October 14, (THEWILL) – Training and retraining of hotel staff have been described as useful modules to attain growth in the hospitality sector.
That statement was disclosed by the General Manager of Ogeyi Place, Dr Michael Pinder, during the Icon of Hospitality Nigeria Award, held in Port Harcourt, recently.
Pinder, who is also recipient for the Icon of Hospitality Nigeria Award has called on hotel owners and investors to increase their efforts and investment on staff, asserting that ‘Bricks and mortar do not make hotels.
According to him, ‘It is the staff at the hotel which give the hotel its reputation.’ The award was handed to him in a very impressive corporate event inside the hotel on Tuesday 11th October 2022.
Mr Olugbenga Sunday Omotayo, the Chairman of Hotel Managers Award, who is also the CEO and Convener of Hotel Managers Conference Nigeria, speaking before the award was conferred on Dr Michael Pinder, hinted on the sterling qualities of the recipient while shedding light on the vision of the Hotel Managers Awards and Hotel Managers Conference.
‘Today, we are making history and that history begins with the conferment of this legacy award which is the highest award by the Hotel Managers Awards, the Icon of Hospitality Nigeria, to Dr. Michael Pinder, for the enormous hard work and glittering impacts he has made in the Nigerian hospitality industry!’, said Mr Olugbenga.
‘Dt Pinder stands as a grandfather in the hospitality space in Nigeria as he has personally trained and mentored Managers who have mentored other managers. Impacts are the true evidences that we have lived well. Dr Pinder, you’re living well’, Mr Olugbenga affirms.
‘The Hotel Managers Conference and Awards was conceived to uplift hotels in Nigeria and Africa at large as we seek to eliminate the very obvious gaps noticeable between international brand hotels and local brand hotels’, he maintained.
Dr Michael Pinder, responding after receiving the award appreciated everyone who came to celebrate with him and appreciated the invaluable efforts of staff in sustaining Star rating and standards of Ogeyi Place Hotel Port Harcourt.
‘To all staff and management here: it is you who make the hotel. It will never be me. I’m one person! In every hotel I’ve worked in, there’s no me without my staff. Without the staff, there are no standards. You are the future of your country’s hospitality. All of you,’ he emphasised.
Dr Pinder continues by saying, ‘I want to appreciate every staff member who has worked with me over the years for bearing with my screaming and shouting. I’m very proud to be the General Manager of Ogeyi Place Hotel Port Harcourt, Rivers State, as he concludes.
A number of the attendees took time to comment on the person and career of Dr Michael Pinder.
Madam Felicia Obioma, one of the guests present, speaking about Dr Michael Pinder, says, ‘From when I met him I knew I was talking to a gentleman. Then I got to know his immediate family, his beautiful wife, and his proficiency in hotel management, which speaks for itself, as he is quite a mogul in hotel management. He is very strict person and disciplined. He takes on any topic for discussion and makes great sense of it. He’s widely read!’
‘And so Mike I feel that you deserve this award. And many more recognitions are coming to you still. I want to thank those who put this together to recognize greatness. If you recognize greatness, you’re great yourselves. Thank you very much, Madam Felicia Obioma concluded.
George Robert, who is a very good friend and a ‘dressmaker’ as he introduced himself, in his remarks, called on the audience, ‘Have you experienced Mike? I would encourage you to experience him if you haven’t! Those of you in the hospitality industry can claim him and like Madam rightly said, “Mike’s knowledge transcends every facet”. His simplicity cuts across everything he does,’ Mr George affirms.
Mr Nelson Uche, the Sales and Marketing Manager of Ogeyi Place Hotel, also impressed his boss, Dr Pinder, saying, ‘Dr. Pinder is one person who knows how to encourage someone! I’ve worked with them for over 3 years. The first time I met him, he was sitting in a restaurant. He kept me sitting for about 20-25 minutes. Then he spoke and the first word he said was, ‘I love your tie! Then he asked me if I knew what SWOT analysis is and I said yes… And from that day he began to work with me, Mr Nelson said with gusto!
‘He is that kind of a person who would tell you the wrong you did when you get it wrong and he would praise you when you do it right. He doesn’t always complain when you get it wrong. He’ll actually tell you and equally praise your fine achievements. I’d love to work with him much more. And I say to you, Dr Pinder, congratulations on this award,’ Mr Nelson ended his comment.
Janefrances Ebere Chibuzor is a Tourism Writer at THEWILL
