THE dearth of standard, well-equipped and professionally managed training schools for hotel workers has been identified as the bane of development in the hospitality sector in Nigeria.
This disclosure was made by the Area General Manager of Starwood Hotels in Nigeria, Mr. Alexander Gassauer at a travel trade expo in Lagos.
Speaking on standardisation of hotels in Nigeria, Gassauer, who oversees the operations of all Starwood hotels in Nigeria, said that professional associates (workers) was a top priority.
He added that the nonexistence of a good training school was hampering progress in the hospitality sector.
"Hotel leaders must have the skills to operate a hotel. And this education is simply nonexistent in Nigeria. There is not one decent hotel/tourism school in the country," he said, even as he called for an urgent step to be taken by both the government and operators in the sector to address this if the sector must be highly rated.
According to him, these required skills go beyond cooking. "They include practical skills as well as product knowledge up to managerial skills like revenue management, professional sales, food and beverage management, skills that you learn in a hotel school like beverage/wine. Who in Nigeria knows more than red and white wine?"
With the hospitable and naturally friendly nature of Nigerians, Gassauer said when professionally attained skills were added, workers in the sector would become perfect hospitality associates. To bring about this development, he spoke of the various initiatives by his organisation in not only training its personnel, but others from across the country.
Besides training, the Starwood Hotels boss said healthy competition in the sector would drive standards to a higher level. Other factors, according to him include the hotel guests who are constantly demanding higher standard, hotel owners, the market and the hotel brands themselves.
While highlighting the growth of Starwood in Nigeria in its over 26 years of existence with Lagos Sheraton Hotel as its first property (now five and still counting), Gassauer said the future of the industry is very bright. He urged the private operators to look beyond the government and show more commitment to developing and growing the sector.
