The VA TourismPodcast

CEO of AUDA-NEPAD Dr Ibrahim Mayaki opens up on Partnership Renewal with UNWTO

Episode 84 of the VA Tourism Podcast is an exclusive interaction with the CEO of the Africa Union Development Agency- NEPAD Dr. Ibrahim Mayaki. Dr. Mayaki has been explaining the reasons behind the renewal of AUDA’s partnership with the World Tourism Organization. The Former Prime Minister of Niger who has had an accomplished career as a Politician, international statement, and author gives a sneak peek into what he will be doing when he bows out as the head of AUDA in September this year.
Dr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki of the Republic of Niger is the Chief Executive Officer of the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD). He was appointed to this position in March 2009. 
He started his career as Professor of Public Administration in Niger in 1975, then in Venezuela; he has been a guest professor at the University Paris XI and led research at the Research Centre on Europe and the Contemporary World within that university. 
He was Minister in charge of African Integration and Cooperation and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Niger in 1996 and Prime Minister of Niger from 1997 to 2000. 
He equally served as Executive Director of the Rural Hub Think Tank, based in Dakar, Senegal from 2004 to 2009. 
He is « Commandeur de l’ordre du mérite national » of Niger , «Commandeur de l’ordre du mérite agricole » of France and decorated in the « Orden Isabel la Católica ( Encomienda de Número) of Spain. 
He was rewarded the highest distinction of the State of Japan, the "Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun", by Emperor Naruhito, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to promoting friendly relations and mutual understanding between Japan and Niger as well as Japan and the African Union. 

Marketing Manager of Accra City Hotel, Yaw Mamphey talks navigating through Covid-19 and remaining relevant to Ghana's Hospitality Industry

My conversation today is an insight with the Marketing Manager of Ghana’s Accra city Yaw Mamphey. He beliefs the pandemic has offered the hospitality sector an opportunity to build a sustainable market with the domestic market as its main pillar.
Yaw has over 10 years experience as a Top–Performing hospitality and guest-oriented professional, steering business development, operational efficiencies and strategic sales and marketing initiatives for hotels and resort properties. He had always provided leadership for the teams he works with. Execute a “clear vision and voice” to align with high ethical standards and cultures of discipline that value integrity and transparency in the core business.
He played a key role in sales & marketing in leading countryside and city hotel properties to unprecedented market share, revenue and profit. Increased revenue within the first year at the Accra City Hotel property. Developed a high-performing team that led Accra City Hotel to the highest market share and profit in the last few years of operation. This helped in aiding the hotel to earn 20 Awards & Accolades for Excellence in the first 2 years of assignment at Accra City Hotel. Yaw in the course of his career been bestowed with the awards below
o “Most Admired Hospitality Professional” 2020 – Hospitality Awards Ghana
o “Best Marketing Director - Africa” 2019 - Haute Grandeur Global Hotel Awards
o “Most Admired Sales & Marketing Director” 2019 - Hospitality Awards Ghana
o “Excellence in Marketing Management” 2018 – The Bizz Awards

Road to Recovery; A Conversation with South Africa’s Minister of Tourism Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane

In today’s episode, South Africa’s Minister of Tourism Honourable Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane outlines a number of initiatives her outfit is leading to bring about transformation in the rainbow nation’s tourism sector. The Minister also shed light on the e-visa rollout, priority for tourism stakeholders in SA’s vaccine program and SAT’s impending merger.
Mmamoloko “Nkhensani" Kubayi-Ngubane is, a Member of Parliament of the Republic of South Africa and a member of the National Executive Committee of the African National Congress. 
Prior to her current role, Kubayi-Ngubane previously served as a Minister in three portfolios, Science and Technology, Communications, and Energy respectively. She has held several leadership roles both within the ANC and as a deployee of the ANC in various spheres of government. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Johannesburg (formerly Vista University), a Postgraduate Diploma in Project Management from Damelin College, a Masters Degree in Public and Development Management from the University of the Witwatersrand and completed a Programme for Leadership Development at Harvard Business School. 
Kubayi-Ngubane is an outgoing member of the Global Artificial Intelligence Council established by the World Economic Forum's Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. She joins other global leaders as a member of the Forum’s newly established Global Future Council on Sustainable Tourism, a multi-stakeholder knowledge network tasked to advance innovative thinking for a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable future. 

