Recently, Hotel Managers Conference Africa (HMCA) announced IDS Next, a leading provider of hospitality software and integrated management systems, as the Headline Sponsor for the HMCA 2025 from June 28-29, 2025 in Lagos.
The partnership underscores IDS Next’s commitment to the African hospitality sector, which is experiencing rapid growth driven by increased investment in tourism and infrastructure.
In this interview, Rajesh P. Yadav, chief revenue officer, IDS Next, shares with Obinna Emelike, insights on the company’s sponsorship of the conference, vision for the African hospitality market, innovative solutions, partnership with Hotel Managers School, plans for collaboration with industry stakeholders, among others.
Why is IDS Next the headline sponsor of Hotel Managers Conference Africa Lagos 2025?
IDS Next is passionate about revolutionizing the hospitality industry with smart technology. The opportunity to partner with the Hotel Managers Conference Africa is an opportunity to put this commitment into practice, supporting and enhancing the African hospitality sector with innovative and cutting-edge solutions.
How does IDS Next perceive the current state of the African hospitality industry, and what opportunities do you see for growth?
The African hospitality industry is growing rapidly, with increased investment in tourism and infrastructure. The potential for growth is immense, especially as technology adoption increases and the industry moves toward digitization. We see a significant opportunity to help hospitality providers improve their operations, revolutionize guest interactions, and drive sustainable growth.
What challenges do you think African hospitality providers face, and how can your solutions address them?
One of the main challenges faced by hospitality providers in the market’s fragmented systems, which lead to disconnected operations and data silos. This, in turn, leads to inefficiency in operations and difficulty in managing data. As providers of hospitality software and integrated management systems, it is our goal to ensure that these challenges are resolved, where smart technology replaces friction points with efficiency, data accuracy, and enhanced service.
How does IDS Next’s technology enable hospitality providers to enhance guest experience and operational efficiency?
We provide technology that streamlines and automates both back and front office functions of multiple hospitality operations. From front office management, reservations, and F&B operations to inventory and finance, our technology allows hospitality providers to streamline every function in a hospitality venue. Consequently, this will allow hoteliers to translate that efficiency into better guest service, whether it is personalized services, smooth check-in, or centralized management.
What role does technology play in transforming the African hospitality industry, and how is IDS Next contributing to the transformation?
The African hospitality market is experiencing a growth boost. According to market projections, the revenue in this market is expected to surge from US$11.29 billion in 2025 to US$15.00 billion by 2029, at an annual growth rate of 7.36%. Technology is pivotal in this, to stay ahead of the competition and to deliver exceptional services that meet the demand. Our role in this is to offer solutions that support digital transformation, data-driven decision-making and scalable growth for hospitality providers across the continent.
What are your long-term goals in the African hospitality market?
Today, we are the largest hospitality software provider in Asia and emerging markets. Our long-term goal is to become the go-to technology partner for African hospitality providers, helping them achieve operational excellence, boost profitability, and deliver exceptional guest experiences. We plan to achieve this by expanding our presence, providing tailored solutions, and offering continuous support for innovation and growth in the sector.
How are you going to engage with the hospitality community during and after the conference?
We plan to make the best of this opportunity to connect with the African hospitality community, to understand their aspirations for the region’s hospitality industry, observe the current market, and showcase our solutions, and even offer strategic insights into the future of the hospitality market in the region. Post-event, we intend to continue fostering relationships through ongoing support, training, and collaboration with industry stakeholders.
What unique value proposition do you offer to hospitality providers, and how does this set you apart from competitors?
The IDS Next offers a comprehensive and native cloud ERP solution tailored to the unique needs of the hospitality industry, with a focus on personalization, data-driven decision-making, and scalability. We are currently one of the few solution providers that cater to multiple hospitality verticals – hotels, restaurants, wellness, as well as banquets and events – covering both back and front-end operations. In addition, we offer flexible, mobile-friendly solutions to meet business needs. We have also recently introduced the latest upgrade to our FortuneNext 9.0 ERP. The new solution will provide a better and more streamlined hospitality management solution for our customers.
Can you share success stories of beneficiaries of IDS Next’s solutions?
