Mr. Olugbenga Omotayo Sunday’s story is one of the motivating testimonies that has continued to inspire the hosting of the annual Akwaaba African Travel Market on Lagos, in spite of the mountain of challenges the organizers have to surmount every year to host one of the three most prestigious travel exhibitions in Africa and one which does not have the government bank rolling it.
According to myexperienceafrica.blogspot.com, one of the intriguing feature of this experience is the mind blowing fact that a first time attendee to Akwaaba African Travel Market successfully carried 9 managers of their hotel chain to the travel exhibition in 2014, the very year Ebola virus ravaged West Africa and the same year that the event had many cancellations from several countries that have earlier made commitments to attend.
Ironically, for the organizers, “It became the year that we broke even after 10 years of hosting the travel exhibition”, says Mr. Ikechi Uko, the CEO of Akwaaba African Travel Market.
“After missing few years since I got to know about the Akwaaba Travel market, I decided to attend 2014 Edition of Akwaaba with the General Managers of all our Branches Nationwide & Key Group Management Staff. We had 4 branches then, Uyo, Calabar, Victoria Island and Lekki”, said Mr. Olugbenga Sunday, National Award winning Tourism and Hospitality Consultant.
A chartered Member of the Institute for Tourism Professionals, a chartered Mediator of Mediation Training Institute International United Kingdom, a Fellow of the Institute of Hospitality, Tourism & Management, a Member of Tourism 100 Club as one of the Top 100 Tourism Personalities in Nigeria.
READ: REGISTER FOR THE 2021 AKWAABA TRAVEL MARKET
“As at that time, I was the Group General Manager of Monty Suites. So, In my capacity as the Group General Manager of Monty Suites Group, I wrote my Chairman. What really helped me was the Hospitality Section of that year’s Akwaaba African Travel Market with a very daring theme: A Step Ahead… I’m not sure I m quoting it correctly, but I m sure of ‘ahead’. I sold the idea to my Chairman. Imagine a first timers speaking about a Conference like I knew everything about it!”, he explained.
“I registered online, I found out it was absolutely free, you only pay like N1,000 for certificate.
“The big task: How do I convince my Chairman to approve almost N400k for the selected 9 Managers to attend Akwaaba African Travel Market? Flight tickets from Calabar, feeding, travelling allowances and budget for my special plan for all the Key Managers on the trip. then it was Aero Contractor.
“Guess what? We had our dinner in Intercontinental Hotel, the open Bar on the 5th Floor. Imagine, Intercontinental just opened around that time! I just wanted to give the team an experience that will last them for a life time.
“I did not even know I will become a Tour operator!”
Yes and indeed, Mr. Sunday has moved on and aside being a certified Hospitality, Tourism and Travel Professional from Florida Atlantic University USA, he is also the Convener of Hotel Managers’ Conference, Initiator of Ibarapa Tourism Agenda and the Destination Manager of Idere hills. He is currently Lead Consultant at Tojum Hospitality. He also emerged as the Winner of Nigerian Top Tourism Promoter 2020.
“When we arrived, everything was so new and strange. We saw crowd of people moving up and down. You see activities going on in different sections, some people are moving from different tables of the exhibitors, some are drinking coffees, and there was wine tasting as well.
“I led my team as the Team leader but ironically I was as naive as them. It was a big struggle. Eventually our day came, Hospitality session. Some the panelists were whites, and I was so glad. I remember that the General Manager of Eko Hotel, Mr. Danny Kioupouroglou, was on the panel. It was a mind blowing session. Words are inadequate to express how fulfilled I was.
With so much excitement for the massive success of attending while trying to impress his employer and put it on record, Mr. Olugbenga explained that, “During question time, I jumped up to ask a question, not because I really wanted to ask a question but to show my Chairman that Monty Suites representatives participated well during the Biggest Travel Market in West Africa.
“I instructed one of my Managers to take a picture of me while asking my question. A proof that I spoke amidst such gathering with top Industry Practitioners.
Concluding, Mr. Olugbenga nailed it that , ‘Since 2014, AKWAABA TRAVEL MARKET has become a sure plug for me. It has become a great time of refreshing and networking. I share over 100 business cards yearly at the event and I make new friends. 2021 edition is here. God’s willing, I will be there! Thank you Ambassador Ikechi Uko for AKWAABA.
Mr. Olugbenga Omotayo Sunday HND, MITP, MTI, FIHTM. MIH
