Shiji Group Positions Hotels for Long-Term Success Through a Blend of Modernization, Automation, and Seamless Integration in an Increasingly Digital and Innovative Landscape: Kevin King

Founded in 1998 by Li Zhongchu, Shiji Group began as a provider of IT solutions for the hospitality industry. The company's early focus on delivering software and technology services to hotels laid the foundation for its evolution into a major global player in hospitality tech. 

One key aspect of Shiji's development was its decision to focus on connectivity and open architecture, allowing seamless integration of its systems with others, which helped reduce operational inefficiencies for hotels. Shiji began offering solutions that enhanced the entire guest journey, from booking and check-in to in-stay experiences and post-stay feedback. The company also prioritized security and compliance, integrating solutions that addressed challenges like data privacy and payment regulations, making them attractive to a global clientele​

Shiji’s ongoing mission remains rooted in empowering hotels worldwide by providing integrated, cloud-based platforms that connect business systems, distribution channels, and guest services, continually expanding and innovating to meet the needs of a fast-evolving market.

SME Business Review contacted Kevin King, CEO of Shiji International, for an interview, and he shared insights into the company’s strategic vision, recent innovations, and plans for future growth in the hospitality technology sector. Here's what Mr. King had to say. 

Interview Excerpts

As a multinational hospitality technology solutions provider, what are Shiji’s key focus areas?

Cloud-Based Platforms and Integration: Shiji emphasizes cloud technology and open API architectures, allowing seamless integration across various hotel systems. This reduces data silos, improves operational efficiency, and enables personalization of the guest experience. The company’s Property Management Systems (PMS) and Point of Sale (POS) solutions are built to be scalable and adaptable to different hotel environments.

Guest-Centric Solutions: Shiji places a strong focus on developing technologies that enhance guest interactions. Its platforms create centralized guest profiles, enabling hotels to personalize services and connect with guests across multiple properties. The company also offers mobile check-in, guest messaging, and payment solutions, all aimed at improving convenience and the overall guest experience.

Security and Compliance: Shiji's commitment to security and compliance is strengthened through its partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS). This collaboration provides enterprise-grade security, flexibility, and compliance. By leveraging AWS's global network of data centers, Shiji ensures that hotels can store data in specific regions, complying with data protection and privacy regulations such as GDPR and PCI DSS. This allows for the secure management of guest data while adhering to regional requirements.

Global Expansion and Localization: Shiji has strategically expanded its presence worldwide, providing solutions tailored to the unique needs of different markets. One of the key strengths of Shiji is the immediate local support our clients receive with offices all around the world.

Furthermore, Shiji is poised for significant growth as it aims to expand its presence in the Middle East, Europe and North America, with a particular focus on the luxury hospitality and boutique hotel segments. This expansion will involve not only increasing the geographical reach of its services but also enhancing the Shiji Enterprise Platform (PMS) to better meet the evolving needs of a global clientele.

How does Shiji’s mission to offer a secure, scalable, and future-ready technology stack align with the evolving needs of the hospitality industry?

Shiji's mission to offer a secure, scalable, and future-ready technology stack aligns perfectly with the evolving needs of the hospitality industry by addressing core challenges such as data security, seamless integration, and the ability to offer personalized guest experiences across properties. Here’s how this mission aligns with industry needs:

High Security Standards: As hotels handle sensitive guest information across multiple touchpoints (e.g., online check-ins and in-room technologies), robust data security and cross-border compliance have become top priorities. Shiji addresses these challenges with enterprise-grade security integrated into its cloud-based Property Management System (PMS). The system ensures centralized guest data management while adhering to regulations like GDPR and PCI DSS. Shiji’s partnership with AWS further enhances security by allowing hotels to select data storage locations, ensuring regional compliance without compromising on guest data protection​. 

Scalability and Flexibility: The hospitality industry is increasingly moving towards cloud-based solutions to scale operations without the limitations of legacy systems. Shiji’s event-driven architecture and microservices-based design enable the platform to scale effortlessly, catering to the needs of global hotel chains and luxury brands. This scalability is critical for modern hospitality businesses looking to expand, offering the flexibility to adapt to varying guest demands while maintaining operational efficiency.

Guest-Centric Personalization: A key aspect of the evolving hospitality industry is the focus on delivering personalized experiences. Shiji’s unique approach, built around the Single Guest Profile, links guest preferences and behaviors to individual profiles rather than reservations. This allows hotels to provide consistent, personalized services across multiple properties, resulting in enhanced guest satisfaction and loyalty. This kind of customization is especially valuable in the luxury hotel segment, where guest expectations are higher.

