In just five weeks, over 300 hospitality industry investors, business leaders, government officials and expert advisors on the African continent are expected to converge in Windhoek for the Africa Hospitality Investment Forum (AHIF) 2024.
This is the first time the event is being hosted in southern Africa after Namibia won the bid and was announced as the 2024 host last year.
The bid was facilitated by the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), which also serves as the host partner in Namibia.
Announcing the sponsorship in Windhoek, O&L executive chairman and managing director of O&L Leisure Sven Thieme congratulated the NIPDB for facilitating the winning bid for Namibia.
He noted this is an achievement that highlights a collective commitment to showcase Namibia’s unique tourism potential on the international stage.
“The NIPDB shares O&L Leisure’s vision of positioning and marketing Namibia as a premium destination, offering world-class experiences. Together, we strive to bring Namibia’s rich culture, stunning landscapes and exceptional hospitality to the forefront of the international tourism industry,” said Thieme.
AHIF is known to be a premier investment forum that gathers the highest calibre of international hotel investors, making it the most influential conference of its kind in Africa.
It also plays a crucial role in driving investment into tourism projects, infrastructure and hospitality development on the continent, and has the potential to contribute towards reshaping Namibia’s tourism industry.
“As part of our diversification strategy, geared towards expanding the Namibian economy, tourism has been identified as a potential key driver for economic growth. With the high calibre of investors, hoteliers and financiers coming to Namibia, we are very deliberate in leveraging the convening power of AHIF to showcase the investment opportunities in this sector, with a clear end-goal of securing investments that enable a sustainable future for Namibians,” said NIPDB CEO Nangula Uaandja.
With over 300 delegates attending the forum, hosting AHIF is expected to yield tangible economic benefits for Namibia.
The influx of visitors will stimulate economic activity in the country, boosting demand for hotel accommodation, transportation and restaurant services, as well as peripheral services, such as curio and gifting products.
Uaandja added that in the long-term, successfully hosting this conference is a key element to achieving Namibia’s strategic goal of becoming a business tourism destination, supported by the establishment of the Namibia Convention Bureau, aimed at branding and promoting Namibia as a MICE destination.