Organizers of the prestigious annual hotel and hospitality industry awards in Nigeria has announced that the nominations portal for the Hotel Managers Awards for 2024 has been thrown open to the general public, travel and tourism professionals  tourism experts to make nominations for the various award categories for deserving hospitality and hotel facilities for this year. 

Organizers also revealed that this year’s awards have new additions which are the awards of the Hotel of the Year in Nigeria, the Top 10 Hotel General Managers in Nigeria and the Best International Hotel Chain in Nigeria.

The theme for this year’s Conference and Awards is, “Innovative Strategies: Nurturing Resilience and Excellence in Guest Experience in African Hospitality”. The Conference is set to hold on the 13th & 14th July, 2024 while the Awards would hold on 14th July by 6.30pm, all inside the Grand African Ballroom, Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos State the economic Capital of Nigeria.

Mr. Olugbenga Omotayo Sunday, CEO of Tojum Hospitality and Convener of the annual Hotel Managers Conference & Awards explained that, “Practitioners and the general public need to celebrate these winning hotels, hospitality brands and individuals, from the basis of their immense resilience, managerial discipline and sustained focus to retain and sustain their outstanding standards in the face of the sharp increases in the cost of running hotels in addition to the fierce competition in the terrain among hotels for available guests for the year under review”.

“It is pertinent to emphasize here again that the Hotel Managers Awards was conceived as an integral part of the Hotel Managers Conference, as we keep track, recognize and celebrate travel, hospitality brands, hotels, organizations and individuals whose operations and jobs are positively changing the face of the industry in Nigeria and Africa”, Mr. Sunday concluded.

Justina Ovat, Chairperson of the Awards Committee, speaking on the awards, explained that, “The hotel and hospitality industry need these awards because the industry thrives on excellence, innovation, and exceptional service delivery. These awards serve as a beacon of recognition, celebrating the tireless efforts and remarkable achievements of individuals and establishments within the sector. They not only highlight best practices but also inspire others to continually raise the bar, fostering healthy competition and driving overall industry growth.

She also said that, “The positive effects of these awards reverberate throughout the industry. Firstly, they elevate standards by showcasing exemplary performance, thus encouraging others to emulate success. Secondly, they provide a platform for networking and knowledge-sharing among industry peers, fostering collaboration and camaraderie. Thirdly, they boost morale and motivation within hotel teams, recognizing their hard work and dedication. These awards contribute to the enhancement of guest experiences, further solidifying the industry’s reputation for excellence” 

She also harped on the fairness and integrity of the process as it relates to how the awardees are nominated, voted and screened before the winners emerge.

“The nomination and voting process is meticulously designed to ensure fairness and transparency at every stage. Nominees are selected based on stringent criteria that encompass various facets of hotel management and guest satisfaction. The voting process involves industry experts and stakeholders, whose diverse perspectives help identify the most deserving candidates.

“Additionally, safeguards are in place to prevent bias or undue influence, guaranteeing that winners truly represent the pinnacle of achievement in the industry. I am confident that the process upholds the highest standards of integrity and fairness”, Justina asserts.

Justina Ovat equally encouraged every hotel that feel they deserve the awards to take time to nominate their brands and hotel and hope they win the awards.

Organizers of the yearly Hotel Managers Conference & Awards (HMCA) have unveiled speakers and panelists for this year’s Hotel Managers Conference & Awards tagged Lagos 2024, the 6th edition of it, with the theme, “Innovative Strategies: Nurturing Resilience and Excellence in Guest Experience in African Hospitality”. The Conference is set to hold on the 13th & 14th July, 2024 inside the Grand African Ballroom, Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos State, the economic Capital of Nigeria.

The speakers for this year, as always, were carefully selected from hospitality industry experts whose impacts continue to shape the hospitality industry in Nigeria and Africa at large.

Shedding light into the prime role of importance the speakers play in this year’s conference, Mr. Olugbenga Omotayo Sunday, CEO Tojum Hospitality and Chief Convener of the Hotel Managers Conference & Awards explained that the speakers are the ones whose job enables the effective achievement of the theme for this year’s conference.

