Eastern Africa Joins Forces to Build the Workforce Strategy for Hospitality and Tourism
Eastern Africa Joins Forces to Build the Workforce Strategy for Hospitality and Tourism
Eastern Africa Joins Forces to Build the Workforce Strategy for Hospitality and Tourism
NAIROBI, KENYA, 28 October 2026 – Kenya took centre stage in advancing hospitality and tourism workforce development as it hosted the largest Future Leaders Challenge Eastern Africa to date.
Hosted on 26–27 October under the patronage of Hon. Rebecca Miano, EGH, Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife, Republic of Kenya, the regional gathering connected industry leaders, educators, government representatives and future talent to strengthen workforce development and create opportunities beyond the classroom.
Kenyan institutions claimed all three places in the final, with Maasai Mara University emerging as the winner of the Future Leaders Challenge Eastern Africa 2026. Boma International Hospitality College and the Technical University of Kenya completed the final three.
Beyond the competition, the event demonstrated the wider ambition of the Future Leaders Platform: building an ecosystem where education, industry and government work together to develop skills, address workforce needs and open doors to internships, careers and entrepreneurship.
“Young people need more than qualifications. They need opportunities to connect with industry, share their perspectives and become part of the conversations shaping their future,” said Hubert Ummels, Founder of the Future Leaders Platform. “By bringing education, industry and government together, we are building the relationships that turn talent into opportunity. That is what the Future Leaders Platform is all about.”
Creating Opportunities Beyond the Classroom
Through the Future Leaders Challenge, student teams presented their ideas for the future of hospitality and tourism directly to industry leaders, gaining valuable exposure, feedback and professional connections.
The programme extended well beyond the competition. Industry workshops with experts from Trianum, Accor, Diversey and Radisson offered students practical insights into the sector, while property visits to Nairobi Serena Hotel, Mövenpick Hotel, Sarova Stanley Hotel and Radisson Blu Hotel provided a closer look at hospitality operations. A Student Recruitment Fair brought employers and future talent together, creating opportunities for direct engagement and career exploration.
An equally important milestone was the continued development of the School Directors Alliance Eastern Africa, connecting education leaders with industry and government to strengthen the quality and relevance of hospitality and tourism education.
For the first time, the Alliance programme included a joint panel discussion with representatives from all three sectors, creating space to address skills gaps, strengthen industry alignment and explore how education can better prepare young people for employment.
The regional edition welcomed participants from Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.
“Across Eastern Africa, we have enormous talent and potential. Our shared responsibility is to ensure that young people have the skills, exposure and connections they need to succeed,” said Dr Esther Munyiri, Country Manager for Future Leaders Platform Eastern Africa. “What we have achieved in Nairobi goes beyond bringing 12 countries together. We have strengthened relationships between institutions and industry that can lead to meaningful opportunities for future talent across the region.”
For the Future Leaders Platform, the Nairobi edition represents another step towards a more connected hospitality and tourism workforce across Eastern Africa. By bringing education leaders, employers, governments and future talent into the same conversation, the Platform aims to turn collaboration into lasting opportunities for skills development, employment and entrepreneurship.
About the Future Leaders Platform
The Future Leaders Platform is a global workforce-development ecosystem connecting industry, education, government and future talent. Through initiatives including the Future Leaders Challenge, Craft & Culture Challenge and School Directors Alliance, it strengthens skills development, employability, entrepreneurship and job creation.
Future Leaders Platform Eastern Africa – Strategic Board
The Future Leaders Platform Eastern Africa is supported by a Strategic Board of hospitality, tourism and education leaders committed to strengthening regional collaboration, developing future talent and creating opportunities across Eastern Africa’s hospitality and tourism sector.
David Chiawo – Dean, School of Tourism and Hospitality, Strathmore University
Devota Mdachi – Head of Communication and Marketing Unit, National College of Tourism
Frank Mugisha – CEO, East Africa Tourism Platform
Hubert Ummels – Founder, Future Leaders Platform and GameChangers
Lilly Ajarova – Senior Presidential Advisor on Tourism, Uganda
Michael Njogu – Managing Director, Sense of Africa East Africa, and Chief Operating Officer, Tourvest Destination Management
Mike Vroom – Chief Operations Officer, Hemingways Collection
Ryan Powell – Chief Operating Officer, Sales and Touring, andBeyond
Shivram Gangadharan – General Manager, Radisson Blu Hotel and Residence Nairobi, Arboretum Park Lane
Simon Hodson – Country Manager Kenya, Accor
Media Contact & Enquiries
Mike Richters
Global Communications, Future Leaders Platform
mike@mwr.studio
WhatsApp: +65 8165 0434
Media Images
Download post-event press photographs: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/15tG4eeL74fiSIMVAU-I_jb-2Colm08Hz?usp=sharing
NAIROBI, KENYA, 28 October 2026 – Kenya took centre stage in advancing hospitality and tourism workforce development as it hosted the largest Future Leaders Challenge Eastern Africa to date.