The IDS Next has successfully helped several African hotels optimize their operations. One of our recent success stories is the project we completed with the Bolton White Group, a premier hospitality brand in Africa, which partnered with us to improve its operations.
The group’s three properties, Johnwood Hotel (winner of World Luxury Hotel Awards 2023 in the category of Luxury New Hotel – Africa, New Luxury Hotel – Nigeria, and Luxury City Hotel – Nigeria), Bolton White Hotel, and Bolton White Hotel Apartments, have adopted IDS Next’s technology.
Are there collaboration plans with other industry stakeholders to drive growth?
Our solutions already integrate with over 350 world-class technology providers to ensure that whoever uses IDS Next software can carry out their process with minimal friction and bottlenecks. In addition, we collaborate with key industry stakeholders such as hotel chains, travel agencies, and industry leaders to create a cohesive ecosystem that drives sustainable growth. It is this extensive network of expertise and experience that we bring into any region we operate in. We aim to facilitate the partnerships with our innovations to address industry challenges and create new opportunities.
How does IDS Next’s commitment to innovation and R&D impact its ability to provide cutting-edge solutions to hospitality providers?
IDS Next’s dedication to innovation and continuous research and development ensure that we stay ahead of industry trends and offer African hospitality providers with solutions that meet their evolving needs. Currently, we have over 500 employees around the world, 150 of them are tech experts who are working on the latest trends and innovations in hospitality technology. Our ongoing investment in R&D allows us to introduce new features and capabilities that drive efficiency and improve guest experience.
What role does data analytics play in informing business decisions in the hospitality industry, and how can IDS Next’s solutions help providers leverage data insights?
Data plays a crucial role in helping African hospitality providers to make informed business decisions. IDS Next’s solutions offer powerful data tools that enable providers to track and analyse key performance indicators, understand guest preferences, optimise pricing strategies, and improve resource allocation, ultimately boosting profitability and guest loyalty.
How does IDS Next’s technology enable hospitality providers to personalise their guest experience and increase loyalty?
Our solutions collect and store guest data. For instance, some of the solutions like our reservations, spa management, POS, and table booking software allow businesses to create comprehensive guest profiles based on their booking details and past interactions. This allows hospitality providers to understand diverse guest needs, creating personalised experiences tailored to their individual preferences, from room settings to special offers. By enhancing the guest experience through personalisation, providers can increase customer satisfaction and build long-term loyalty.
Do you have an upcoming product launch or development for the hospitality market?
IDS Next is continuously working on enhancing its solutions to meet the unique demands of the hospitality market. Upcoming product developments include features aimed at improving AI integrations to smoothen guest interactions and streamlining backend operations to further improve efficiency and guest satisfaction.
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What about technology adoption and digital transformation in growing hospitality markets?
Our mission is to transform hospitality with smart solutions that automate and streamline every department of a hospitality business. We aim to do so by bringing about tangible benefits of digital transformation, backed by constant innovation and research, updates and 24/7 multilingual customer support. We will also collaborate with industry partners to ensure that hospitality providers have access to the tools and resources they need for successful adoption.
How does IDS Next plan to leverage its partnership with Hotel Managers School Limited to drive growth and development in the African hospitality industry?
By partnering with Hotel Managers School Limited, we aim to drive knowledge-sharing and professional development within the African hospitality sector. The partnership will help equip future leaders with the skills and tools necessary to leverage technology effectively, driving growth and development across the industry.
What benefits will hospitality providers derive from the partnership?
We are confident that our partnership with Hotel Managers School Limited will enhance the region’s access to new technology solutions and professional training programmes that will help them stay ahead in a competitive market. The partnership will empower hospitality providers to improve operations, enhance service quality, and adapt to evolving industry trends.
What message are you conveying to the industry with your partnership in HMCA 2025?
As a company whose purpose is to stay “Always Ahead” of the constantly evolving industry, we are committed to supporting the African hospitality community with innovative and scalable solutions. We strive to drive operational excellence, enhance guest experiences, and empower local businesses to stay ahead of the industry’s growing demands and changes. Through our partnership and participation in the Hotel Managers Conference Africa Lagos 2025, we aim to demonstrate our dedication to shaping the future of hospitality and fostering growth within the region.
