The African Tourism Board (ATB) has appointed a number of travel and tourism leaders to its various Boards. The ATB was founded this year, and is an association that is internationally-acclaimed for acting as a catalyst for the responsible development of travel and tourism to and from Africa. ATB is part of the International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP).

Zanzibar’s Minister of Information, Tourism and Heritage, Mahmoud Kombo, has joined the ATB as a Board member of the Sitting Ministers and Appointed Public Officials.

In addition, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Tourism and Hospitality, Priscah Mupfumira, has been appointed to serve on ATB’s Board of Sitting Ministers and Appointed Public Officials.

ATB also appointed Louis D’Amore, Founder and President of the International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT), to serve on the Committee of Elders in Tourism, USA.

D’Amore has been instrumental in promoting the tourism industry as the world’s first ‘Global Peace Industry’ since the founding of IIPT in 1986. In 1988, D’Amore organised the First Global Conference: Tourism – A Vital Force for Peace, which brought together 800 participants from 67 countries, whilst introducing, for the first time, the concept of sustainable tourism development.

Oliver Geyer has been appointed to GM of the InterContinental Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya. Geyer replaces Dieter Franke who has been appointed as Area General Manager at the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) portfolio in Egypt.

Geyer has extensive experience with over 23 years in the hospitality industry, having worked the last eight years at the InterContinental Hotels in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Kennedy Ayoti has been appointed to Group General Manager for Atua Enkop Africa Ltd, a Kenyan collection of camps including Elephant Bedroom Camp, Mara Ngenche Safari Camp, Tipilikwani Mara Camp and Mbweha Camp.

Ayoti has over 27 years of experience in the industry, having successfully served in a number of organisations in various capacities, including Director of Operations-East Africa for Sopa Lodges, CEO of Mater Hospital, GM of Sarova Paraa Lodge in Uganda, as well as having worked at Whitesands Hotel, Sarova Shaba Lodge and recently consulted for the Concord group.

He holds a Masters of Business Administration degree from ESAMI-Arusha, Tanzania, a Diploma in Hotel Management from Kenya Utalii College, and has attended a number of leadership and management workshops.

Kampala Sheraton Hotel in Uganda has appointed Jacqueline Nalubega as acting Director of Sales, after the departure of Shamsa Ali, who joined the hotel earlier in the year as Director of Sales.

Nalubega, until her recent appointment, was Corporate Sales and PR Manager for Kampala Sheraton Hotel.

The upcoming focus of the Kampala Sheraton Hotel team is to hardsell the festive season programme and other related special offers.