B Oluwatoyin Mathnuel
At the just concluded hotel, restaurant and cafe industries (HORECA) Exhibition at Landmark Event Centre, Oniru, Lagos, Insight Global News Editor Oluwatoyin Mathnuel sat down with Mr. Olugbenga Sunday Omotayo, a distinguished Nigerian with recognized portfolios in Hotel Management and Hospitality.
Enjoy the conversation.
Good afternoon, sir. May we meet you?
Good afternoon. I am Olugbenga Sunday Omotayo, Convener of the Hotel Managers Africa Conference. I am also the Vice President of Hotel Managers School and the CEO of Tojum Hospitality.
Last year’s HORECA Balmoral 4th edition was massive. What is your take on this 5th exhibition?
There is clear improvement. The shift to Landmark Event Centre, which is currently one of the biggest venues for exhibitions, has made a significant difference. The quality of conversations between exhibitors and visitors has improved. There is a lot of business activity going on. People are connecting, learning, and getting empowered within the industry.
What about networking?
There has been a lot of networking. People are meeting new contacts and building relationships. Today alone ( Laughter), I have met over twenty people within a few hours. Yesterday was the same experience. New partnerships are forming, and there are meaningful conversations around our profession. That is very healthy for the industry. I must commend the organisers for putting this together.
So, would you say it has been impressive?
Absolutely. Very impressive.
What should we look forward to in the future regarding HORECA?
We need to build on this momentum. The market is already maturing, but we must sustain the innovation. We cannot relax and assume we have arrived. There is still room to grow. We can expand by securing more halls at Landmark, increasing participation, encouraging deeper conversations, and most importantly, ensuring sustainability. We want to see the 10th edition, the 20th edition, and even the 100th edition in years to come.
At this 5th HORECA edition, what would you say has been the major strength so far?
Collaboration. The organisers clearly understand the power of collaboration. They know the importance of bringing people together and working collectively. I am a professional partner on this project, and the collaborative effort has been truly commendable.
Thank you for your time, Mr. Olugbenga Sunday Omotayo.
You are most welcome.
