Stakeholders in the nation’s hospitality sector have stressed the need for government to give brands in the ecosystem the much-needed support that would enable them play their role as catalysts for economic growth.
The stakeholders, in different chats with Brands & Marketing, at the just-concluded Hotel Expo Nigeria (HEN), in Lagos, therefore appealed to government promptly address the twin issues of insecurity and infrastructure, that continue to serve as huge hindrances to the growth of the sector.
The Founder and Convener of HEN, Jonathan Hansen, argued that if the government is truly desirous of ramping up its employment-generation drive, it was become imperative to give brands and operators in the hospitality business the much-needed support, since the sector remains the largest employer of labour.
The hospitality enthusiast explained that one of the reasons for starting the annual exhibition of brands in the sector, was to create awareness for the sector and provide a platform, annually, for operators to network.
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He expressed the delight that the annual event, which made its debut in 2019, with 14 participants, had begun to gain popularity among stakeholders, with 65 brands, leveraging the platform, this year, to network and establish enduring business partnerships.
“Government partnership has not been easy. The only thing that we’ve got is endorsement. This is an industry government should see as a driver of employment creation, since the ecosystem is seen as the highest employer,” he added.
While also calling on government to pay more attention to the sector, Hospitality Business and Inventory Management Consultant, Ntewak Umoh, believed the exhibition offered vendors the opportunity to come together to provide wide range of businesses that, ordinarily, would have been difficult to access at a spot.
The CEO, GateHub, Vera Ohioma lauded the organisers for being consistent in delivering connection and engagement, a development , she added, had enhanced the fortunes of the industry, and enabled if contribute its quota to the development of nation’s economy.
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