As the sales manager of Serena Tanzania, incharge of the Northern and Southern circuits, MARIA LUGWE is tasked with selling the exquisite tourist sites, writes NJOKI CHEGE

Few Kenyans are local travellers, and even fewer are regional tourists. Unknown to many, East Africa is rated one of the most beautiful regions, complete with exotic sceneries, sandy white beaches and wildlife spreading out through the vast game reserves.

Sadly, many Kenyans miss out on these breath-taking moments either because they are too busy to enjoy them or simply dismiss them as too expensive and unaffordable.

But it is Maria Lugwe’s job to debunk this myth, especially among locals to get more people to appreciate what our beautiful region has to offer. 

Born 41 years ago in Tanzania, Maria has cut a niche for herself as a sales guru through out the years. After pursuing a degree in Hotel Management at the New Castle University in the United Kingdom, Maria did her internship at Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge and Nairobi Serena Hotel.

Unforgettable experience

She later worked for Serena Hotels Tanzania as reservations manager from 1998 to 2004.  Maria then moved to the UK for her second degree in Health Management at the Brunel University. She then worked for Air Uganda as a country sales manager for Tanzania for a year until she left in 2010.

Come June last year, Maria rejoined Serena Hotels — but this time as a sales manager for Serena Tanzania, based in Kenya.

“My focus for the past one year has been on the two luxury properties which are just 45 minutes from Dar-es-Salaam. It is a new product that guarantees a unique, unforgettable experience,” she says.

Maria says more tourists have warmed up to the idea of visiting a camp with a difference.

She says a lot has to be done to encourage Kenyans and the rest of Africa to become ardent local travellers.

“Kenyans especially, need to cultivate a culture of local and regional travelling and be part of the amazing East African experience.

In most cases, many Kenyans shy away from visiting such exclusive facilities either because they perceive them to be too expensive or too far away.

Balancing act

“In as much as we are targeting the high-end clientele with this product, we also have various packages available for the other clients who might feel limited when it comes to resources. The fact is, you cannot afford to miss out simply because you feel financially limited” she says.

With such a demanding job how does she manage?

 A wife and a mother of four children aged between 19 years and 12 years, Maria admits that it is sometimes difficult to juggle a demanding job such as this and her family duties.

“Ours is a demanding job that requires you to be constantly on your toes, to work long hours and travel often,” she says.

Maria has learnt the secret to balance her family duties vis a vis her job as a sales manager.

Says she: “It all lies in your ability to plan and prioritise. Create time for your family; in the same way you have time for your work and travel. Time management is key in striking balance in all areas of life.”

There is a myth that women in the hotel industry are of loose morals and can hardly make it to the top, but Maria dismisses this as baseless. “Being a woman in the hotel industry requires a lot of energy and resilience,” she says.

Resilience

Notably, however, is that several women including Maria who have steadily risen to top management positions in the hotel industry discredit this notion.

“I believe women in whatever industry can do well because they give their all. If you put a woman in hotel management, she does well. And if you place her in another industry, she will do just as well” says Mary.

Driven by her passion for the hospitality industry, Maria hopes to start her own hospitality solutions provider outfit in the near future in a bid to drive further her passion.