By Jumoke Owoola
Lai Mohammed, said this at the just concluded Hotel Expo Nigeria 2024, held at the Landmark Events Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Underscoring the need for resilience and excellence in the hospitality industry using the CITIS approach: Crisis Management & Resilience Planning; Industry Data & Trends; Training & Development; Immersive Technology; and Sustainable Hospitality Practices, he went further to tell them to train their staff adequately, stressing that the best time to build a resilience and cultivate excellence in our hospitality businesses is now.
In the keynote, titled “The ‘CITIS’ Approach To Resilience And Excellence In African Hospitality: A Holistic Strategy For The Future”, the Special Advisor to the Secretary-General UN Tourism, noted that the hospitality, tourism value chain globally comprises of Accommodation, Food & Beverages, Transportation, Recreation & Entertainment and then Tourism Services.
“We have professional players in all of these sectors and we need to stop working in silos. How many hotel managers here present today can say for example that they have STO (Special Tour Operator) rates for tour operators in Nigeria?
“Or have established commissions for Travel Agents? We must remember that in the hospitality industry what we sell is perishable.
“All of the room nights we could not sell yesterday are lost forever with the revenue we could have gotten from them.
“So imagine that you have a strong army of thousands of travel agencies across Nigeria selling domestic tour packages and booking your hotels on behalf of their clients, wouldn’t that amount to increased RevPAR for your hotels?
“It is time for us to start to have these conversations across the different sub-sectors of our tourism industry and I will be happy to facilitate some of these engagements going forward so that Nigeria and indeed West Africa can catch up to the rest of Africa in terms of tourism receipts.”
Alhaji Lai Mohammed opined more that in the hospitality and tourism industry, crisis management and resilience planning are essential for maintaining operational stability and ensuring guest safety during and after unforeseen events.
“The recent global pandemic highlighted the need for robust crisis management frameworks, prompting businesses to reassess their preparedness strategies.
“Effective crisis management begins with a thorough risk assessment, identifying potential threats such as natural disasters, health crises, and security breaches.
“We have professional players in all of these sectors and we need to stop working in silos. How many hotel managers here present today can say for example that they have STO (Special Tour Operator) rates for tour operators in Nigeria?
“Or have established commissions for Travel Agents? We must remember that in the hospitality industry what we sell is perishable.
“It is time for us to start to have these conversations across the different sub-sectors of our tourism industry and I will be happy to facilitate some of these engagements going forward so that Nigeria and indeed West Africa can catch up to the rest of Africa in terms of tourism receipts.”
He further stated that in the hospitality and tourism industry, crisis management and resilience planning are essential for maintaining operational stability and ensuring guest safety during and after unforeseen events.
“The recent global pandemic highlighted the need for robust crisis management frameworks, prompting businesses to reassess their preparedness strategies.
“By understanding these risks, hospitality managers can develop comprehensive mitigation plans that include clear protocols, resource allocation, and communication strategies to address emergencies promptly.
“Business continuity planning is another vital aspect of building resilience in the hospitality and tourism sector. This involves developing flexible strategies that allow for quick adaptation to changing conditions.
Diversifying revenue streams, such as offering virtual experiences or pivoting to local markets, can help mitigate financial losses during downturns.
Moreover, establishing strong relationships with suppliers and stakeholders ensures a more resilient supply chain, capable of withstanding disruptions.
“Effective business continuity planning enables hospitality businesses to sustain operations and recover swiftly, maintaining a competitive edge in the market.”
Keynote Address vwas by the Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Hon. Lola Ade-John, who was ably represented.
The turn out was impressive.
Backing in the euphoria of hosting a successful event , the Convener of the Hotel Expo Nigeria, Joe Hanson was expecting to do more in 2025.
Topics dwelt on included “Exploring The Impact Of Innovation & Technology In Modern Hospitality”; “Unlocking Opportunities: How Startups Can Thrive In The Hospitality Business”; “Innovation Culture: Managing Changing Business Models”; and “Influencers Of Hospitality: Building A Sustainable Brand In A Saturated Business Environment, amongst others.
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