By MOHAMMED SHOSANYA
The future and growth of Africa hospitality business rest mainly in Africans themselves and not necessarily on borrowed models of development
,Karl Hala, the Group Gener-al Manager , Continental Hotel made the assertion in a paper ti-tled “ Reimagining African Hos-pitality : Powered by People ,Built for the World “ at the Hotel Man-agers Africa Conference hosted by Lagos Continental Hotel ,Vic-toria Island , Lagos
He said: “Africa’s hospitality story isn’t new. But the chapter we’re about to write together? That’s going to be different.” In-deed Africa’s future in hospitality won’t be built on borrowed mod-els. It will be powered by our own people – retooled, reimagined, and ready to lead.
According to him, the need to build Africa’s future in hospital-ity is now more than ever for the continent then reap the growing growth trajectory in the industry.
“ With the youngest population in the world, Africa has a unique opportunity to shape its own fu-ture in hospitality, rather than relying on outdated models. “We can’t afford to wait,” Karl Hala emphasised. “
He noted that Africa with the youngest population in the world — yet many of our brightest minds are still queuing for jobs, or worse, queuing at embassies.”
Karl pointed out that for Afri-ca to build a thriving hospitality industry, the continent needs to invest in talent, youth, and rele-vance.
He explained that this will entails bringing classrooms into hotels, rewarding curiosity over conformity, and investing in dig-ital tools that speak to today’s digital-native youth.
“A cleaning supervisor in Ki-gali should be able to learn the same skills, on the same digital platform, as a hospitality train-ee in Geneva,” Karl Hala noted. “That’s equality. That’s innova-tion.” he pointed out
The GGM averred that adopt-ing this approach, Africa can cre-ate a truly innovative and globally competitive hospitality industry stressing The next global brand may not come from Las Vegas — but from Makurdi,”
Karl Hala said. “If we digitise boldly, train smartly, and promote fearlessly, Africa will not be the world’s hospitality workforce — it will be its hospitality compass.”
He submitted that as Africa’s hospitality industry continues to grow and evolve, it’s essential to recognize the importance of cultural strengths and unique traditions.
“We’ve got untapped bril-liance: Nigerian cuisine, Ghana-ian warmth, Kenyan precision, Rwandan elegance,” Karl Hala highlighted. “But we must turn these into exportable standards, not just local charm.”
According to him, by doing so Africa can create a hospitality industry that is not just a sector, but a solution that drives econom-ic growth, employment, and soft power. “Hospitality in Africa is not just a sector — it’s a solution,” Karl Hala emphasised.
“So let’s rise. Let’s rethink. And let’s reimagine — together.”
With the right approach, Af-rica’s hospitality industry can become a major player on the global stage. “The time is not to-morrow. The time is now,” Karl Hala urged. Let’s build an indus-try that is proud, innovative, and globally competitive.
As we move forward, it’s es-sential to recognize the potential of young professionals in the in-dustry. “Let me say this clearly: Don’t wait to be chosen,” Karl Hala advised.
He Said: “Train hard. Think global. Act local. Lead with au-dacity. If no one’s opening the door — build your own entrance. You’re not the future. You’re the force of now.”
He explained that by empow-ering young professionals and investing in talent, Africa can create a thriving hospitality in-dustry that is driven by innova-tion, technology, and a focus on local talent.