“Each of the speakers form the core of the faculty that drives home the theme of the conference and the achievement of every delegate’s transforming experience through impartation of knowledge, practical trainings and group engagements to stimulate the change we desire in the managers who attend this year’s HMCA.

‘The faculty speakers for this year are men and women who have vast experiences about the hospitality industry in Africa and across all the continents of the world. The cumulative years of the experience of the speakers is over a hundred and fifty years! And all that knowledge would be condensed  for participants in 2 days!

‘So, HMCA Lagos 2024 promises to be a potpourri of an immersive and engaging atmosphere, interactive, high networking and mentorship opportunities will all be available at the HMCA Lagos 2024.” Mr. Sunday Olugbenga concluded.

The Hotel Managers Conference & Awards, Lagos 2024 would have two Lead Speaker. One is Mr. Olufemi Falebita MIH. He is the current Regional Chairman, Institute of Hospitality UK, Nigeria. His core hospitality expertise centers around Operations Turnaround, Change Management and Branding. The other Lead Speaker is Mr. Bayo Adedeji. Mr. Bayo Adedeji is the present Group Chief Executive Officer at Wakanow. Mr. Adedeji is a proven expert as a Growth Hacker, a Turnaround Expert, Product Innovator, Finance Leader and Profitability Driver.

Other notable Guest Speakers at the conference includes Mr. Karl Hala, one of the most distinguished icons of the hospitality business and he is the current Group General Manager of Continental Hotels Nigeria. He would be giving the Welcome Address as host General Manager! Having spent over 50 years in the industry, Karl Hala carries a remarkable portfolio with outstanding impact in Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean, and Europe.

Dr. Michael Pinder, current General Manager of JS Signature Hotel, Port  Harcourt, Rivers State would also be speaking. Dr. Pinder is an astute hotelier with nearly four decades in the industry covering four continents. Another Guest Speaker is Lydia Aluoch Akunja. Lydia is a trainer and hotelier and currently lecturing in the department of Hotel and Hospitality Management at Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya. Lydia has her Doctorate degree in view. Another Guest Speakers is Mr. Enock Alumasi Makanga, Managing Director, Impart Chefs & Hospitality Academy Limited, Kenya. 

Mr. Ekene Nnabuihe is another Guest Speaker of note. He is an expert, Pan African Hotelier. Another Guest Speaker is Benedicta Ogar, Lead Consultant, CityBee Consultants and Cavodah Hospitality.  

Panelists for the conference include: Mr. Danny Kiopouroglou, General Manager, Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos; Mr. Ahmed Raza, the General Manager, Radisson Blu Anchorage Hotel Lagos. Then, Mr. Michael Williams, General Manager, Ebonylife Place, Lagos; Dr. Ekwunife Ifeanyi, Director of Operations, Goldenhut Hospitality Solutions Limited Nigeria and Funke Olusoga-Ogunlade, Hospitality and CX Expert, Founder, The FunkeO Company.

The Hotel Managers Conference was conceived and organized annually to build capacity in hotel Managers across Africa as we keep pushing, bridging the big gap between International Hospitality brands and Indigenous brands both in administration and general operation standards.

This 6th edition of HMCA is a Pan African edition and so would see delegates, sponsors and participants fly into Lagos from every State in Nigeria and not less than 15 African countries between 12th and 15th July 2024.

The Hotel Managers Conference & Awards was conceived and organized annually to build capacity in hotel managers and head of departments of various hospitality brands in restaurants, bars and all the organizations across Africa as we keep pushing, bridging the big gap in hotels in Nigeria and Africa to match what obtains in other hotels internationally, while recognizing and celebrating outstanding performances in hospitality outfits.

Our core focus is to build capacities in managers through hospitality experts with global relevance in order to draw timely knowledge for professional exploits.

Organizers of the yearly Hotel Managers Conference & Awards (HMCA) have unveiled speakers and panelists for this year’s Hotel Managers Conference & Awards tagged Lagos 2024, the 6th edition of it, with the theme, “Innovative Strategies: Nurturing Resilience and Excellence in Guest Experience in African Hospitality”. The Conference is set to hold on the 13th & 14th July, 2024 inside the Grand African Ballroom, Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos State, the economic Capital of Nigeria.d

The speakers for this year, as always, were carefully selected from hospitality industry experts whose impacts continue to shape the hospitality industry in Nigeria and Africa at large.

