Photo: Mr Sunday Omotayo
By: Mandy Park
The Convener of the Hotel Managers Africa Conference, Mr. Sunday Gbenga Omotayo, has commended the organisers of the fifth edition of HORECA for what he described as significant improvement and stronger industry collaboration.
Omotayo spoke during an interview with Journalists at the just concluded HORECA Exhibition held at the Landmark Event Centre.
A respected professional in Nigeria’s hospitality sector, Omotayo serves as Vice President of Hotel Managers School and Chief Executive Officer of TUNDUN Hospitality.
Reflecting on the growth of the exhibition from its fourth edition to the current outing, Omotayo said the change of venue to Landmark Event Centre, one of Lagos’ leading exhibition hubs, contributed greatly to the overall success of the event.
“There is clear improvement,” he said. “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.”
He noted that networking opportunities stood out as one of the major highlights of this year’s exhibition.
“There has been a lot of networking. People are meeting new contacts and building relationships. Today alone, 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,” he said, commending the organisers for putting together what he described as an impressive outing.
On the future of the HORECA exhibition, Omotayo urged stakeholders to sustain the current momentum and deepen innovation within the industry.
“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,” he stated.
He expressed optimism about the long-term prospects of the exhibition, saying industry players should aim for continuity and longevity.
“We want to see the 10th edition, the 20th edition, and even the 100th edition in years to come,” he added.
Identifying collaboration as the key strength of the fifth edition, Omotayo said the organisers demonstrated a clear understanding of the importance of collective effort in driving industry growth.
“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,” he said.
The HORECA Exhibition continues to serve as a major platform for hospitality and catering professionals across Nigeria and beyond, fostering business connections, knowledge exchange and sector-wide development.
