By Jimoh Babatunde

Hospitality experts and hotel managers from across Africa are set to converge on Lagos for the eighth edition of the Hotel Managers Conference Africa (HMCA), a gathering aimed at strengthening the continent’s tourism and hospitality sector through improved service standards, innovation and workforce development.

The two-day conference, scheduled for July 11 and 12 at the Grand African Ballroom of Lagos Continental Hotel, will focus on the theme: “Raising the Bar: Sales, Service and Standards for a Competitive Africa.”

The event is expected to attract hospitality professionals from Nigeria and 13 other African countries, providing a platform for knowledge exchange, networking and discussions on strategies to position Africa’s hospitality industry for global competitiveness.

Speaking during a breakfast meeting with members of the Association of Nigeria Journalists and Writers of Tourism (ANJET) in Lagos, the Chief Executive Officer of Tojum Hospitality and Convener of HMCA, Olugbenga Sunday, said the conference had evolved into one of Africa’s leading hospitality platforms since its establishment in 2016.

He said the initiative, which started in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, had expanded through Port Harcourt, Owerri and Lagos as part of efforts to deepen hospitality development across Nigeria before extending its reach to other African countries.

According to him, HMCA was created to bridge the gap between local hotel brands and international hospitality chains by exposing industry professionals to global best practices.

“We saw the gap between the local brands and international brands. The same people working in local brands are the same people working in international brands, but they are not behaving the same way,” he said.

Sunday noted that years of capacity building and knowledge sharing had helped improve standards within Nigeria’s hospitality industry, with more indigenous hotels now delivering world-class services.

He identified human capital development as a major priority of the conference, stressing that hospitality growth depends largely on the quality and skills of industry workers.

The conference will feature keynote sessions, panel discussions, mentoring programmes, masterclasses, business networking and exhibitions showcasing hospitality technologies and solutions.

The HMCA convener also highlighted the increasing role of digital technology in transforming hotel operations, saying innovations in payments, reservations and guest services were helping operators improve efficiency.

However, he called for stronger government support to address challenges affecting the tourism and hospitality sector, including multiple taxation, poor infrastructure, rising energy costs, insecurity and flooding.

He urged policymakers to create a more enabling environment that would allow hospitality businesses to thrive and contribute more significantly to economic growth and job creation.

On workforce welfare, Sunday said the conference would continue to encourage hotel operators to improve staff compensation and welfare packages, including healthcare, insurance and pension benefits.

He added that the platform had helped create mentorship opportunities and stronger professional relationships among hospitality managers across Nigeria and Africa.

This year’s conference will also feature the graduation of about 90 students from the Hotel Managers School, alongside an awards ceremony recognising outstanding hotels and hospitality professionals.

With support from key industry partners, HMCA organisers said the event would further promote collaboration, innovation and sustainable growth within Africa’s tourism and hospitality ecosystem.