Hotel finance needs to get with the programme

Hotel finance teams are basing key decisions on accounting systems that are behind the times, according to IT managers speaking at a Hotelier Middle East’s roundtable debate.

“Hospitality accounting systems identify exactly where profit is coming from. However, the latest edition that most hotels continue to use still wrongly identifies IT as a non-profit generating department,” said Vision Hotel Apartments IT manager Mohad Nasim.

Onetoone Hotels IT director Manoj Bhatnagar claimed if finance directors audit revenue from IT, they will see that it is one of the best revenue-generating departments.

“IT departments generate a lot of money from IPTV, internet charges and equipment rental, such as audio-visual (AV). Without the right IT an event cannot happen,” said Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi director of IT and AV Hakam Sourani.

”I see a lot of MICE events generate revenue that could justify sending my entire team to Las Vegas for a vacation, but on paper we’re looked at only as an expense. It’s time for finance directors to look at the IT department with an open mind and prioritise investment in this area,” he added.

For the full IT managers roundtable debate, do not miss December's issue of Hotelier Middle East.