Four Nigerian Women that have made it to the position of general managers with international brands will be honoured by African Travel Times Magazine at its 2021 edition awards ceremony, the organiser has announced.
Lucky Onoriode George, organiser revealed that recognizing and honouring these trailblazers was the result of rigorous research carried out by the magazine.
They are Amaka Tesy Michael, General Manager of Swiss International The Vistana Lekki, Lagos; Uloma Philise Danjumbo who is currently the General Manager of BON Hotel Elvis; Rita Opiah, general manager, Park Inn by Radisson; and Sandra Ogbahor, currently the general manager BON Hotel Nest, Bodija, Ibadan.
Amaka Tesy Michael had a successful career with Protea Hotel, Golden Tulip Hotel and Swiss International Mabisel Port Harcourt, before challenging herself further. She comes with a vast wealth of experience spanning 16 years in the hospitality sector, with eight of those years spent as general manager.
She is a graduate of Business Administration and Management, She also holds a MBA from the prestigious Business School of The Netherlands and she has never been afraid to break new grounds and demonstrated strong leadership in a male-dominated organization.
Uloma Philise Danjumbo is a Rivers State born graduate of Enugu State University of Science and Technology with B. Eng. Metallurgical and Material Engineering turned hospitality queen, who is currently the General Manager of BON Hotel Elvis, Wuse, Abuja.
She has previously worked as Assistant General Manager, Golden Tulip Essential Benin City, Edo State between July 2016 to January 2017 and general manager, Golden Tulip Oniru, Lagos, from 2017 to 2018 before moving to her current position at BON Hotel Elvis, 2019.
Rita Opiah of Park Inn by Radisson is enthusiastic, altruistic and passionate for service; and has emerged in numerous leadership positions in her professional career. She worked as a receptionist at the Victoria Crown Plaza before joining Protea hotels in 2009 to further her experience in the hospitality industry where in less than a year she was promoted to the position of Sales and Marketing Manager.
Rita has also worked with Marriott Hotels before she became the Deputy General Manager with Bon Hotels. Today, she’s the first Nigerian Female General Manager in the history of Radisson Hotel Group.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Enugu State University and Masters’ degree in International Relations from the University of Lagos respectively.
Sandra Ogbahor, who is currently the general manager BON Hotel Nest, Bodija, Ibadan, Oyo State is a tested hospitality administrator and strategist; as well as, an overall specialist in all aspects of the industry.
She studied for her Ordinary National Diploma in Mass Communication at the Osun State Polytechnic Iree between 2001 and 2003; later to Lagos State University where she studied for a degree in Industrial Relations and Personnel Management.
Sandra was confirmed as the first Indigenous female General Manager Protea Hotels by Marriott in 2014 in a male chauvinistic hospitality management industry hitherto reserved for expatriates
Some winners in the hospitality categories are: Best 3-Star Hotel, Continent Hotel, Akure, Nigeria; Most ICONIC Hotel, [Nigeria], Wheatbaker Hotel, Lagos; Best 4 Star Luxury Hotel [West Africa], Tang Palace, Accra, Ghana; Best Conference Hotel [West Africa], Eko Hotels & Suites], Lagos, Nigeria and Best Indigenous Hotel Brand – West Africa* Alisa Hotels, Accra, Ghana.
In the individuals and organisations categories, winners are: Kifalu Masha, General Manager, Alisa Hotel, Accra – General Manager of the Year, Ghana; Dewald Kruger, General Manager, The Envoy Hotel, Abuja – General Manager of the Year, Nigeria; Professor Wasiu Babalola – ‘Hospitality and Tourism Educator of the Year’, award in the training and manpower development category, West Africa]; Eko Hotel & Suites – Industry Most Supportive Institution [West Africa]; Hotel Presidential – Most Consistent Hotel [South-South – Nigeria] and Air Peace – Airline with most Connectivity [Nigeria].
Others are, Africa World Airline – Most Reliable Airline [West Africa]; Ibom Air – Most Reliable Airline [Nigeria]; Continent Hotels and Resorts; Hon. Apata Samson Nunayon, ‘Destination Promoter of the Year’, Nigeria.
The virtual ceremony with winners and industry practitioners will be held on Thursday 9th of December 2021 at 2 pm Nigerian time.
According to Lucky Onoriode George, Publisher/Editor of the publication, the yearly award, which was initiated eight years ago, is to recognise excellence in the travel and the tourism sector in Nigeria, West Africa, and beyond.
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