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Group General Manager of Continental Hotels Group, Karl Hala, has urged Africans to shape the future of the continent hospitality industry with home-grown models.
According to Hala, Africa’s hospitality future should be built on African-centric models that will ensure efficiency and growth without losing the heritage and peculiarities of the continent.
Speaking at the Hotel Managers Africa Conference, Hala emphasized that hospitality in Africa is not just a sector, but a solution.
“We need to develop African-centric models that will drive growth and stability in our industry,” he said.
The Group General Manager emphasized that Africa’s hospitality industry is facing a paradox.
“We import training manuals and export talent. That is the paradox we must end,” he said.
Hala believes that the gap in Africa’s hospitality industry is real and must be closed by Africans for the continent to be at par with other hospitality industries across the world.
“I have seen it all — outdated curriculums, instructors who have never worked a five-star shift, students memorising what they should be mastering,” he disclosed.
To address the gap, Hala insisted that training matters, adding that “we will bring classrooms into our hotels.
“We reward curiosity over conformity and invest in VR, AI, and gamification — tools that speak to today’s digital-native youth.
“A cleaning supervisor in Kigali should be able to learn the same skills, on the same digital platform, as a hospitality trainee in Geneva. That is equality and innovation.
“By 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.”
Hala urged stakeholders to see hospitality beyond service, and more of strategy, saying “by doing so, Africa can create a thriving hospitality industry that drives growth and stability.”