Hosted on 26–27 October under the patronage of Hon. Rebecca Miano, EGH, Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife, Republic of Kenya, the regional gathering connected industry leaders, educators, government representatives and future talent to strengthen workforce development and create opportunities beyond the classroom.
Kenyan institutions claimed all three places in the final, with Maasai Mara University emerging as the winner of the Future Leaders Challenge Eastern Africa 2026. Boma International Hospitality College and the Technical University of Kenya completed the final three.
Beyond the competition, the event demonstrated the wider ambition of the Future Leaders Platform: building an ecosystem where education, industry and government work together to develop skills, address workforce needs and open doors to internships, careers and entrepreneurship.
“Young people need more than qualifications. They need opportunities to connect with industry, share their perspectives and become part of the conversations shaping their future,” said Hubert Ummels, Founder of the Future Leaders Platform. “By bringing education, industry and government together, we are building the relationships that turn talent into opportunity. That is what the Future Leaders Platform is all about.”
Creating Opportunities Beyond the Classroom
Through the Future Leaders Challenge, student teams presented their ideas for the future of hospitality and tourism directly to industry leaders, gaining valuable exposure, feedback and professional connections.
The programme extended well beyond the competition. Industry workshops with experts from Trianum, Accor, Diversey and Radisson offered students practical insights into the sector, while property visits to Nairobi Serena Hotel, Mövenpick Hotel, Sarova Stanley Hotel and Radisson Blu Hotel provided a closer look at hospitality operations. A Student Recruitment Fair brought employers and future talent together, creating opportunities for direct engagement and career exploration.
An equally important milestone was the continued development of the School Directors Alliance Eastern Africa, connecting education leaders with industry and government to strengthen the quality and relevance of hospitality and tourism education.
For the first time, the Alliance programme included a joint panel discussion with representatives from all three sectors, creating space to address skills gaps, strengthen industry alignment and explore how education can better prepare young people for employment.
The regional edition welcomed participants from Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.
“Across Eastern Africa, we have enormous talent and potential. Our shared responsibility is to ensure that young people have the skills, exposure and connections they need to succeed,” said Dr Esther Munyiri, Country Manager for Future Leaders Platform Eastern Africa. “What we have achieved in Nairobi goes beyond bringing 12 countries together. We have strengthened relationships between institutions and industry that can lead to meaningful opportunities for future talent across the region.”
For the Future Leaders Platform, the Nairobi edition represents another step towards a more connected hospitality and tourism workforce across Eastern Africa. By bringing education leaders, employers, governments and future talent into the same conversation, the Platform aims to turn collaboration into lasting opportunities for skills development, employment and entrepreneurship.
About the Future Leaders Platform
The Future Leaders Platform is a global workforce-development ecosystem connecting industry, education, government and future talent. Through initiatives including the Future Leaders Challenge, Craft & Culture Challenge and School Directors Alliance, it strengthens skills development, employability, entrepreneurship and job creation.
Future Leaders Platform Eastern Africa – Strategic Board
The Future Leaders Platform Eastern Africa is supported by a Strategic Board of hospitality, tourism and education leaders committed to strengthening regional collaboration, developing future talent and creating opportunities across Eastern Africa’s hospitality and tourism sector.
David Chiawo – Dean, School of Tourism and Hospitality, Strathmore University
Devota Mdachi – Head of Communication and Marketing Unit, National College of Tourism
Frank Mugisha – CEO, East Africa Tourism Platform
Hubert Ummels – Founder, Future Leaders Platform and GameChangers
Lilly Ajarova – Senior Presidential Advisor on Tourism, Uganda
Michael Njogu – Managing Director, Sense of Africa East Africa, and Chief Operating Officer, Tourvest Destination Management
Mike Vroom – Chief Operations Officer, Hemingways Collection
Ryan Powell – Chief Operating Officer, Sales and Touring, andBeyond
Shivram Gangadharan – General Manager, Radisson Blu Hotel and Residence Nairobi, Arboretum Park Lane
Simon Hodson – Country Manager Kenya, Accor
Media Contact & Enquiries
Mike Richters
Global Communications, Future Leaders Platform
mike@mwr.studio
WhatsApp: +65 8165 0434
Media Images
Download post-event press photographs: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/15tG4eeL74fiSIMVAU-I_jb-2Colm08Hz?usp=sharing
NAIROBI, KENYA, 28 October 2026 – Kenya took centre stage in advancing hospitality and tourism workforce development as it hosted the largest Future Leaders Challenge Eastern Africa to date.
Hosted on 26–27 October under the patronage of Hon. Rebecca Miano, EGH, Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife, Republic of Kenya, the regional gathering connected industry leaders, educators, government representatives and future talent to strengthen workforce development and create opportunities beyond the classroom.
