The Proprietor of the Grand Hotel Asaba and the new St. Regis upscale Hotel in Ikoyi, Lagos, Chief Sunny Odogwu will be the chairman of the Hospitality day at Akwaaba 2014. Chief Odogwu will be speaking on “investing in the Hotel Business between the known and the unknown”.
Mr. Barry Curan, Area manager of Starwood Hotels in Nigeria, supervising the following Starwood properties; Sheraton Abuja hotel, le Méridien Ibom hotel & golf resort, four points by Sheraton Lagos, Sheraton Lagos hotel, Le Méridien -Ogeyi place, will be the Chairperson for the discussion Panel during the Hospitality Day @ Akwaaba 2014. On the discussion panel are Mr. Danny Kioupouroglou-General Manager of Eko Hotels and Suites, Mr. Adrian Landry-GM legacy Hotels & Resort International, Mr. Kazeem Durosomo-GM, Golden Tulip, Port-Harcourt.
Barry who is also the General Manager for Sheraton Lagos Hotel, has over 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry and had occupied various management positions in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Guyana and Egypt where he was the Area Manager of Cairo Hotels based at Le Méridien Pyramids Hotel & Spa in Egypt.
As Chairperson of the discussion panel made up of top GMs, he would also be shedding more light on how Starwood Hotels & Resorts have remained at the top with 5 top Hotels and 4 new ones expected to open by 2017.
The Hospitality Day @ Akwaaaba 2014 will be dedicated to discussing how Hotels can stay ahead of Competition, using the latest technology to drive sales and retain clients.
With rapidly growing Economies, foreign direct investments and an increasing number of Africans who are having more disposable incomes and moving into the Middle Class income group, the Hospitality Industry in Africa is full of opportunities. However, with more interest shown by the International and Regional chains in expanding in Africa especially in Nigeria with about 49 hotels (7,470 rooms) scheduled to open by 2017 coupled with the existing hotels and a number of smaller Hotels and Guest Houses opening every now and then, the challenge for Hotels to stay in business will be high.
The Workshop themed “Hotel Innovation : Being One Step ahead” will include Experts from Israel, Dubai, UK, Germany and Nigeria with a panel made up of GM’s of Top International and Regional Hotel chains in Nigeria. There will also be a Keynote Speech on “Investing in the Hospitality Business between the Known and the Unknown.
The Workshop is aimed at raising the Hotel Standards in West-Africa and will have in attendance over 100 Hotel Managers, Hotel Management Companies in Nigeria and Africa as well as Hotel Investors and other Stakeholders.
The issues that would be addressed include, use of Social Media, Software for Hotels Hardware/Amenities, Services, Data Mining (Big Data) and the latest Hotel Apps.
The forum will hold on the 28th of October, 2014, the last day of Akwaaba, at the Convention Centre of the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria- Island, Lagos from10am-1pm. It will be rounded off with a Wine Tasting extravaganza.
Akwaaba: African Travel Market is the only International Travel Trade Fair in West-Africa. It is the largest marketing Platform to meet with Travelling Public, Airlines, Hotels, Restaurants, Tour Operators, Travel Agents, State Tourism Boards, Foreign Trade and Tourism sectors in Nigeria, West-Africa and Africa. Aftm attracted exhibitors from over 20 countries and about 15,000 attendees last year and more are expected this year. The 3day event features Africa Travel Awards, Wine Tasting, Africa Business Travel Association Workshop, Hospitality & Aviation Forum as well as Country Day Celebrations.
Wine Tasting at Akwaaba
Nigeria is accepted globally as one of the biggest Wine markets in the world consuming more than many African countries put together. The emerging lifestyle merges with the growing middle class and its taste for global products. Travel and tourism is one of the biggest beneficiaries of this new class of Nigerians. It is these classes of Nigerians that are traveling that also consume these large quantities of wine and Champagne.
To further organize the products and align it with its patrons the organizers of Akwaaba African Travel market will this year dedicate its hospitality day October the 28th to wine tasting. The wine tasting day is a new addition and will offer both sellers and buyers the opportunity to engage with the Traveling public.
The Wine Tasting event which will hold on the 28th of Oct 2014 from 10am-6pm at the Convention Centre of the Eko Hotels and Suite, Victoria-Island, Lagos, Nigeria, will provide Wine Distributors and Manufacturer from all over the world, who are looking to increase their business in Nigeria and across Africa, Build and increase brand loyalty and patronage, the opportunity to showcase their products to the travel community/ Wine Lovers in Nigeria & Africa. The Wine tasting event will feature a diverse selection of Top wines and Spirits from all over the world.
Speaking on the Event, Mrs.Rita Ikechi Uko-Organizer of Akwaaba: African Travel Market says “Nigeria is one of the fastest growing economies in the world and the biggest Champagne Market in Africa.
We are always looking for ways to create and add value to our clients as well as improve visitors’ experience at our events. So, the Wine Tasting event was born out of the need to create a proper platform for bringing together Wine Buyers and Sellers from all over the world, an audience Akwaaba has consistently attracted over the years. With “big Taste experience” we hope to not only provide a platform for Wine Dealers and Producers to sample their wines but also provide an atmosphere where guests can sip, savour, mix and mingle while enjoying the best of what Africa has to offer and it’s a project we intend to continue and build in the next coming years”.
Attendees to the fair would have the opportunity to sample different top wines and Spirits from Exhibiting Wine Dealers and Manufactures from all over the World.