By Kadiatu Sankoh
The Sierra Leone Association of Hotels (SLAH) has concluded a five-day nationwide hospitality training programme aimed at strengthening professionalism, customer service and service delivery within the country’s tourism and hospitality industry.
The programme brought together participants from hotels, restaurants, beach bars and other tourism-related establishments across Sierra Leone, with more than 400 participants benefiting from the training.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, John Shallop, President of SLAH, expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the programme and commended participants for their commitment throughout the training.
He said the initiative was implemented in partnership with a French organisation providing training programmes in Africa and Europe. According to him, SLAH signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the organization which a needs assessment was conducted in Sierra Leone to identify the specific training requirements of hospitality workers.
The needs assessment informed the development of a practical curriculum tailored to the local hospitality sector. The training was led by Mr. Jean-Paul Hubert from France.
Shallop said the five-day programme was only the beginning, noting that future sessions would build on the basic skills introduced during the training.
He announced plans for another training programme in January, saying continued professional development was essential to improving standards in the hospitality industry.
He also emphasised the importance of customer service, noting that every department within a hotel from reception and restaurants to housekeeping, rooms and the kitchen has a role to play in delivering quality service.
Meanwhile, the Federation of Allied Tourism Associations (FATA) commended SLAH for organising the nationwide initiative and pledged continued support for capacity building within the tourism sector.
The Interim Chairman of FATA John Sandy said the organisation serves as an umbrella body bringing together 19 tourism-related associations across the country. He said FATA’s objective is to promote collaboration among tourism stakeholders, advocate for its members and complement the work of the Ministry responsible for tourism.
He noted that the training had been conducted across several regions, including the North, East, South, North-West and Western Area, describing the initiative as an important step towards improving service standards.
The Chairman urged participants to put their newly acquired knowledge into practice and contribute to changing perceptions about service delivery in Sierra Leone.
He also called on tourism stakeholders to support Sierra Leone’s participation in the upcoming WAFFEST competition in The Gambia.
As part of preparations, FATA announced that Sierra Leone’s first national culinary competition will be held on Saturday, 10 October, at Kabbana Restaurant at lumbley Beach.
The event will also serve as a fundraising initiative to support Sierra Leone’s team for the WAFFEST competition. The FATA Chairman appealed to hotels, restaurants, casinos and other tourism stakeholders to purchase tickets and attend the event as a way of supporting the national team.
He recalled Sierra Leone’s previous achievements at the competition, noting that the country had won several trophies, including awards for Best Country Cuisine and Best Continental Cuisine.
Sallieu Kargbo a student who participated in the programme, said the training strengthened his understanding of professionalism, discipline, respect, punctuality, responsibility and effective communication.
He said the programme also demonstrated the importance of continuous training and encouraged participants to share the knowledge gained with colleagues in their respective workplaces.
Fatmata Marah of Kabbana Restaurant said the five-day training had broadened her understanding of hospitality operations and helped her appreciate how different departments work together to provide quality service.
Isatu Kamara of Levuma Beach said the programme improved her understanding of professional guest relations, particularly how to properly welcome and interact with guests.
The closing ceremony also featured the launch of the FATA/SLAH website, marking another step towards strengthening the sector’s digital presence and promoting Sierra Leone’s tourism and hospitality industry.
At the ceremony, certificates were presented to participants who successfully completed the training. The three best-performing students were also recognised for their outstanding performance.
Onike Garrick of Chapter One was awarded Best Student, while Fatmata Marah of Kabbana Restaurant and Mohamed Kallie Kanu of Atlantic Hotel were recognised as the second and third best-performing participants respectively.
The organisers described the training as the beginning of a broader effort to strengthen professional capacity and improve the quality of hospitality services across Sierra Leone.