Kenyan institutions claimed all three places in the final, with Maasai Mara University emerging as the winner of the Future Leaders Challenge Eastern Africa 2026. Boma International Hospitality College and the Technical University of Kenya completed the final three.
Beyond the competition, the event demonstrated the wider ambition of the Future Leaders Platform: building an ecosystem where education, industry and government work together to develop skills, address workforce needs and open doors to internships, careers and entrepreneurship.
“Young people need more than qualifications. They need opportunities to connect with industry, share their perspectives and become part of the conversations shaping their future,” said Hubert Ummels, Founder of the Future Leaders Platform. “By bringing education, industry and government together, we are building the relationships that turn talent into opportunity. That is what the Future Leaders Platform is all about.”
Creating Opportunities Beyond the Classroom
Through the Future Leaders Challenge, student teams presented their ideas for the future of hospitality and tourism directly to industry leaders, gaining valuable exposure, feedback and professional connections.
The programme extended well beyond the competition. Industry workshops with experts from Trianum, Accor, Diversey and Radisson offered students practical insights into the sector, while property visits to Nairobi Serena Hotel, Mövenpick Hotel, Sarova Stanley Hotel and Radisson Blu Hotel provided a closer look at hospitality operations. A Student Recruitment Fair brought employers and future talent together, creating opportunities for direct engagement and career exploration.
An equally important milestone was the continued development of the School Directors Alliance Eastern Africa, connecting education leaders with industry and government to strengthen the quality and relevance of hospitality and tourism education.
For the first time, the Alliance programme included a joint panel discussion with representatives from all three sectors, creating space to address skills gaps, strengthen industry alignment and explore how education can better prepare young people for employment.
The regional edition welcomed participants from Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.
“Across Eastern Africa, we have enormous talent and potential. Our shared responsibility is to ensure that young people have the skills, exposure and connections they need to succeed,” said Dr Esther Munyiri, Country Manager for Future Leaders Platform Eastern Africa. “What we have achieved in Nairobi goes beyond bringing 12 countries together. We have strengthened relationships between institutions and industry that can lead to meaningful opportunities for future talent across the region.”
For the Future Leaders Platform, the Nairobi edition represents another step towards a more connected hospitality and tourism workforce across Eastern Africa. By bringing education leaders, employers, governments and future talent into the same conversation, the Platform aims to turn collaboration into lasting opportunities for skills development, employment and entrepreneurship.
About the Future Leaders Platform
The Future Leaders Platform is a global workforce-development ecosystem connecting industry, education, government and future talent. Through initiatives including the Future Leaders Challenge, Craft & Culture Challenge and School Directors Alliance, it strengthens skills development, employability, entrepreneurship and job creation.
Future Leaders Platform Eastern Africa – Strategic Board
The Future Leaders Platform Eastern Africa is supported by a Strategic Board of hospitality, tourism and education leaders committed to strengthening regional collaboration, developing future talent and creating opportunities across Eastern Africa’s hospitality and tourism sector.
David Chiawo – Dean, School of Tourism and Hospitality, Strathmore University
Devota Mdachi – Head of Communication and Marketing Unit, National College of Tourism
Frank Mugisha – CEO, East Africa Tourism Platform
Hubert Ummels – Founder, Future Leaders Platform and GameChangers
Lilly Ajarova – Senior Presidential Advisor on Tourism, Uganda
Michael Njogu – Managing Director, Sense of Africa East Africa, and Chief Operating Officer, Tourvest Destination Management
Mike Vroom – Chief Operations Officer, Hemingways Collection
Ryan Powell – Chief Operating Officer, Sales and Touring, andBeyond
Shivram Gangadharan – General Manager, Radisson Blu Hotel and Residence Nairobi, Arboretum Park Lane
Simon Hodson – Country Manager Kenya, Accor
Media Contact & Enquiries
Mike Richters
Global Communications, Future Leaders Platform
mike@mwr.studio
WhatsApp: +65 8165 0434
Media Images
Download post-event press photographs: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/15tG4eeL74fiSIMVAU-I_jb-2Colm08Hz?usp=sharing
Bring your school, your city, or your workforce strategy into the ecosystem.
Schools attend free. Employers set the briefs. Governments use the outcomes. Choose your route in.
Bring your school, your city, or your workforce strategy into the ecosystem.
Schools attend free. Employers set the briefs. Governments use the outcomes. Choose your route in.
Bring your school, your city, or your workforce strategy into the ecosystem.
Schools attend free. Employers set the briefs. Governments use the outcomes. Choose your route in.
An initiative of the Future Leaders Platform – building the world's most connected hospitality and tourism talent ecosystem.
An initiative of the Future Leaders Platform – building the world's most connected hospitality and tourism talent ecosystem.
An initiative of the Future Leaders Platform – building the world's most connected hospitality and tourism talent ecosystem.
