LAGOS – Mr Lanre Awoseyin, Financial Secretary of the Hotel and Tourism Management Association of Nigeria on Tuesday advised hoteliers to employ qualified managers to improve the hospitality industry. [pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]
Awoseyin told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the hospitality industry was becoming
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sub-standard as a result of quacks operating in most hotels.
“The quality of services of most hotels is poor.
“Every hotel manager ought to have at least a minimum of a Higher National Diploma in either tourism or hotel management.
“This qualification enables them to manage a hotel properly with the knowledge acquired in schools,’’ Awoseyin said.
He noted that having qualified hands managing hotels in the country would also improve the quality and standard of hotel hospitality as a profession.
“Like every other professional like medical doctor, lawyer, engineer and others with set standards, the association is determined to set an academic qualification standard for the profession.
“This would improve the standard of the profession and would also accord it the command and respect it deserves.
“Leaving the profession in the hands of every Dick and Harry is dangerous for its future and may also force us out of business.’’
According to him, the association is planning to bulldoze inexperienced persons out of the system.
“The association is working on a joint collaboration with the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation and the Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria to ensure that the non-qualified hands are chased away from the business.
“We will all ensure that hotel operators who are not having the required qualification are kicked out the system.’’
According to Awoseyin, the hospitality industry must be sanitised to promote domestic and in-bound tourism. (NAN)