BON Hotels International said it will continue to emphasize their strategy of providing Nigerians with world class skills and training in order to develop the Nigerian hospitality sector.
According to the international hotel group, BON Hotels made their ‘home-grown’ policy known when they entered the Nigerian hotel management arena some two years ago and, recent reports shows that the number of Nigerian managers coming through continues to increase.
This development, BON Hotels said, clearly emphasizes their program and commitment to skills development and transfer.
Speaking on these developments, Executive Director, Mr. Bernard Casser said BON Hotels in Nigeria is profoundly proud of its people, pointing out that the expatriates staff of the group have taken it seriously and devoted their energy into transferring their knowledge and abilities to eager recruits.
“We are able to boast from the rooftops that more and more of our hotels are managed on a senior level by locally trained Nigerian staff.”
According to Cassar, this strategy has been a work in progress, when as far back as 2001 Nigerian individuals were identified and fast tracked to form a new generation of localized senior managers.
“ Of the 25 hotels which BON Hotels manage across Nigeria, 78% of their general managers, deputy managers, senior management, department heads and executive chefs have, over the last two years, been trained, skilled and promoted to senior level positions by the group.
According to him, a Nigerian, Mr. Paul Umoh, who, from his position as executive director and major shareholder at BON Hotels International West Africa, is one of the many local Nigerians who have been fast-tracked through the transformation policy, adding Umoh heads up the on-the-ground operational management of the Nigerian hotels.
“In two years BON Hotels has been able to identify the right talent within their ranks and has placed a strong focus on fast-tracking and supporting their home-grown program.
“BON Hotels International West Africa is extremely pleased at the progress of the BON group. We recognize the need of skills development when we began operating in Nigeria.
“We put together a transformation program, which the board identified as a priority. We are finally in a position where we have a team of elite Nigerians who have been trained, educated, skilled and, importantly, mentored to head up and be supported by senior executive management and head office. This forms an ideal base for future growth in Nigeria on all levels,” he added.
