Hoteliers decry half-baked graduates

BY KIPCHUMBA KEMEI

Kenya: Hoteliers in Masai Mara Game Reserve have an unsavoury verdict on most universities and colleges offering hospitality courses.

They pointed an accusing finger at them for producing unqualified graduates. The hoteliers’ spokesperson Francis Musengeti said the industry was chocked with graduates who were not up to task.

Mr Musengeti called for further training, adding they were responsible for the dwindling quality of services.

“The graduates are a disgrace to the hotel industry and should be taken back for further training. Clients have raised the issue of poor quality of service and food offered by them. Colleges and universities should also revise the curricular to conform to the changing needs in the industry,” he advised.

Musengeti, who is also the manager of Sarova Mara Game Camp said most hotels operating in Mara have personnel whose services were questionable, charging that they were a blot to the multi-billion shilling industry.

He was speaking during a workshop sponsored by the Catering Development Levy Tourism Fund (CDLTF) at Keekorok Lodge in Mara.

Hoteliers also took issue with the manner in which the Immigration Department and the Tourism Ministry were issuing expatriates with work permits and licenses to operate hotel and catering businesses in the reserve.

Mara, they observed, was saturated with expatriates who they claim had no knowledge of the industry, adding that they work in most of the establishments owned by foreigners.

“These expatriates have no knowledge of what it entails being in the hospitality industry. If they are challenged, they produce work permits which they have been given by the Immigration Department and licenses from tourism industry,” complained Musengeti.

Tourism Fund chief executive officer Allan Chenane said unqualified personnel should be retrained for them to discharge their mandates.