To advance favourable policies for hospitality and tourism businesses, the executives and management team of Hotel Owners Forum Abuja (HOFA) has announced plans to host a large-scale Hotel Business Conference & Expo (HBCE) in Abuja.
Billed to open on November 29 and running through November 30, 2022, the forthcoming event held at the Rockview Hotel (Royale) Wuse 2, Abuja, would benefit the tourism and hospitality operators and service providers in Nigeria.
Founded in 2002, HOFA is one of the leading hospitality business associations in Nigeria and over the years, it has been the main pathfinder in Nigeria’s hospitality trade and services sector. The Forum has been proactive in protecting members’ interests by consistently interfacing with Government agencies, and other non-state actors to facilitate conducive business environments for stakeholders operating in Abuja, the Federal Capital of Nigeria.
The Management team of the association, led by the President, Mrs. Funmi Kazeem, revealed that the landmark Hotel Business Conference and Expo is one of the activities rolled out to mark the 20th anniversary of HOFA.
Mrs. Kazeem explained that HBCE is a platform for like-minded peers in the hospitality industry to make valuable connections, exhibit, learn, do business and also discuss solutions to some challenges facing the hospitality industry, especially post-COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are celebrating HOFA, an organisation that has strived through thick and thin for 20 years and still waxing stronger. With the myriad of challenges facing the industry generally, we felt the need to bring industry experts together, both from the international, private and government sectors to discuss issues that would bring about a drastic forward shift in the industry and reposition it to take its place of pride, as one of the industries that contribute so much to Nigeria’s IGR and labour force.”
On the importance of the conference to the industry, HOFA President said: “At the end of the conference, solutions to some lingering issues in the industry would have been proffered and exceptional networking opportunities would have been created for the hotels, and other participants.”
Some of the dignitaries confirmed for the event include the DG of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Turaki Nura Sani Kangiwa; the DG of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Chief Folorunsho Coker; the DG of National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Olusegun Runsewe; the DG Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Dr Victoria Akai; the Managing Director of Transcorp Hilton, Mrs. Dupe Olusola; the President of Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), Mr. Nkereuwem Onung; the Chairman Savannah Group, Sir Chika Chiejina, and the President Institute of Tourism Professionals of Nigeria (ITPN), Chief Abiodun Odunsanwo.