Newstrack

Star Hospitality launches end-to-end process solutions portal

Sayoni Bhaduri - Mumbai

Singapore-based e-sourcing Star Holding is launching online B2B and B2C hospitality solutions for the industry this April in India and Singapore. The two websites www.hospitalitystar.com and www.hospitalityesourcing.com provide end-to-end solutions to hoteliers and restaurateurs in knowledge, information and process.

Discussing this is Sandip Labh, CMD of the Hospitality Star, who said, "There are four products in our portfolio - corporate portals, e-sourcing solutions, e-learning solutions, and a user content-based portal." Each of these solutions deal with various aspects of the industry, while corporate portals provide intranet-based facilities for all back-end jobs in the hotel, e-sourcing provides an active interface where hospitality-related buyers and vendors can make purchases. The e-learning solution provides training-based knowledge to supplement traditional knowledge centres as well as to those who are looking to develop skills. Hospitality Star's the user content-based portal will give the industry a chance to network and also provide employment-related information.

With an investment of approximately US$ 1.5 million and a support team based in Pune, the group is looking at establishing itself in Singapore, United States, Dubai and Indonesia by Q3 2008. Plans are on to open offices in UK, Canada, South Africa and Sri Lanka shortly.

Going for a multidimensional approach for sales and marketing, Labh said, "We are offering a 30-day free trail of our services and I am certain that clients will want to continue." The company is also looking at developing its own business development cell and also replying on word-of-mouth. Once the set up in the hospitality vertical is well established, there are plans to move into allied industries, Labh revealed.

Discussing as to why it chose to begin with hospitality, Labh said, "It happens to be the fastest growing industry and there are a lot of regional and national level hotel chains in India that are trying to make their presence felt and need help with the transition. So it just seemed like the best possible course of action."