The Group General Manager , Continental Hotel , Karl Hala has said that the panacea for a thriving hospitality business lies in the level of training of personnel in the industry .
The Continental Hotel, Nigeria manages the group’s hotels in Lagos and Abuja
He spoke in a paper titled ” Reimagining African Hospitality : Powered by People ,Built for the World “,delivered at the Hotel Managers Africa Conference hosted by Lagos Continental Hotel ,Victoria Island , Lagos
According to him , expecting a good return in investment ( ROI).in the hospitality Industry start with people as untrained staff is the most expensive luxury you’ll ever pay for. as investor in the industry .
He said that meaningful investment in staff training is a crucial thing investors, owners, and policymakers in the hospitality industry must give preference to ..
” To get a good return on investment, it’s essential to invest in talent, youth, and relevance. “You want growth? Invest in talent. You want stability? Invest in youth. You want returns? Invest in relevance, By adopting this approach, Africa can create a thriving hospitality industry that drives growth and stability”, Karl emphasised
He opined that the key is to stop copying models that were never built for us and create our own operating manuals – proudly African, globally admired.
“Let’s create our own operating manuals — proudly African, globally admired,” Karl Hala said. “A broken AC is costly — but a broken training pipeline? That’s the real liability.” Karl noted
The GGM averred that investing in people and creating a robust training pipeline, Africa can unlock the full potential of its hospitality industry. “Let’s stop copying models that were never built for us, “Let’s create our own operating manuals — proudly African, globally admired.”
He emphasised that as the hospitality industry continues to evolve, it’s essential to recognize the importance of innovation and technology adding that by investing in digital tools and platforms, Africa can create a hospitality industry that is driven by innovation and technology.
According to him. with the right approach, Africa’s hospitality industry can become a major player on the global stage.
“The next global hotel icon? She may already be sitting in this room — waiting for her first opportunity,” “Let’s make sure we give it to her.” Karl urged
He advised that empowering young professionals and investing in talent, Africa can create a thriving hospitality industry that is driven by innovation, technology, and a focus on local talent.
