The VA TourismPodcast

Anne- Marie Mascaro courts support for Primates

In today’s episode, Founder of US-based Monkey Initiative Anne- Marie Mascaro opens up on her motivation for the support and protection of primates. She believes countries need to have the right legislation to support conservation efforts.
Anne-Marie’s love of primates was ignited in early childhood after a chance encounter with a chimpanzee used in entertainment.  She recognized the exploitation of animals from a young age and felt drawn to change the fate of other primates.  After college, she moved to New York city where she would connect with her future mentor, Linda Koebner.  Linda was a chimpanzee behaviorist and co-founder of Chimp Havenchimpanzee sanctuary in Louisiana.
 
Anne-Marie used her background in marketing to do volunteer publicity and fundraising for the sanctuary, gaining them a coveted spot in the famous annual “Blessing of the Animals” event at the Cathedral of St John the Divine in NYC. She was part of grassroots brainstorming sessions for the chimpanzee sanctuary, so she understands the power of small groups working towards a common goal.
 
Volunteer work opened doors to a stint in Uganda, working with captive chimps, followed by a Master's of Science, Primate Conservation (With Merit) from Oxford Brookes, and an MBA in London.  Anne-Marie is the “ideas” person of Monkeyfriendy, Inc.-leveraging ideas from around the world into project ideas for Red Rocks Monkeyfriendly Initiative in Rwanda. 

An audience with the Chairperson of the Rwanda Tours and Travel Association Bonita Mutoni

In today’s episode, the Chairperson of the Rwanda Tours and Travel Association Bonita Mutoni sheds light on the state of preparedness of the Association for the tourism restart. Bonita whose niche is in the area of luxury-high-end tourism believes building back better will mean African Destinations should rethink their models when pitching for business to the region.
Bonita is currently the Sales and Marketing Director of both One&Only properties in Rwanda and Founder of Uber Luxe safaris, one of the leading Destination Management companies in Rwanda. She is Incredibly passionate about luxury travel and is keen to play a role in Rwanda’s development into the leading eco-luxury travel destination.
 

Unpacking AUDA-NEPAD's Post Covid-19 African Tourism Recovery Strategy with Mrs Estherine Fotabong

My Guest today is the Director of Program, Innovation and Planning at the Africa Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) Mrs. Estherine Fotabong. Mrs. Fotabong sheds more light on her agency’s Post Covid-19 African Tourism Recovery Strategy launched in the midst of the pandemic to support member states. She believes the time has come for Africa to pay more attention to innovation in building a sustained and resilient tourism sector.
Before her appointment as Director at the AUDA-NEPAD, Mrs. Fotabong was the UNEP Country Liaison Officer for South Africa and the Senior Environment and Tourism Adviser to the NEPAD Secretariat. She has a Master’s Degree in Law and another Master’s Degree in International Affairs, specialising in International Policy and Practice. Mrs. Fotabong has co-authored several publications relating to Climate Change Adaptation, Environmental Law and Development Policy. She has extensive global travel experience, through serving in various portfolios.
In May 2014 and July 2016, Mrs. Fotabong received Honorary Awards from the Governments of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and Republic of Cameroon respectively, for her passion, dedication, and leadership towards advancing equality and empowerment of African women.

CEO of IKAZE PCO Brenda Nyakira Anderson talks Innovation, MICE Restart and her Journey

In today’s episode, CEO and Managing Director of IKAZE PCO Brenda Nyakira Anderson shares her story on how the Rwandan-based Professional conference organizers had to shelve major events as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Over 12 months into the pandemic, Brenda has led the team to adapt their business model to the new normal and introduce some novelty to the market.
Prior to founding Ikaze PCO, worked within the Commercial Department at the High Commission, and was responsible for attracting Foreign Direct Investment to Rwanda and expanding Rwanda’s export base; advising the Rwandan Diaspora about various business opportunities in Rwanda and the UK; generating new Investor leads for Foreign Direct Investment in Rwanda and advising on all areas related to the Investment Code of Rwanda.
Ikaze PCO targets inbound tourism, and in particular MICE Tourism with a strong focus on Conference and Incentive travel to Rwanda. They offer a single point of contact solution for event planners. This includes venue and accommodation sourcing, event website design and online conference registration, function planning and theming, audio visual and technical requirements.

Ghana's Strategy to Restarting Tourism revealed

Today’s episode is a fascinating conversation with the Director of Investments and Product Development at the Ghana Tourism Authority Ben Anane-Nsiah. He tells me Ghana is looking to diversify its source market with a focus on the African Market. He was the leader of the Delegation of Ghana’s trade and tourism mission to Rwanda which was facilitated by the Rwanda High Commission in Accra and the Rwanda Development Board.
 

