Hospitality Takes Centre Stage at IHTEF 2019

The Executive Director of International Hospitality, Tourism and Sustainability  Forum, IHTEF, Chibuikem Diala,  said all is set for this year’s  Africa Forum billed for Abuja with the theme: Beyond 2020; Hospitality Innovation, Service & Growth. Diala said the theme is a reflection of the  mood of the industry, “as the African continent sets to witness an uncommon growth in the sector, it is very pertinent to build consensus on insights, trends, fresh ideas and expand possibilities that will lead to maximum return on investment as well as enhance opportunities for the industry workforce.”

He added that this year’s will feature interesting keynote speakers and  panel discussions on The Hotel of the future ; Food & Beverage Arcade; the Local Content Cafe (Quality Vs Quantity) and Domestic Tours: Hoteliers Versus Tour Operators. Also there will be discussions on  Building Hotel Human Capital, Standards and Regulations with Excellence. Diala enthused that the sessions will be expository, decisive and inspiring such that government, investors, owners, workers and enthusiasts in the industry will benefit greatly as the next level of the sector is defined.

He listed Trevor J Ward FIH, ISHC of W Hospitality; Mr Adedayo Adesugba, Honorary Chair, Institute of Hospitality; Dr Michael Pinder, SSH Hospitality; Dewald Krugger,  Dr Wasiu Babalola, Lead City University; and  Justina Ovat, GM, Tinapa Lakeside Hotel, Calabar as some of the speakers lined up for the event. IHTEF is a homegrown ‘collaboration of minds’ that is building the next generation of hospitality and tourism champions in Africa.

It brings together, thought leaders, influential government figures, project developers, visionaries, international tourism experts, investors, hotel owners, etc such that will help in driving excellence and achieving sustainability. Institute to train Journalists in Tourism sector The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism, NIHOTOUR, has scheduled a four-day training programme for the Nigeria tourism media under the auspices of the Association of Nigerian Journalists and Writers of Tourism, ANJET.

The Acting Director-General of NIHOTOUR, Mr. Kabir Momoh said  the training billed for Abuja is part of its commitment to human capital building and deepening reportage of the tourism sector. “This is one of the core mandates of the institute as it has over the years developed teaching modules and training packages for the different operators of tourism businesses in Nigeria,”Mr Momoh stated. According to him, ANJET members are part of the tourism family and are crucial to the development and achievements that the sector have recorded over the years.

He said “the decision by Institute and other partners to commitment human capital and resources to organising the training section was to consolidate on these gains and ensure the sustainability of the sector as without a well informed and equipped crop of tourism media that the sector stands to suffer,” Mr Momoh  explained. He commended the Director Generals of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Segun Runsewe and the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Folorunsho Folarin-Coker, and other partners for joining force with NIHOTOUR to deliver on the training programme for this year. The programme is starting on April 8-11, with the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed as special guest of honour.

April 05, 2019