BusinessDay... the voice of business: African Tourism Investor Awards attract leading partners

African Tourism Investor Awards attract leading partners
================================================================================
OBINNA  EMELIKE on 21 January, 2008 08:00:00
 
These awards represent the only Pan African forum for leading Tourism investors,
operators and promoters to network and develop investment projects.
International Tourism investors from the Middle East, Europe and North America
amongst others have already confirmed their participation for the Tourism
Investor Awards ceremony which takes place on February 25, 2008 at The Sandton
Convention Centre in South Africa .
"We are delighted with the huge international investor interest and exciting
investment projects submitted for the Tourism Investment Awards. There is no
doubt with partners such as the UNWTO and Africa Travel Channel the Awards
ceremony will one time opportunity for international and African hospitality
investors to discuss a number of exciting projects to be showcased on the
evening", Hubert Danso, vice chairman, Africa Investor Awards said.
Among the hotly contested categories are several African Ministers of Tourism
nominated for the African Tourism Minister of the Year Award. The Awards
organized by London based Africa investor are supported by a high level judging
panel which includes: Geoffrey Lipman, a professor, assistant secretary general,
UNWTO and chairman of judging panel, Estherine Lisinge-Fotabong, NEPAD; Irene
Visser, International Finance Corporation (IFC); Trevor Ward, W Hospitality
Group; Kate Rivett-Carnac, Director of Tourism, DTI, South Africa and the
driving force behind TINAPA, (Africa’s prestigious Business Resort), and
Donald Duke, former Governor of Cross Rivers State, Nigeria.
Tourism Investor Awards will be provided for the following categories: Tourism
Investment Programme of the Year, Business Resort of the Year, Tourism Promotion
Agency (TPA) of the Year, Hospitality Management Team of the Year, Sustainable
Tourism Investment of the Year, Best Initiative in Facilitating SME Tourism
Investment, Hotel Investment of the Year, Tourism Investment Advisor of the
Year, Business Airline of the Year, Ti 2010 Legacy Investment of the Year and
Business Travel Insurer of the Year and now African Tourism Minister of the
Year.