Uyo hosts 2017 hoteliers’ conference

Uyo, capital of State, is set to host hoteliers in the country to a two-day Hotel Managers’ Conference, which aims to provide participants with current trends in the hospitality sector and how to overcome challenges in a recession. The confab, which is the second edition of the annual event, has the theme “Certifications and Professionalism,” and is billed to hold from April 27 to 28, 2017 at Eemjm Hotel. The convener, Mr. Sunday Olugbenga, disclosed during a media chat that the conference was born out of the passion to improve the performance of hotel operations in Nigeria and Africa in general.
He stated that there was still a big gap between international hospitality brands and indigenous brands both in administrative and general operating standards, affirming that the upcoming Hotel Managers’ Conference would be a platform where hotel owners, general managers and department heads are privileged to meet with hospitality experts who have global relevance and draw timely knowledge for professional exploits.
Some of the course outlines of the event are centred on developing career paths in the hospitality industry, attracting international brands with proper professional certifications, professionalism as a key to becoming a preferred manager and building an effective departmental structure.
Among the confirmed speakers and resource persons are the president of the Institute of Tourism Professionals, Abiodun Odusanwo; Benedictar Ogar from International School of Hospitality, Las Vegas, USA, and Chuks Agboje, general manager, Channel View Hotel.
“Hotel managers oversee all aspects of hotel operations, including staff, maintenance, convention and conference services, reservations, office administration, sales, purchasing, housekeeping, security, recreation, and food management. It is paramount to be updated and kept abreast on the latest issues of development in the industry at the conference,” Olugbenga said.