Russia's hospitality industry: new meanings, trends and challenges

January 24, 2026

On 23 January 2026 Moscow hosted the discussion platform "A three-way dialogue of science, the state and business. The hospitality and tourism industry: results of the year, forecasts, new meanings". The meeting brought together representatives of the academic community, industry experts and directors of leading Russian and international companies to discuss the key trends in the development of tourism and hotels.

The session was opened by Oksana Alexandrovna Danshina, Vice-Rector for Education at the Russian Biotechnological University. She underlined the importance of synergy between education, innovation and the workforce needs of the real economy. In her words, updating professional standards and building practice-oriented training programmes is becoming the key to the industry's sustainable growth.

Liliya Valentinovna Dorokhina, CEO of LeePrime Group, gave a talk on the strategic management of hospitality projects. She noted that the centre of modern hospitality is the person: healthy, heard and included in a caring environment, where ambidextrous leaders, strong teams and Russian cultural DNA create a new luxury — health, humanity and deeply personal experience.

Particular attention was given to recognising achievement and building a professional community. This was addressed by Alyona Anatolyevna Kolodina, founder of the Russian Hospitality Awards and of the Global Hospitality Club.

An expert view was presented by Veniamin Shaevich Kaganov, Doctor of Economics and head of the department of tourism and hotel business at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation. He analysed market dynamics, noting the growth of domestic tourism and the need to develop public-private partnership for infrastructure projects.

Rushaniya Damirovna Yagudina, CEO of Royal Club by Lotte Hotels, spoke about premium-segment practice. In her address she identified the trend towards personalised service and a stronger cultural component in hospitality — as a factor that shapes a distinctive guest experience.

Also speaking at the round table were Marina Nabiullovna Smirnova (Commonwealth Partnership), Victoria Olegovna Kotlyarova (Radisson Collection Hotel Moscow), Alexey Gennadievich Shevchenko (ABAT TD LLC) and Elena Dmitrievna Ordovskaya-Tanaevskaya (VDR Catering). Participants underlined the importance of cross-industry cooperation and of sharing successful cases between educational institutions, hotel chains and solution providers.

Closing the discussion, participants agreed that 2026 will be the time when the industry moves to a new stage of development. And the key direction of that development will be joining the efforts of science, the state and business for the sake of a sustainable and human-centred future for Russian hospitality.