Hospitality, tourism experts lined up for Innovation Series

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Leading experts in Uganda’s tourism and hospitality sector are set to discuss creative approaches companies can harness to grow their businesses, at the third edition of Innovation Series Thursday, 7^th March 2019 at Golf Course Hotel in Kampala.

Eight speakers from different fields in the tourism and hospitality sector have been confirmed to speak at the event. Innovation Series, a regular thought-leadership event in Uganda promotes the adoption of innovation in business to spur growth.

“The panelists for the third edition of Innovation Series were carefully selected to ensure there’s excellent representation of different trades and fields of expertise that make a significant contribution to the growth of the tourism and hospitality sector in Uganda,” said  Walter Wafula, the Business Unit Head- PR brainchild BCW (Burson Cohn & Wolfe),.

“We are grateful that they accepted share their knowledge with delegates at the Innovation Series and are confident that participants will learn a great deal from their many years of experience and ingenuity, as they discuss at the event,” Wafula said.

According Rinaldi Jamugisa, the Public Relations and Digital Communications Manager, at public relations firm brainchild BCW  speakers include . Samantha Muna, the Director for Development East Africa, Hilton hotels andTimothy Mugume, the Country Manager – Jumia Travel & Food Uganda.

Muna’s hospitality career spans three continents – USA, Europe and Africa – in various roles in operations, management, consultancy and advisory.  She worked in the hospitality asset management in Boston, MA improving the performance of hotel assets under institutional ownership managed by the main hotel brands; such as Starwood, Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt.

Mugume has over five years’ experience in E-commerce, and is in-charge of the leading Jumia Travel and Food Uganda. Jumia has a strong focus on promoting the fast foods e-commerce through working with over 1,000 hotels, and 100 flight partners. Other key speakers at the event include Brian Ntambirweki the Marketing Director Virtual University of Uganda.

Ntambirweki is a Global Shaper with the World Economic Forum, Marketing Director of Virtual University of Uganda, and a consultant with Petromall (UK). He is a dynamic and experienced professional with diverse skills  including; marketing, and corporate communications & strategy development, product positioning & branding.

Also on the panel is Aly Alibhai, the Chief Executive Officer of Talent Africa Group, a leading entertainment company that organises and hosts the largest cosmopolitan music festival in East Africa. The event; Nyege-Nyege International Music Festival hosts over 10,000 participants, 3000 of whom are tourists.

Samora Michell, the Quality Assurance Manager, Uganda Tourism Board,Grace Tumwesigye, the CEO, Association of Tour Operators in Uganda (AUTO),  Julian Byamugisha, City Manager, Taxify Uganda, and Nielsimms Sangho, Country Lead, Flatterwave Inc – Uganda, are also confirmed as a panelists at the event.

Past speakers at the Innovation Series include Richard Byarugaba, the NSSF Managing Director,  Samuel Mabala, the Commissioner for Human Settlements in the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mathias Katamba, the Managing Director, DFCU Bank,  Arthur Mukembo, Regional Director, Remax, among others.