HRS Hospitality & Retail Systems: 35 Years of Innovation and Excellence

In 2025, HRS Hospitality & Retail Systems (HRS) proudly celebrates 35 years of empowering businesses in the hospitality and retail industries with cutting-edge software solutions and exceptional customer service.

A Vision Born from Necessity

In the late 1980s, British entrepreneur Joanne Vaughan arrived at a hotel in the former Soviet Union and witnessed a chaotic scene—guests sleeping on sofas while the reception desk struggled with piles of paperwork. When she inquired about the situation, she was told that staff were manually sorting through documents to verify guest invitations and supporting records.

This moment sparked an idea in Vaughan—to revolutionize hospitality IT systems in the region.

With a maritime background, she established a partnership with BLASCO (Black Sea Shipping Company) in Odessa, Ukraine, signing a contract to install POS systems on its entire fleet, starting with the ship Azerbaijan. This agreement marked the foundation of HRS in 1990 and the beginning of a long-standing collaboration with MICROS Systems, a leading provider of hospitality POS technology.

Early Growth and Expansion

Vaughan’s vision was clear—to provide reliable, client-focused, and accessible IT solutions for the hospitality sector. From its modest beginnings in the Soviet Union, where three employees worked from her apartment, HRS quickly made an impact. Its innovative solutions streamlined hotel operations and elevated guest experiences.

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, HRS found itself operating in 15 newly independent countries, each requiring localized solutions, including fiscal compliance and language support. In response, Vaughan expanded operations in these countries and established HRS as an international company.

A key driver of HRS’s success was its ability to combine global reach with a deep understanding of local markets, ensuring tailored solutions for each region.

A Pivotal Moment: Oracle Partnership

In 2014, a significant milestone reshaped HRS’s trajectory—Oracle Corporation acquired MICROS. This led to HRS becoming an authorized Oracle Hospitality partner and, eventually, the largest Oracle Hospitality partner worldwide.

Through direct negotiations with Oracle and other MICROS partners, HRS secured additional distribution rights in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Albania. This expansion propelled HRS into new global markets, leading to office openings across Central Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, Africa, and the Americas.

HRS Today: A Global Force

Today, HRS stands as a leading global hospitality technology provider with offices in key cities worldwide. With a team of over 1,000 skilled professionals, the company serves 14,000 clients across 104 countries.

HRS continues to drive technological innovation, leveraging cloud solutions, mobile technology, and its own advanced IT infrastructure to include spa, payments, wellness, golf, membership, loyalty and activities management to help businesses modernize and maintain a competitive edge.

Looking Ahead: The Future of HRS

As we celebrate 35 years of success, we reflect on an extraordinary journey filled with growth, innovation, and excellence. Our unwavering commitment to empowering businesses through technology and superior customer service has made HRS a trusted partner for thousands of organizations worldwide.

With an exciting future ahead, we remain dedicated to advancing the hospitality and retail industries for years to come.

Here’s to the next 35 years of innovation, expansion, and success.