Kenya Convention Bureau launches Brand Logo and aims at becoming a Major MICE Destination in Africa

My Conversation today is an exclusive with the CEO of the Kenya National Convention Bureau, Ms. Jacinta Nzioka. Jacinta believes Kenya is well-positioned to be a major MICE Destination in Africa and its conservation history will help endure the Harambee nation to many who wants to have a seamless event. She said the covid-19 pandemic compelled them to think outside the box to be adequately prepared for the future.
Ms. Nzioka was appointed in October 2019 as the National Coordinator/ Chief Executive Officer heading the secretariat setting up the Kenya National Convention Bureau, as a brand new entity.  Under her leadership, KNCB has been able to develop a 10-year roadmap destination Strategy for MICE and a destination Brand identity to position and market the destination.  Through the one year that KNCB has been in operation, various industry engagements and frameworks to engage the value chain, professionalize and coordinate the sector in Kenya as well as collaboration regionally and global awareness of Kenya has a MICE destination has been palpable.
Before her appointment, she had served as the Director of Marketing at the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) for 6 years where she was charged with the responsibility of leading Kenya's global tourism marketing strategy.  In 2016, she was the Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the KTB for 11 months.  With over 20 years of experience in Destination Marketing & Management at the KTB, she has been involved in several projects and initiatives to turn around the sector during previous crises through implementation of global recovery strategies. While at the Tourism Board,  Jacinta has overseen implementation of tourism projects in all the source markets having been a Regional Manager for America, Europe and Emerging Markets during this period and has overseen development of a strategy to penetrate the African market and Domestic markets in later years. 
 
Ms. Nzioka is serving as an Advisory Board member of the World Tourism Forum, Lucerne and the UNESCOs International Tourism & Cultural Committee (ICOMOS), Board Member at the Ecotourism Kenya and is ICCA Africa Chapter Deputy Chair elected in 2020 for the next two years.

President of SITE Africa, Tes Proos looks at Africa's readiness for Incentive Travel

In today’s episode, the President of the Africa Chapter for the Society of Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE)  Tes Proos delves into the state of the continent’s Incentive travel market and looks at what can be done to quicken the MICE recovery. Tes who has an accomplished career in the meetings sector believes recent events in FITUR and the Arabian Travel Market should signal a gradual restart of business events in Africa.
Tes is currently serving as President of the SITE AFRICA Chapter (Society of Incentive Travel Excellence) and Immediate Past Chair of the South Africa Events Council.
Her career started in hotel operations in 1985.  She gained vast experience in hotel operations over the next 10 years, including opening a new convention center in Johannesburg in 1993.
She spent time at both Gallagher Estate and Sun City where she was involved in running groups and events up to 10 000 guests.
She became a DMC in early 2000 and thoroughly enjoys what she does, being able to bring her operational, sales, and marketing experiences together in creating magic for international incentive programmes.  She is also a proud recipient of a SITE Crystal Award for Best Motivational Programme in Africa/Middle East.
 
 

An Exclusive with CEO of Namibia Airport Company, Bisey Uirab

In today’s episode, the CEO of the Namibia Airport Company Bisey Uirab tells me how the airport company is positioning its self  to attract the required investments to the country’s aviation sector. He is confident the newly refurbished Hosea kutako international airport will not only enhance travel experience but also act as another layer for non-aeronautical revenues

The Seychelles Gastronomy Story with Flavien Joubert

Today’s episode is a special program dubbed ‘’ Tour of African Gastronomy Talk Series’’ where featured chefs of UNWTO’s Tour of African Gastronomy Journal speak to us on their culinary journeys.My guest today is Mr. Flavien Joubert, former head of the Seychelles Tourism Academy and a seasoned chef. Mr.. Joubert takes us on a tour of the very spicy and tasty Seychelles culinary. He points to collaboration and partnerships as ways to help bring out Africa’s diverse culinary offerings.
Flavien Joubert is married and have two grown-up daughters. He had his culinary studies/hotel management studies in Cyprus, England, and France. He's had professional culinary chef posts in England, France, Singapore, Seychelles, Switzerland. Flavien also served as a hotel General manager at a 5-star hotel in Seychelles.
He's been in pedagogical and teacher training in Seychelles, England and Germany.He has also held principal teaching and lecturing posts in culinary and hospital management in Seychelles, La Reunion, France, Mauritius, Germany.Flavien is the author of several books which include: -Exotic seafood recipes from the Seychelles published in France in 2000
-Exotic cocktails from the Seychelles published in England in 2014-Fish and seafood recipes published in England in 2017-Refugee: A Seychelles boy's story published in 2019
 

Mohammed Hersi on Kenya's Tourism Restart Plan

My guest today is the Chairperson of the Kenya Tourism Federation, Mohammed Hersi. The East African country in the last two weeks has seen a resurgence of covid-19 and as a result, the reimposition of some stringent measures to curtail the chain of infection. This new development seems to be chipping away the efforts by stakeholders to restart tourism which is a major economic pillar of Kenya.  Mr. Hersi in this conversation discusses a raft of measures the federation has taken to guarantee the safety of staff and guests as well as updates on Kenya’s vaccination program for the tourism industry players.
Mohammed is also the Director of Operations at Pollmans Tours & Safaris, Baobab Beach Resort & Spa, Diani