Serena Kigali tops in hospitality

Kigali Serena Hotel has emerged the best in the hospitality sector after beating its associate hotels in the region.

Sunday, April 20, 2014
Silver Furaha (L) receives a certificate from Bart Gasana, the chairperson of tourism chamber at the Private Sector as Charles Muya looks on. (Timothy Kisambira)

Kigali Serena Hotel has emerged the best in the hospitality sector after beating its associate hotels in the region.

This follows a survey made by Lobster Ink, a South African firm specialising in equipping hotel staff with hospitality skills.

"Of the 2,000 Serena staff across the region, Serena Kigali is ranking best with 57 lobster certificate holders,” said Russell Dunkley, the training manager at Lobster at the certificate awarding ceremony on Thursday.

Rhoda Were, Lobster training manager for East Africa, said the firm was involved in training the staff besides carrying out the survey.

Joseph Munyanshongore the overall best performer in the English language class, expressed satisfaction that the training has had a positive impact.

"Most of our clients speak English. It won’t be difficult to communicate with the clients anymore,”  he said.

Another beneficiary, Didas Habiyambere, a housekeeper  who also attended the training said: "I have learnt to love and respect my job. Previously, it was a matter of making money, I cared less about the services I provided to clients.”

At the same event, Serena Kigali general manager, Charles Muya, congratulated the members of staff.

"This is a sign of great enthusiasm. There has been a great improvement in the service quality which I commend Lobster for,” he said.