Harbans Singh to be Inducted into HFTP's International Hospitality Technology Hall of Fame

Harbans Singh has been selected as the 2013 inductee to the HFTP International Hospitality Technology Hall of Fame for developing a foothold for hospitality technology in the Asia Pacific region.

Based in Malaysia, Singh is managing director of UBICOMP System, which develops next generation hospitality solutions, and UBIQ Global Solutions, which is a full subsidiary and distribution arm of Ubicomp System.

The induction into the Hall of Fame, which is Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals' (HFTP) highest level of recognition in the area of technology, will take place at the 2013 Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC) on Tuesday, 25 June at 8:30 a.m.

“I am indeed greatly honored and humbled by this recognition, something which I have never imagined," said Singh. "I have been very fortunate to have been involved in hospitality technology in its infant stages and seen it evolve significantly over the last 25 years. Over that time, I have also learnt from many smart and distinguished people, many of whom are members of this distinguished club.”

Singh has been involved in the hospitality business in Asia, the Middle East and Australia for over 25 years, gaining great insight into the industry and establishing a wide network of friends and business associates across the globe. For 21 of those years he worked with the same organization, but with the company name and ownership changing four times. And for the past five years he has overseen a new phase in his career with the establishment of his own company.

“For more than 20 years Harbans’ name has been synonymous with hospitality technology in Southeast Asia,” said Jon Inge, hospitality consultant and inductee to the Hall of Fame. “No-one else has had his impact nor done more to influence the spread of systems into hotels throughout the region; and he has been remarkably successful in leading the regional efforts of no less than four major vendors. Throughout this time his professionalism and courteous, gentlemanly manner have made him a true and highly respected ambassador for the industry.”

At the start of his career, with a degree in electronics engineering, Singh began with NCR Malaysia as a field engineer. During this time, he installed the first ATM in Malaysia, implemented a branch automation system for Chartered Bank and served as a project manager for the installation of the NCR SHARE system, which decidedly moved him to hospitality system sales in 1983.

In 1987, Singh joined Computerized Lodging Sysems (CLS), Inc., USA and set up an Asian regional office in Singapore. At the time, CLS had no presence in the Asia Pacific region. Following the first office, he helped set up a network of offices and distributors in the region, including an office in Malaysia in 1989, and another one in Hong Kong in 1990. This led to accounts with hospitality companies such as: Pan Pacific Hotels, Asia and USA; Sheraton Hotels, Indonesia; ITC Welcomgroup Hotels, India.

In 1995, he oversaw a buyout of the Asian CLS subsidiaries and established Hospitality Solutions International Pte Ltd (HSI) together with Transpac Capital, a venture capital firm in Singapore. Seven years later, in June 2002, HSI was acquired by Hotel Information Systems, Inc. (HIS) in order to expand its hospitality business in Asia. He served as president of this new organization, building up its presence in Asia. In 2004, Singh also took on the Middle East to work on major accounts there, including with the Jumeirah Group.

Singh was part of one last iteration of this organization, when HIS was bought by Softbrands, Inc. in August, 2006. And after a period of 21 years, in December 2008, Singh decided to branch out on his own and started Ubicomp System, and later Ubiq Global Solutions in April 2009 as the distribution arm of Ubicomp System.

Since 1989, 35 individuals have received this award.