Seamless Integration and Modernization: Unlike traditional PMS systems, Shiji’s open API architecture allows for effortless integration with critical hotel systems, such as revenue management, CRM, and room hardware. This integration reduces silos, improves operational efficiency, and facilitates a smooth transition to cloud infrastructure with minimal disruptions. By supporting fast go-live implementations, Shiji enables hotels to adopt modern technology without compromising daily operations​.

How does Shiji’s commitment to connecting the global business of hospitality impact its approach to technological innovation?

Shiji’s commitment to connecting the global business of hospitality profoundly influences its approach to technological innovation. Understanding that technology alone cannot drive digital transformation in hospitality, Shiji emphasizes the importance of integrating digital tools with a human touch to elevate guest experiences. Our cloud-native Hotel Management System is designed to modernize and streamline hotel operations, overcoming the limitations of outdated legacy systems that struggle with modern integrations. This cloud-based architecture enables seamless integration with advanced technologies and third-party systems, addressing inefficiencies and operational bottlenecks. Shiji’s focus on automation further enhances efficiency by reducing manual interventions and errors, speeding up response times, and optimizing revenue management. With real-time data accessible across all departments, Shiji’s technology supports improved operational workflows and aligns with evolving guest expectations. Through this blend of modernization, automation, and seamless integration, Shiji positions hotels for long-term success in an increasingly digital and innovative landscape.

What other industries does Shiji serve, and how does its technology address the unique needs of these industries?

Shiji serves a variety of industries beyond hospitality, including retail, food and beverage, golf & spa, and entertainment. Its technology is tailored to address the specific needs of each sector.

Will Shiji be launching any new technology solutions that we should be aware of?

Shiji has launched the first Single Guest Profile, a revolutionary technology that centralizes guest data across all product types, properties, and sources. This advanced solution integrates comprehensive information, including profile details, preferences, payment methods, and more, into a unified profile accessible across properties worldwide. By providing a holistic view of each guest’s interactions and preferences, the Single Guest Profile facilitates a higher level of personalization and seamless experience management. This innovation not only boosts guest satisfaction but also streamlines operations by consolidating data from multiple touchpoints, enabling more efficient and tailored service. The launch of this technology underscores Shiji's commitment to leveraging cutting-edge solutions to enhance the hospitality industry's ability to deliver exceptional and customized guest experiences.

Could you provide an example of a recent success story where Shiji’s solutions significantly impacted a hospitality business or guest experience?

Here are some case studies of clients who have implemented our PMS:

1. Ruby Hotels: https://www.shijigroup.com/customers/ruby-hotels 

2. Sircle Collection: https://www.shijigroup.com/customers/how-sircle-collection-built-modern-scalable-infrastructure-with-shiji-group 

3. Dakota Hotels: https://www.shijigroup.com/customers/delivering-the-details-brilliantly-how-dakota-hotels-uses-technology-to-provide-intuitive-service 

Do you have any final thoughts or comments before we conclude?

While Shiji’s Property Management System is distinguished by its powerful features and modules, such as Sales & Catering and Housekeeping, it’s the underlying platform that truly sets it apart. The Shiji Enterprise Platform is the pinnacle of innovation, designed to amplify the PMS’s capabilities with its state-of-the-art architecture. The platform’s advanced technology—including top-tier security, microservices, and a dynamic API-first approach—serves as the driving force behind the PMS’s exceptional performance. Just as iOS is the cornerstone of the iPhone’s success, our platform is the key ingredient that transforms the PMS into a next-generation solution, delivering unparalleled efficiency and flexibility in the hospitality industry.

Kevin King | CEO

Kevin King is the Chief Executive Officer of Shiji International and the Chief Operating Officer of Beijing Shiji Information Technology Co. Ltd. He has served as the CEO of Shiji International since 2024 and as the COO of Beijing Shiji Information Technology Co. Ltd. since June 30, 2015. Mr. King oversees domestic management and strategic growth while also steering international operations. 

Prior to joining Shiji, Mr. King spent over 17 years with MICROS Systems Inc., a leading hospitality technology solutions provider that merged with Oracle in 2014. During his tenure, he held various operational and business management roles, including the business and technical development of global payment solutions.

“Just as iOS is the cornerstone of the iPhone’s success, our platform is the key ingredient that transforms the PMS into a next-generation solution, delivering unparalleled efficiency and flexibility in the hospitality industry.”

“Shiji is poised for significant growth as it aims to expand its presence in the Middle East, Europe and North America, with a particular focus on the luxury hospitality and boutique hotel segments.”