L-R: Christophe Noel, General Manager Radisson Blu Hotel Lagos Ikeja; Ali Moatazbellah, Area Learning & Development Manager, Middle East and Africa (MEA), Radisson Hotel Group; Ahmed Raza, District Director Nigeria, Radisson Hotel Group; Sandra Kneubuhler, Managing Director Africa, Radisson Hotel Group; Luc Van der Hofstadt, Executive Business Coach, Country Director South Africa; Ayub Alee, Executive Assistant Manager, Radisson Blu Hotel Lagos Ikeja; Yehia El-Mansoury, General Manager, Radisson Hotel Lagos Ikeja and Rita Opiah, General Manager, Park Inn by Radisson Hotel, Lagos Victoria Island at the Radisson Academy Cocktail event recently held in ikeja Lagos.
Radisson Hotel Group has officially launched its first Radisson Academy Live in Nigeria, marking a significant milestone in its commitment to investing in local talent and strengthening the hospitality industry across Africa.
Speaking at the launch event, Sandra Kneubuhler, Managing Director Africa for Radisson Hotel Group, emphasized the company’s belief in the power of people.
“At Radisson Hotel Group, one of our most deeply held beliefs is that our people are our greatest asset,” she stated. “As with all assets, the best thing we can do is invest in it. One of our core beliefs as a company is that ‘We grow talent and talent grows us’.”
According to her, this is the 6th year that Radisson Academy has been in place and during this time 517 000 courses have been completed, adding that the online portal offers more than 2500 courses available to all team members of Radisson Hotel Group.
Kneubuhler stated that the portal is highly interactive and offers both online and face to face courses that are designed to create impactful learning experiences.
“As a global company operating in more than one hundred countries and territories, diversity is a part of our DNA. Our global workforce includes 146 nationalities from diverse ethnicities and races. I would however like to go into details on the success of our training programs in Nigeria.”
“Across our hotels, there has been a ten-fold increase in training completions within the last five years. In 2024, over 80,000+ learning hours were completed across our hotels and across multiple learning platforms of on-the-job training, in-person sessions, and structured Radisson Academy modules.”
“On average, our Nigerian colleagues have completed approximately 14.7 courses per person, reflecting a vibrant learning culture and strong employee buy-in. Programs delivered via Radisson Academy have received an average satisfaction score of 4.8 out of 5, reflecting their practical relevance and employee appreciation in-country.
L-R: Christophe Noel, General Manager Radisson Blu Hotel Lagos Ikeja; Biram Ndao, Regional FC, Northern Africa, Radisson Hotel Group and Rita Opiah, General Manager, Park Inn by Radisson Hotel, Lagos Victoria Island.
“With regards to our Career Progression Initiatives, the launch of Project Accelerate in 2022 marked a strategic move to groom future General Managers from within. Several Nigerian team members have been identified in succession plans, a result of this initiative. These outcomes affirm Radisson Academy’s role as a catalyst for personal development and organizational growth.”
“Above all, my key message tonight is to you – our colleagues who are participating in Radisson Academy Live this week. Please take the most from this opportunity and share your learnings – share them with your colleagues. Ensure that every lesson you learn is like a ripple effect as you inspire and educate your fellow team members. In the words of Nelson Mandela, “Education is the most powerful weapon that you can use to change the world”. So please, be our next world changers and moment makers. “
She further thanked the brand’s valued partners and hotel owners in Nigeria.
“And also My thanks also to our learners for their commitment, passion and desire to grow. An enormous thank you to our trainers, who have flown from across the world to support our team members on their learning journeys.”
