Engaging my hotel chain for my first Akwaaba AfTM experience paid off - Olugbenga Sunday

Mr. Olugbenga Omotayo Sunday HND, MITP, MTI, FIHTM. MIH

Mr. Olugbenga Omotayo Sunday's story is one of the motivating testimonies that has continued to inspire the hosting of the annual Akwaaba African Travel Market on Lagos, in spite of the mountain of challenges the organizers have to surmount every year to host one of the three most prestigious travel exhibitions in Africa and one which does not have the government bank rolling it.

One of the intriguing feature of this experience is the mind blowing fact that a first time attendee to Akwaaba African Travel Market successfully carried 9 managers of their hotel chain to the travel exhibition in 2014, the very year Ebola virus ravaged West Africa and the same year that the event had many cancellations from several countries that have earlier made commitments to attend. Ironically, for the organizers, "It became the year that we broke even after 10 years of hosting the travel exhibition", says Mr. Ikechi Uko, the CEO of Akwaaba African Travel Market.

"After missing few years since I got to know about the Akwaaba Travel market, I decided to attend 2014 Edition of Akwaaba with the General Managers of all our Branches Nationwide & Key Group Management Staff. We had 4 branches then, Uyo, Calabar, Victoria Island and Lekki", said Mr. Olugbenga Sunday, National Award winning Tourism and Hospitality Consultant. A chartered Member of the Institute for Tourism Professionals, a chartered Mediator of Mediation Training Institute International United Kingdom, a Fellow of the Institute of Hospitality, Tourism & Management, a Member of Tourism 100 Club as one of the Top 100 Tourism Personalities in Nigeria. 

" As at that time, I was the Group General Manager of Monty Suites. So, In my capacity as the Group General Manager of Monty Suites Group, I wrote my Chairman. What really helped me was the Hospitality Section of that year's Akwaaba African Travel Market with a very daring theme: A Step Ahead... I'm not sure I m quoting it correctly, but I m sure of 'ahead'. I sold the idea to my Chairman. Imagine a first timers speaking about a Conference like I knew everything about it!", he explained.

"I registered online, I found out it was absolutely free, you only pay like N1,000 for certificate.

"The big task: How do I convince my Chairman to approve almost N400k for the selected 9 Managers to attend Akwaaba African Travel Market? Flight tickets from Calabar, feeding, travelling allowances and budget for my special plan for all the Key Managers on the trip. then it was Aero Contractor.

"Guess what? We had our dinner in Intercontinental Hotel, the open Bar on the 5th Floor. Imagine, Intercontinental just opened around that time! I just wanted to give the team an experience that will last them for a life time.

 "I did not even know I will become a Tour operator!"

Yes and indeed, Mr. Sunday has moved on and aside being a certified Hospitality, Tourism and Travel Professional from Florida Atlantic University USA, he is also the Convener of Hotel Managers' Conference, Initiator of Ibarapa Tourism Agenda and the Destination Manager of Idere hills. He is currently Lead Consultant at Tojum Hospitality. He also emerged as the Winner of Nigerian Top Tourism Promoter 2020.

"When we arrived, everything was so new and strange. We saw crowd of people moving up and down. You see activities going on in different sections, some people are moving from different tables of the exhibitors, some are drinking coffees, and there was wine tasting as well. 

"I led my team as the Team leader but ironically I was as naive as them. It was a big struggle. Eventually our day came, Hospitality session. Some the panelists were whites, and I was so glad. I remember that the General Manager of Eko Hotel, Mr. Danny Kioupouroglou, was on the panel. It was a mind blowing session. Words are inadequate to express how fulfilled I was. 

With so much excitement for the massive success of attending while trying to impress his employer and put it on record, Mr. Olugbenga explained that, "During question time, I jumped up to ask a question, not because I really wanted to ask a question but to show my Chairman that Monty Suites representatives participated well during the Biggest Travel Market in West Africa. 

"I instructed one of my Managers to take a picture of me while asking my question. A proof that I spoke amidst such gathering with top Industry Practitioners.

Concluding, Mr. Olugbenga nailed it that , 'Since 2014, AKWAABA TRAVEL MARKET has become a sure plug for me. It has become a great time of refreshing and networking. I share over 100 business cards yearly at the event and I make new friends. 2021 edition is here. God's willing, I will be there! Thank you Ambassador Ikechi Uko for AKWAABA.

According to the Organiser, "Because of the effect of the Covid19 pandemic, Akwaaba is dedicating this Year’s event to Hospitality and the Leisure Economy and their capacity to Heal", says Mr. Ikechi Uko, organizer of Akwaaba African Travel Market.

"There will be trainings on MICE and a Specialist certificate course on Tourism In Nigeria. There will be discussions and Panels on Hospitality and Standardisation in Nigeria. The 2 day event will draw on experts from Africa and Nigeria to expose and dissect relevant topics at the event."

The Exhibition will run for 2 Days at Eko Hotel Convention Centre from the 29th of November to the 30th.

The 17th Edition of the Leading Travel and Tourism Expo in West Africa, Akwaaba, will be held on the 29th and 30th of November in Lagos Nigeria.

The event will serve as the venue for the unveiling of the shortlist for the 7 Natural Wonders of Nigeria. The search for the Seven Wonders of Nigeria was launched last year to draw attention to the Tourism Attractions in Nigeria.

A committee was put together by the Organisers of Naija7wonders to handle the research. The committee is made of 150 Top Tourism Practitioners in Nigeria who are all members of the elite group of Tourism 100 Club. They have shortlisted 35 destinations for the public to choose from and the winners will be announced at Akwaaba.

Akwaaba is the largest gathering of Travel Professionals in West Africa with over 3000 delegates attending. It has over the years become the meeting place for Travel and Tourism Practitioners in Africa. It has drawn attendance from over 20 Nations. Many VIPs have graced the event in the past including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of The Gambia Late Dawda Jawara, the former Vice President of Nigeria, Late Alex Ekwueme, the former Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations, Sir Emeka Anyaoku, the former Governor of Lagos State, Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu, former Governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke and Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State.

Serving Ministers of Tourism from Ghana, Gambia, Uganda and Zimbabwe and Seychelles have all attended past Editions of Akwaaba. The current President of South African Football Dr. Danny Jordaan had made a Presentation at Akwaaba.

Leading Hotels, Airlines and Destinations including Dubai, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Egypt, Kenya, Gambia, Benin, Namibia, Sao Tome and Principe, Libya, USA, Spain and the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (UK) had all participated in the African Travel Market.

Akwaaba had been so successful that it started another event in Ghana the Accra Weizo which has been held in Accra for 5 years consecutively.