On November 18, AlmaU hosted the annual RestoRound, which this year brought together restaurateurs, HoReCa experts, and AlmaU students under the theme “A Look into the Future of the Restaurant Business.” The event was organized by the School of Management and Tourism at AlmaU.
Deputy Dean for Academic Development, Almagul Manap, addressed the participants with a welcoming speech, emphasizing the importance of an open dialogue between industry practitioners and future professionals. The session was moderated by Tursunay Baratova, an expert at Almaty Business Project, who outlined the main discussion directions and set the dynamic of the conversation.
The panel discussion featured leading representatives of Kazakhstan’s restaurant industry:
-
Oleg Litvinov, Director of Beverage Development at Kompleks-Bar;
-
Georgiy Kalturumidi, Brand Chef at Aiora (Ak Niet Group);
-
Taras Krivoruchko, expert and popular gastro-blogger;
-
Kim Richard, co-founder of the restaurant “Myata” on Bukhar Zhyrau;
-
Akbota Zhakyb, Development Manager at QSR LLP (Burger King Kazakhstan);
-
Nurmuhammed Nurlanuly, co-owner of Sandyq, Tary, Europharma, Aiora, Meloman & Marwin.
The speakers discussed key trends in recent years: the transformation of consumer preferences, the emergence of new service formats, and the growing role of technology, automation, and analytics in restaurant management. The importance of flexible management and rapid adaptation to changing market conditions was highlighted.
The next segment featured presentations by HoReCa representatives:
-
Victoria Smagulova, HRBP, founder of Ketodrive.kz;
-
Tatyana Khodorovskaya, Manager of the Kazakhstan Hotel and Restaurant Association;
-
Aruzhamal Zhilisbaeva, restaurant business expert;
-
Danara Alekseeva, Director of SETTI LLP.
The speakers emphasized the importance of developing professional standards, systematic personnel management, and implementing digital solutions to enhance restaurant efficiency and sustainability.
RestoRound 2025 concluded with the presentation of student projects under the guidance of Senior Lecturer Erkin Tikenov. Two projects focused on developing Almaty’s tourism and gastronomic infrastructure.
The first team proposed a model of community-oriented visitor centers and local history centers using the example of Qaynar Bulaq, emphasizing local community engagement and preservation of regional identity.
The second team developed a loyalty system concept for gastro-districts, aimed at enhancing customer experience and increasing foot traffic to restaurant clusters.
Both initiatives generated lively interest among experts and restaurateurs, demonstrating the high potential of student ideas and their practical significance.
RestoRound 2025 reaffirmed AlmaU’s role as a leading platform for professional exchange and collaboration. The university continues to strengthen the connection between education and industry, creating opportunities for students to learn from market leaders and develop projects capable of shaping the future of the restaurant business in Kazakhstan.