adminIsdore Guvamombe in Victoria Falls
MANPOWER — especially staff development and marketing — have been identified as key focus areas for 2013 Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe congress, which opened in the resort town of Victoria Falls yesterday. The congress is the annual gathering of members of the HAZ and is expected to attract up to 180 delegates from across Zimbabwe for three days of discussions, networking and social interaction.
The 2013 theme is Putting People First, leading to the focus on people as staff and people as customers.
The congress is open to anyone interested or involved in hospitality in Zimbabwe, especially but not exclusively members of HAZ, and is an opportunity for hospitality operators to strategise, share ideas, communicate and learn, as well as meet with colleagues from across the country.
Among the speakers is Mr Juan Visser, from City and Guilds in South Africa, who updated delegates on international training and staff development issues, while a high-level speaker from the Standards Association of Zimbabwe would give a presentation on standards today.
Mr Visser is the regional manager for Africa for the City & Guilds Institute of London. City & Guilds is the leading awarding body to the vocational industry in the United Kingdom since 1878.
He has been with City & Guilds since 2002 and has fulfilled a wide number of roles in this organisation.
During the congress sessions there would also be reports from key travel and tourism bodies, the annual report by the HAZ President, Tich
Hwingwiri, and the laying down of resolutions to guide the association through the coming year.
Tourism and Hospitality Minister Walter Mzembi is being represented by his secretary Mrs Florence Nhakairo.
Running concurrently with congress would be the annual Hospitality Fair, at which suppliers of products and services for the hospitality industry would have exhibition stands.
The congress would end with the Hospitality Awards dinner, at which accolades would be given to people and organisations being recognised for effort and achievement in their business operations or for the hospitality industry.
Congress sessions and the Hospitality Fair would be held at Elephant Hills, while social events would be taking place at several venues around Victoria Falls, including The Victoria Falls Hotel, A’Zambezi River Lodge and Cresta Sprayview, as well as on board the new river cruiser, the Zambezi Explorer.
HAZ President Tich Hwingwiri said: “We are hopeful of a large turnout of members and others for what promises to be a thoroughly useful and very informative event.”
The SAZ speaker Mr Sebastian Zuze, a qualified and competent manufacturing professional with 15 years’ hands-on manufacturing management of diverse manufacturing units in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique and South Africa, will close the congress.
Now director quality assurance of SAZ, Mr Zuze has held various positions in business, from production management trainee to operations executive and is a graduate of the Tiger Brands Manufacturing Academy in South Africa and the National University Of Science and Technology in Zimbabwe.
He is the current Green Business Awards Chairman and also serves on The Food Standards Advisory Board.
In his present role he is responsible for ensuring that the auditing and certification of ISO Management Systems and Product Mark schemes are conducted according to the international standards for accredited Certification Bodies.
The Management Systems and Product Mark Schemes enhance competitiveness of Zimbabwean products and services while at the same time safe guarding the welfare of consumers and communities
There will also be HAZ Awards presented annually at the congress, and are aimed at recognising effort and achievement within or for the hospitality industry, a key component of the overall travel and tourism sector.
The HAZ Hospitality Award is the most important of the awards given and past winners have included leading hoteliers, HAZ presidents, public service officials and other people whose roles have helped promote and develop the industry.
Online Reporter