Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Hotel Business Forum-2023 started working in Tashkent today. The event is organized by Hoteliers Association of Uzbekistan with official support of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Uzbekistan. Theme of the event is "Trends in hospitality: from services collaboration to IT solutions. Hotels in Uzbekistan. Projects and buildings".

The official part of the forum was opened by the Minister of Culture and Tourism of Uzbekistan Ozodbek Nazarbekov; Deputy Head of the Mission of the Swiss Confederation in the Republic of Uzbekistan Mrs. Rochelle Bosch; Deputy Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Republic of Uzbekistan Mrs. Alice Volken;

The agenda of the forum will include the following topics: 

- Plenary session of industry leaders;

- Green Economy in development of hospitality: global experience;

- Hotels in Uzbekistan, projects and buildings; 

- Education as the main source for personnel and progress of the hospitality sector;

- Automation of services in hotel business by the example of international brand networks;

- Marketing and PR in hotel: basic tool for increasing incomes; 

- Service providers: economy or investment. Sustainable development of the hospitality industry, digitalization of services, education and human resources as the main "engine" in the development of the hotel industry. 

The event is a platform for discussing current trends in hospitality and brings together leading international experts.

Speakers and moderators are international experts, hoteliers, tour operators, marketers, hotel service providers, representatives of global brands to share their best cases on current topics.

Regional heads of global hotel chains Radisson, Hilton, Accor, Marriott, Wyndham, etc. have confirmed their participation in the forum.

At the same time an interactive B2B exhibition will be organized at the Forum, which will present a full range of products and services for the segment HoReCa, which are the leading suppliers of hotel services. 

These include manufacturers and suppliers of equipment, professional crockery and utensils, furniture and furnishings, professional textiles, uniforms, automation of security systems, lighting and sound.

The NOTEL BUSINESS FORUM event is the only major business event that has managed to bring together representatives of agencies whose tasks include tourism development in the previous forum. It is a communication business platform for open and constructive dialogue between the Government and the private sector on the most topical issues of quantitative and qualitative development of the hotel market. 

As part of the forum on 3 March will be held II Award Ceremony of National Hospitality Award. The project has been launched in 2022. 30 nominations in the hospitality sphere will be introduced.

The geography of the forum is expanding: Switzerland, Germany, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Poland, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Baltic States and the regions of Uzbekistan. 

Special attention is given to the topic "Green Economy in Development of the Hospitality Industry: International Experience" where cases to be discussed and proposed by international experts. 

The forum organizers have decided to open the forum with the topic "Green technologies implementation in all spheres", also taking into consideration international tendencies of the industry development where environmental protection and waste recycling are very important issues. 

International hotel brands are actively developing their capacities in the hotel services market in the historical regions of the Republic, especially in Samarkand and Bukhara.

The following international brands are operating in Uzbekistan as of January 1, 2023: Hilton, Hyatt, Accor, Wyndham, Radisson, Lotte, Marriott, Ateca and Reikartz.

Several other operators operating in the upper and middle price segment - Holiday Inn, Curio Collection by Hilton, Intercontinental - are planning to enter the hotel market of Uzbekistan in 2023, with the final work for the launch and reception of guests in the first quarter of 2023. This will be the first LEED GOLD certified project in Uzbekistan.

In 2022, the country welcomed 5.2 million foreign visitors. Forecast for 2023 is 7.0 million foreign visitors.

According to the statistics, as of 1 March 2023, there are around 4941 means of accommodation in the country, of which guest houses and hostels - 3 798 units, hotels - over 935 units, recreation zones and other means of accommodation - 208 units. The room capacity in the Republic is 50,787 beds - 115,039.

In 2023, the UNWTO (World Tourism Organization) will hold its 25th anniversary General Assembly in the historical city of Samarkand, which is a great honour to organize such events that will further integrate the country into the world tourism system.

These steps are aimed at maintaining stable and uninterrupted growth of the hospitality industry in the country.