Once again, hospitality stakeholders across the country have gathered in Lagos for this year’s edition of the annual Hotel Managers and Conference Awards (HMCA) 2024.
The conference, which opened on July 13, 2024 at Lagos Continental Hotel on the theme; ‘Innovative Strategies: Nurturing Resilience and Excellence in Guest Experience in African Hospitality’, witnessed robust participation from stakeholders across Africa, with over 400 participants from 11 African countries in attendance.
It also witnessed the presence of expatriates from Europe and Asia, whose wealth of industry experience greatly enriched discussions at the conference.
As well, the Nigerian government appreciated the efforts of the organisers in gathering many from outside the country with presence of Lola Ade-John, Minister of Tourism, who led the delegates on discussions to aimed at moving the hospitality industry forward.
As well, Lai Mohammed, former Minister of Information and Culture, who is now an advisor to the UN Tourism secretary general, also graced the conference, reeling data to support investments in the tourism industry and need for quality assurance and professionalism.
However, Olugbenga Omotayo Sunday, director general, Hotel Managers Conference – Africa, and convener of the conference, is excited that from the first day, the conference has lived up to the expectations of the participants.
“It has been fulfilling for me, almost 400 participants in the first day and we expect more in the second day,” Sunday said.
Expressing his excitement over an enlarged conference this year, Sunday said, “I had always wanted this event to be a continental show and that dream was fulfilled in this year’s edition”.
Speaking further, he noted that, “For the first time in the last 8 years, we were able to pull the stunt from East Africa, West and Central Africa. About 11 countries represented, including Cameron, Ghana, and East African countries.
“Our international expartraites were here too, from Europe and Asia.
He did not forget LG Electronics, the headline sponsor. “LG Electronics is our headline sponsor. They have been great. We even had a facility tour of their factory in Lagos in the first day of the conference,” he said.
For the remaining events, he urged the participants to expect more on the second day as more speakers will engage them in intellectual and solution-based discussions.
So far, speakers such as; Karl Hala, group general manager, Continental Hotels in Nigeria; Olufemi Abayomi, CEO/founder, Nethermentor, regional chairman, Institute of Hospitality (UK) Nigeria Region, among others, have been really engaging.
Meanwhile, the annual Hotel Managers and Conference and Awards (HMCA) 2024, which started on July 13, will end today, July 14, 2024.
