The Access Group expands in North America with acquisition of SHR Group

The Access Group, a $1.3bn+ business management software provider, has added global hotel and casino technology specialist SHR to its expanding AI-powered end-to-end platform for hotels.

Access will pair SHR’s capabilities with those of Guestline, a Property Management Software (PMS) with customers across DACH and Europe, which it acquired last year. SHR’s 2,000 hotel customers will join Guestline’s 3,000 properties, with all clients of the enlarged Access Hospitality division benefitting from improved ability to boost efficiency and profitability, with a complete digital guest journey.

The SHR deal makes the Access Hospitality division one of only a handful of truly holistic software providers in the hotel industry worldwide. SHR is key to the vision of becoming a one-stop shop for the full range of hospitality property management, operations, and front-of-house tools.

The acquisition of SHR — based in Houston, Texas — will enable Access to make further inroads into the US market and service larger hotel groups, which often have more complex distribution needs than smaller boutique and independent operators. With revenue of over £1bn, The Access Group has more than 7,000 employees worldwide and provides software solutions to over a dozen other sectors.

Access uses a modular approach, which allows hoteliers to design their ideal tech stack according to need, but where all the key components are still natively integrated.

SHR comprises a dynamic Central Reservation System (CRS), Internet Booking Engine (IBE), CRM (Customer Relationship Manager), Revenue Management System (RMS), and digital marketing and loyalty program tools. Its use of AI means the content guests see on direct booking sites is tailored to them, increasing relevance for customers and helping hoteliers maximize revenues through conversion, upselling, and cross-selling.

Access aims to become the mid-market segment’s go-to provider, focusing on independent hotels and national and regional chains globally by combining SHR’s products with Guestline and nearly 10 other Access Hospitality products.

The appointment of Jonah Paransky as Access President of the Americas earlier this year demonstrates the Group’s commitment and investment in developing the organization as a leading global business software provider in the region. This, combined with the acquisition of ERP provider Construction Industry Solutions (COINS) in 2022, galvanizes the Group’s commitment to expanding its footprint in the US market. The company already has a strong presence in Europe and APAC. The Group’s Hospitality division already supports over 20,000 hotels, multi-site pub and bar, restaurants, food-to-go, and leisure operators with software designed to enhance guest experiences and improve venues’ profitability.

Champa Magesh, MD 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.”

Jonah Paransky, Access Group President, Americas, 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.”

Rod Jimenez, CEO SHR, added: “We are thrilled to announce that Access has acquired SHR. Access is already a leader in providing software and services to UK and European hotels. Its focus is on offering solutions that support customers in handling their entire operations, enabling hoteliers to deliver excellent guest experiences cost-effectively, profitably, and sustainably.

“This strategic move for SHR brings a wealth of benefits to our customers. They’ll gain access to a complete suite of products and services, including hospitality-specific HR, payroll, learning management, and staff scheduling software. They’ll be able to draw on the expertise of Access’ extensive network of partners and find opportunities to learn, collaborate, and grow with a larger community of customers.

“We look forward to working with Access to accelerate capabilities and innovation across products, customer support, and security.”