Namibia gears up to welcome hundreds to dynamic Africa Hospitality Forum
After months of meticulous planning, it’s all systems go and Namibia is ready to host the global community for what is anticipated to be a dynamic edition of the Africa Hospitality Investment Forum (AHIF). Windhoek is opening her doors to investors, business leaders, senior government officials and expert advisors from 41 countries registered as delegates who will converge at the Mövenpick Hotel for three days of high-level networking, formal business meetings and discussions of all the latest trends and developments in the hospitality industry on 25 – 27 June 2024.
This prestigious event, taking place for the first time in Southern Africa, marks a significant milestone for Namibia after securing the bid to host AHIF 2024 last year through the efforts of the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), which also serves as the 2024 event host partner.
The Vice President of the Republic of Namibia, Her Excellency Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, will officially open the Forum on Wednesday, 26 June 2024, underscoring the Namibian government’s support for the event as a strategic intervention aimed at driving investments and further development into the tourism sector. Other prominent speakers include Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Hon. Pohamba Shifeta, Nigerian Minister of Tourism, Hon Lola-Ade John and Ugandan Minister of Tourism and Antiques, Hon Tom Butime. The event will also attract senior representatives from some of the biggest global brands in hospitality and tourism including Club Med, Radisson Group, IHG Hotels & Resorts and Marriott International, Inc. to name but a few.
With this high calibre of delegates converging in one venue, Namibia has an unprecedented opportunity to showcase her hospitality and investment potential to a global community of hoteliers, investors and financiers. On the first day of the conference, the NIPDB in collaboration with key stakeholders from the public and private sector will present current and emerging investment opportunities in the country’s tourism sector during a session themed “Powering Investments into Namibian Hospitality”, to be moderated by world renowned CBS News Travel Editor, Peter Greenberg. The session will be livestreamed on the NIPDB Facebook Page, and the public is encouraged to tune in and follow the discussions. This will be followed by a targeted, private presentation on Thursday, where carefully selected tourism focused projects will be showcased to potential investors and financiers.
In addition to investment related conversations, we have created a platform for seven Namibian MSMEs to showcase and sell their arts and crafts at both the Movenpick Hotel as well as at the cocktail reception to be hosted by FNB and RMB Namibia at Droombos. This is another way we are ensuring that Namibian businesses are given access and opportunities to participate in these big projects to meet and network with potential investors, and grow their enterprises in the process.
Another highlight of the conference will be the “Hospitality Leaders Unplugged:Ask Us Anything” Youth masterclass to be held on the last day of AHIF, where over 140 students from 13 higher education institutions across the country will be given a once in a lifetime opportunity to engage in a two-hour Question & Answer session with senior leaders in the hospitality industry. Some of the institutions represented include Namibia University of Science and Technology, Okakarara Vocational Training Centre, International University of Management and Valombola Vocational Training Centre to name but a few.
The NIPDB is proud to be the host partner for AHIF, the most influential hospitality industry gathering in Africa, making it an opportune platform for investors and stakeholders to explore and capitalise on the myriad investment opportunities available in Namibia’s tourism sector.
In addition, hosting AHIF 2024 in Namibia is expected to yield tangible economic benefits. The influx of visitors will stimulate economic activity in the country, boosting demand for hotel accommodation, transportation and restaurant services as well as peripheral services such as curio and gifting products.
In the long-term, hosting this conference is a key element to achieving Namibia’s strategic goal of becoming a business tourism destination, supported by the establishment of the Namibia Convention Bureau aimed at branding and promoting Namibia as a MICE destination. By successfully hosting AHIF 2024, Namibia will demonstrate her readiness and capacity to host large-scale international events, which will position the country as a competitive player in the MICE industry and attract future events and conferences.
The NIPDB would like to acknowledge the following Namibian entities who made significant contributions as sponsors and partners of AHIF 2024, thereby making it possible for Namibia puts her best foot forward at this global gathering: O&L Leisure, FNB Namibia, RMB Namibia, De Beers Group, Gondwana Collection Namibia, Frans Indongo Group, Namibia Tourism Board, DB Audio and Droombos.
-NIPDB – Picture: AHIF