AKWAABA ANTE PORTAS
(Posted 20th November 2015)
AKWAABA – West Africa’s premier travel market and tourism trade show, held annually in Lagos, is about to kick off this weekend at the Eko Hotel & Suites on Victoria Island in Lagos.Alongside this year is Africa’s largest street party carnival, Carnival Calabar is unveiling its 2015 theme in Lagos on Sunday 22nd November which happens to be the opening day of the biggest travel exhibition in West-Africa-Akwaaba. At the unveiling, Akwaaba delegates from all over the world will have a taste of what to expect in Calabar come December. The carnival unveiling in Lagos will be hosted by the Executive Governor of Cross-River state-Prof. Ben Ayade supported by Sen. Florence Ita-Giwa- Chairman Carnival Calabar Band Associations. The event will bring delegates from all over the world to witness the unveiling which is part of the vision of the Governor to internationalize the peoples Carnival.
With the large numbers of international visitors to Akwaaba 2015, Akwaaba has chosen First Business Logistics Ltd a subsidiary of Sky Blue Services Nigeria to offer visitors a better travel and logistics experience when they touch down at the Lagos Airports. Skyblue will handle airport protocol for international visitors arriving Muritala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos for this year’s event. First Business Logistics Ltd, a travel and aviation services solution provider offers a wide range of services including flight ticket & Hotel Reservation, Travel Concierge/protocol and Logistics services as well as aviation services. As the D-Day approaches, top brands are scrambling for the few available spaces due to the space constraint for this year. Kenya Tourism Board, Rwanda Development Board, Rwandair, Air Maroc, Golden Tulip Hotel, First Business Logistics, Radisson Blu, Sierra Leone, Ethiopian Airlines, Whispering Palms and others have joined the list of exhibitors for Akwaaba 2015.
The Kenyans will be arriving with a cultural troupe to showcase Kenyan culture. The Atunda ENT promoted by La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort will also be entertaining guest at Akwaaba this year. This year’s event will be held in the same venue as last year’s event which is smaller than the usual venue, so most exhibitors had to be dropped. But enough space is being provided for the 2016 edition. The 2016 signup forms will be available during the events to enable more exhibitors’ signup early and prevent last minute delays as many exhibitors could not be accommodated this year. The Executive Governor of Sokoto state in Nigeria and the former Speaker of the Nigerian National Assembly Honorable Aminu Tambuwal will be the Chairman at the African Travel Awards and Dinner. The African Travel awards is one of the high points of the 3day Travel event and comes up on the 1st day, 22nd Nov from 7pm. He would be accompanied by the Hon. Commissioner of Commerce, Industries and Tourism, Sokoto State- Alh. Aminu Bello.
As repeat exhibitors at Akwaaba, Sokoto state would be showcasing her rich Tourism Products to both international and local audience which is what Akwaaba as a platform offers. Some of the Awards to be presented at the event include Best Hotel in Africa, Airline of the Year-Africa, Best Resort in Africa, Africa most friendly City, and Best Airport in Africa, with Waturi Wa Matu presented with the African Legend Award for her role in promoting Tourism in East-Africa. Meanwhile the DG NCAA, Capt. Usman Mukhtar, MD, International Services of Ethiopian Airline along with the Head of IATA Middle East and Africa, will be headlining this year’s Aviation Day at the 11th Akwaaba. The International Air Transport Association (IATA), in line with its, objective to bring increased connectivity to Africa has partnered with Akwaaba to organize the Aviation day. The event will hold on the 23rd of Nov, the 2nd day of Akwaaba from 10am.
The event aims to stimulate valuable discussions by renowned industry players to address the lingering issue of connectivity in Africa. It will feature presentations of papers by notable individuals in the industry on issues concerning the sector. Adefunke Adeyemi, IATA Regional Head for Member (Airline) and External Relations for Africa and the Middle East will be sharing a recent study by IATA on connectivity in Africa at the Aviation Day. The event is themed “National Carrier, Open Skies and Connectivity in Africa”. Managing Director, International Services, Ethiopian Airlines, Esayas Woldemariam will also be making a presentation, while the Director General, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Capt. Muhtar Usman will be the Chairman of the day. The moderator for the day will be Aviation Consultant Mr Chris Aligbe.Already the President, Nigeria Association of Tour Operators, Nkereuwem Onung and the President, National Association of Nigerian Travel Agents, Alhaji Aminu Agoha have accepted to be among panel members at the event which is for Travel Trade Professionals.
Amb. Bianca Ojukwu will be cutting the tape to declare the Wedding & Spa Show open and formally opening the Akwaaba Travel Market. Bianca Ojukwu, the wife of the former Nigerian leader Chief Odumeugwu Ojukwu is also a former beauty queen who has since moved into Diplomacy, as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain & UNWTO. Other VIP’s lined up to declare other Sessions open at the 3day Travel Trade Event. The Wedding show is sponsored by Dubai Tourism in partnership with Emirates and will feature over 10 countries showcasing amazing Wedding & Honeymoon destinations, Weekend Getaways and Spa Sanctuaries. Travelstart Nigeria which would be exhibiting at Akwaaba for the first time, hopes to extend its reach across Africa. According to the Head of Communications for Travelstart Nigeria, Oluwakemi Ojo said, “We’re delighted to have the opportunity to participate in this year’s AKWAABA African Travel Market Expo, to build on our existing affiliations, acquire competitive advantage for Travelstart and stay up-to-date with latest development in the travel industry.
Also, Samsung West-Africa a leading Technology company, in its bid to increase brand visibility especially amongst Hoteliers and Resort Owners will be showcasing its Professional Displays, Hotel TV ranges, Smart Signage & IT products at Akwaaba 2015. As sponsors of the Hospitality Day event, Samsung West-Africa will be sharing with Hotel & Resort Managers how they can improve their guest experience. According to Mr. Anu-Rotimi Agboola (Head, Samsung Enterprise Business Solution -SMART Signage & SMART Hospitality Displays) “our participation at Akwaaba is more about brand visibility and we will be giving gifts to the Top 5 Hotel Winners of the Travellers top 100 Hotels in Lagos Polls. However, these Hotels must use Hotel TVs not consumer TVs. The advantage of Hotel TVs over Consumer TVs is that they give better guest experience by allowing guests personalize their experience”. Other Guest Speakers are Mr. Sanjo Bamgboye- Director, Current Links Systems Ltd on “Facilitating Payment Innovation in Hospitality” and Mrs. Lilian Obinna-Igwe, Country Manager Travelstart Nigeria on “Online Booking in Africa and how it works”. There will also be a panellists made up of Top Hotel GMs across Africa to deliberate on the issues raised.
The Hospitality Day at Akwaaba seeks to create a platform that would help provide knowledge about burning issues and raise Hotel standards in Africa. The Travellers top 100 Hotels in Lagos Polls winners will also be announced and receive their certificate at the event. The Wine Tasting event follows immediately after from 4pm. Wine Tasting Event at the Hospitality Day presents an opportunity for Wine Producers from all parts of the World to Network and Market to over 50 Wine distributors from across Nigeria. It also offers wine distributors the opportunity to deal directly with wine producers eliminating the middle men. This event is open to all Hotel and Hospitality Professionals. Hospitality Day holds on the 24th Nov, 2015. Attendance is by registration. The paper ‘How to Know Your Wine’ will be anchored by Chief J.A Rowlands.
