Oracle Hospitality’s New Boss Sees Gaps in Its Hotel Tech Portfolio
Photo Credit: Shown here is the hotel reception at a property in the Manquehue Hotel chain in Chile. Manquehue uses Oracle Hospitality's property management software, called Opera. Oracle Hospitality has hired a new top boss, Alex Alt. In this interview, he sets out his plan to protect an incumbent lead in hotel operations software. Manquehue Hotels
Skift Take
Oracle Hospitality's Alex Alt sees two gaps in his company's suite: distribution services and customer relationship management tools. Yet the opportunities with both are dynamic, not static, because of fast shifts in hotel company priorities and traveler behaviors. That will require Alt to be one very adaptable executive.
When Oracle acquired Micros six years ago for $4.6 billion. it gained virtually overnight the largest share of the hotel operations software market worldwide. Yet the merger faltered. So the company has looked to a series of leaders to help the unit regain its mojo.
In November, Oracle drafted Alex Alt to be the top boss of its hospitality unit. It wants Alt to revive the division's momentum and hone its execution. Alt, in turn, wants to add functionality in distribution and customer relationship management to the Oracle portfolio.
"Oracle has been growing both the top-line of the business and the footprint of installed customers," said Alt, whose title is senior vice president and general manager. "Part of the reason I'm here is to step on the gas."
Oracle's signature product is its hotel property management system, or PMS. This is a central database that keeps a master record on guest data.
Skift Research estimates that Oracle Hospitality is the largest player. Oracle's v