Série de discussions sur la Gastronomie Africaine : La Cheffe Hanane Saïf Sohun nous parle de la Gastronomie Comorienne avec Franck Olivier Kra

La session d'aujourd'hui du Tour de la Gastronomie Africaine est une conversation fascinante sur la culture alimentaire Comorienne. Hanane Saif Sohun est née á Médine en Arabie Saoudite de parents Comoriens. Elle fait ses études primaires et secondaires à Moroni dans la capitale des Comores avant de partir poursuivre ses études supérieures en Tanzanie où elle s’est formée en anglais et dans le secteur de l’aviation. De retour aux Comores, elle devient agent de voyages dans une grande compagnie de la place avant d’être recrutée comme hôtesse de l’air. Elle travaille tout d’abord pour une compagnie nationale Comorienne avant d’être recrutée pour une compagnie aérienne Sud-Africaine pendant des années.
La passion d’Hanane Sohun pour la cuisine date de sa plus tendre enfance sous le joug familiale en regardant sa mère qui reste une référence indéniable pour elle jusqu’à nos jours, même si le côté autodidacte est ce qui l’a emmené à être chef gastronomique. Elle est donc fondatrice de Yummy Cuisine et Pâtisserie et un service traiteur qui lui permettent de faire connaître la gastronomie Comorienne tant au niveau national, continental qu’à l’international. Hanane Sohun est mariée à un Mauricien et est mère de trois garçons qui font d’elle une mère et épouse comblée.

Kenya's Najib Balala identifies 3 key Pillars for a sustained tourism sector recovery

Episode 67 of the VA Tourism Podcast is an exclusive with Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary of Tourism & Wildlife Hon, Najib Balala. He discusses how Kenya's tourism sector managed the effects of the coronavirus Pandemic and identifies 3 pillars as essential for a sustained tourism sector recovery.
Hon. Najib Balala, EGH, assumed the position of the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife in the 2015 government reshuffle. He moved from the Ministry of Mining where he was appointed as Kenya’s first Minister in May 2013 and is credited with delivering the Draft Mining Bill in 2014, the first policy and institutional framework review of Kenya’s mining sector since 1940. Having also served as Minister for Tourism from April 2008 to March 2012, Hon. Balala holds the record of being the longest-serving Minister in the docket.
During that tenure, Hon. Balala delivered the Tourism Bill and gave the sector a policy and legal framework geared towards maintaining sustainability. Hon. Balala has been elected Chairman of the United Nations World Tourism Organization twice, in 2011 and 2019, where he currently holds the position of Chairperson of UNWTO Executive Council.
 

Putting People First before Profits in the midst of covid-19 kept us Afloat- Tim Cordon

In a very insightful conversation with the Senior Vice President, Middle East & Africa at the  Radisson Hotel Group Tim Cordon, the Hospitality Executive recounted how Radisson stayed in business with its “People First before profits” in the midst of the global pandemic. He outlined 3 core elements which proved to be essential in navigating the crises.
Based in Dubai, Tim is responsible for leading hotel operations and delivering business growth and profit across the group’s largest area, with over 100 hotels in operation and over 80 hotel projects in the development pipeline. As a young and dynamic hotelier, Tim brings a level of knowledge, skills, and experience, which are critical to Radisson Hotel Group’s expansion plans and strategic operations across the Middle East and Africa.
A British national, Tim has been with Radisson Hotel Group (formerly Carlson Rezidor) since 2003 and was recently appointed Area Senior Vice President for the Middle East & Africa in 2017.  
He began his progressive career in the UK where his first General Manager's position was at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Manchester Airport which, at the time was Rezidor's largest hotel in the UK and where he successfully positioned the hotel in Rezidor's top 20 performing hotels worldwide.  He went onto hold leadership positions in two of the group’s key properties in London, Radisson Blu Portman Hotel and Radisson Blu Hotel Stansted Airport.
He briefly left the group to become General Manager of the Cumberland Hotel in London, before returning as the General Manager of the Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek. In 2015, he was promoted to Regional Director Middle East & Turkey.
Tim holds a degree from Nottingham Trent University in Mechanical Engineering and Design and Technology, including qualified teacher status. In 2006, Cordon entered the British Hospitality Hall of Fame, with the Alpha Forum Prize – “Young manager” award. For two consecutive years, Tim has secured a spot in the top 5 of Hotelier Middle East’s Power 50 list
Connect with Tim Cordon