays a strategic role in our retail vision. Pune gave us our first physical touchpoint, Hyderabad validated our scale strategy in a dynamic tech market, and Ahmedabad will strengthen our presence in western India — connecting us to customers who value smart, dependable tech. These are more than just stores; they’re brand experience hubs where people can interact with our innovations firsthand. We’re focused on making practical, well-designed technology accessible to those who need it — whether at home, work, or in business.”
Shoppers visiting these stores can explore XECH’s entire tech ecosystem, including its bestsellers and upcoming launches, all in an interactive setting. From portable kettles and cordless vacuum cleaners to Bluetooth clocks, eye massagers, tyre inflators, and garment steamers, XECH’s range is sharply focused on addressing real-world needs with intuitive, multi-functional, and thoughtful tech — equally suited for individual users and corporate gifting.
To celebrate the Ahmedabad launch, XECH is offering an exclusive 10% in-store discount throughout July, inviting customers to experience their innovations firsthand.
Looking ahead, XECH plans to continue expanding its retail footprint across India in the coming quarters, building more such immersive spaces that blend tactile experiences with the convenience of modern retail.
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