Hotel managers connect at HMCA

…GTA, NTDA, Lagos Tourism boost participation

Hospitality stakeholders across Africa are having a good time at this year’s edition of Hotel Managers Conference Africa, amid quality exchanges and networking.

Over 2000 participants graced the two-day conference, which was held on the theme, “Raising the Bar; Sales, Service & Standards for a Competitive Africa, at Lagos Continental Hotel, the host of the conference for three consecutive years.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Olugbenga Sunday, CEO, Tojum Hospitality and the convener of the conference, noted that the event, which is now in its 8th edition, has over the years pointed hotel managers and even owners to the right directions in service delivery, facility management, teamwork, operations, and sustainable investments in the industry.

He expressed gratitude to the stakeholders for the support given to the event over the years, which saw it grow from a Nigerian-focused event to now an African-wide conference.

He was excited that the objectives of the conference were achieved as the participants gained from the masterclasses, panels of discussion, paper presentations, speeches and other insightful activities.

Of course, Wasiu Babalola, a professor and keynote speaker, did justice to his paper titled, “The Future if African Hospitality: Competing Beyond Borders”.

According to him, there are new rules in the hospitality business, as hotels of the future will compete on intelligence, innovation and experience, instead of room inventory alone.

He also offered the participants five priorities for a competitive Africa: including strategic partnerships, professional leadership, service excellence, harmonised standards and digital transformation.

He also trailed his successful journey in the hospitality industry, starting as a waiter, chef, and today a professor.

OPay, the headline sponsor, had it all well for the two days, taking advantage of the conference platform to reach out to the hospitality industry with its financial services and innovative products, especially for ease of payment.

So also other sponsors such as Huawei, Lagos Continental Hotel, Nigerian Bottling Company, Presken, among others.

The presence of Maame Efua Houadjeto, CEO, Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), who led the Ghanaian delegates, made a difference in this year’s conference. In her speech, the GTA CEO, who was the special guest of honour at the conference, called for collaboration among hospitality stakeholders across the West African sub-region for more investments, better standards, excellent service delivery and coordinated marketing of tourism across the global.

She urged Nigeria to take advantage of her strength in the global movie industry to change the narrative of Africa, while sister countries support such gestures from their areas of strength.

She thinks that Nigeria and Ghana can do more collections on food, culture and creative exchanges.

On her part, Toke Benson-Awoyinka, commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Lagos State, who was represented at the conference, expressed appreciation for hosting many participants across Africa, while pointing to them the sustained investment in the tourism industry, which has made Lagos the foremost destination in Nigeria.

She noted that the state is open to more collaborations such as the HMCA platform, due to their huge impacts on the state’s economy and boost to its quest to become top MICE destination in Africa.

She further commended the organisers for sustaining the conference for eight years now, noting that Lagos State will always support initiatives that impact the tourism industry.

Olayiwola Awokan, director general, Nigeria Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), who also graced the conference, was excited that it drew participants from across Africa. He noted that such development is being encouraged by the government, which has recognised the importance of tourism in national development and has put in place some policies to such the industry.

The conference was not all speeches as it witnessed other activities such as the graduation of students of Hotel Managers School, awards given out to distinguished industry personalities and organisations.