Shedding light into the prime role of importance the speakers play in this year’s conference, Mr. Olugbenga Omotayo Sunday, CEO Tojum Hospitality and Chief Convener of the Hotel Managers Conference & Awards explained that the speakers are the ones whose job enables the effective achievement of the theme for this year’s conference.

“Each of the speakers form the core of the faculty that drives home the theme of the conference and the achievement of every delegate’s transforming experience through impartation of knowledge, practical trainings and group engagements to stimulate the change we desire in the managers who attend this year’s HMCA.

‘The faculty speakers for this year are men and women who have vast experiences about the hospitality industry in Africa and across all the continents of the world. The cumulative years of the experience of the speakers is over a hundred and fifty years! And all that knowledge would be condensed  for participants in 2 days!

‘So, HMCA Lagos 2024 promises to be a potpourri of an immersive and engaging atmosphere, interactive, high networking and mentorship opportunities will all be available at the HMCA Lagos 2024.” Mr. Sunday Olugbenga concluded.

The Hotel Managers Conference & Awards, Lagos 2024 would have two Lead Speaker. One is Mr. Olufemi Falebita MIH. He is the current Regional Chairman, Institute of Hospitality UK, Nigeria. His core hospitality expertise centers around Operations Turnaround, Change Management and Branding. The other Lead Speaker is Mr. Bayo Adedeji. Mr. Bayo Adedeji is the present Group Chief Executive Officer at Wakanow. Mr. Adedeji is a proven expert as a Growth Hacker, a Turnaround Expert, Product Innovator, Finance Leader and Profitability Driver.

Other notable Guest Speakers at the conference includes Mr. Karl Hala, one of the most distinguished icons of the hospitality business and he is the current Group General Manager of Continental Hotels Nigeria. He would be giving the Welcome Address as host General Manager! Having spent over 50 years in the industry, Karl Hala carries a remarkable portfolio with outstanding impact in Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean, and Europe.

Dr. Michael Pinder, current General Manager of JS Signature Hotel, Port  Harcourt, Rivers State would also be speaking. Dr. Pinder is an astute hotelier with nearly four decades in the industry covering four continents. Another Guest Speaker is Lydia Aluoch Akunja. Lydia is a trainer and hotelier and currently lecturing in the department of Hotel and Hospitality Management at Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya. Lydia has her Doctorate degree in view. Another Guest Speakers is Mr. Enock Alumasi Makanga, Managing Director, Impart Chefs & Hospitality Academy Limited, Kenya. 

Mr. Ekene Nnabuihe is another Guest Speaker of note. He is an expert, Pan African Hotelier. Another Guest Speaker is Benedicta Ogar, Lead Consultant, CityBee Consultants and Cavodah Hospitality.  

Panelists for the conference include: Mr. Danny Kiopouroglou, General Manager, Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos; Mr. Ahmed Raza, the General Manager, Radisson Blu Anchorage Hotel Lagos. Then, Mr. Michael Williams, General Manager, Ebonylife Place, Lagos; Dr. Ekwunife Ifeanyi, Director of Operations, Goldenhut Hospitality Solutions Limited Nigeria and Funke Olusoga-Ogunlade, Hospitality and CX Expert, Founder, The FunkeO Company.

The Hotel Managers Conference was conceived and organized annually to build capacity in hotel Managers across Africa as we keep pushing, bridging the big gap between International Hospitality brands and Indigenous brands both in administration and general operation standards.

This 6th edition of HMCA is a Pan African edition and so would see delegates, sponsors and participants fly into Lagos from every State in Nigeria and not less than 15 African countries between 12th and 15th July 2024.

The Hotel Managers Conference & Awards was conceived and organized annually to build capacity in hotel managers and head of departments of various hospitality brands in restaurants, bars and all the organizations across Africa as we keep pushing, bridging the big gap in hotels in Nigeria and Africa to match what obtains in other hotels internationally, while recognizing and celebrating outstanding performances in hospitality outfits.

Our core focus is to build capacities in managers through hospitality experts with global relevance in order to draw timely knowledge for professional exploits.