MICE Africa: Your Specialized Partner for Event Planning & Management Across Africa

In today’s read;

1. The AFRAA General Assembly convenes in Luanda, Angola.
2. Lagos Street Art Festival 2025 hosts workshops and exhibitions.
3. Continental Hotels upgrades its Lagos and Abuja properties.

AFRAA General Assembly Convenes in Luanda, Angola.

Luanda recently opened its doors to a crucial dialogue for Africa’s skies.
The 57th Annual General Assembly of the African Airlines Association, AFRAA, convened in the Angolan capital.
Hosted by TAAG Angola Airlines, this assembly brought together aviation leaders from across the continent and beyond.
The central theme, “Redefining African Aviation: Cooperation, Sustainability, and Strategic Growth,” set a clear agenda.
It firmly positioned Luanda as a vital hub for discussions shaping the future of African air transport.
Government representatives, diplomatic corps, senior civil aviation executives, and airline leaders gathered.
Their presence underscored AFRAA’s role as a key forum for decision-making and networking.

A highlight was the presentation of AFRAA’s Annual Report by Secretary General Abdérahmane Berthé.
This report offered a comprehensive look at Africa’s civil aviation industry.
It detailed traffic trends, fleet performance, and market share, providing essential data.
Progress on the Single African Air Transport Market, SAATM, and regional mobility policies were also reviewed.
The report also outlined development prospects for the years ahead.
It provided a data-driven compass, pointing to areas like market access and fragmentation that still require attention.
High-level roundtable debates further enriched the program.
Sessions like “Reinvention for African Airlines and Ongoing Challenges” explored adaptation strategies for carriers.

Another significant discussion focused on “Hub Strategy for Intra-African Connectivity.”
This session used the transformation of Angolan civil aviation as a compelling case study.
It delved into how hub development and regulatory support can enhance connections across Africa.
The Assembly fostered a unique environment for sharing practical experiences.
Discussions covered crucial aspects such as route development, partnerships, and fleet planning.
The event’s reach was truly pan-African and international.
Organizers reported 516 delegates from 49 countries worldwide attending.
This included 68 delegates from 23 AFRAA member airlines and observers from non-member carriers.
Regulatory bodies, suppliers, and financial institutions also contributed to the diverse participation.

For TAAG Angola Airlines and Angola’s broader aviation sector, hosting this event was more than symbolic.
It marked a practical milestone, signalling the nation’s aspirations for stronger regional and intercontinental ties.
The dialogue in Luanda is expected to inform future policy and investment decisions.
It will also shape partnership strategies across African aviation.
As discussions on cooperation, sustainability, and strategic growth conclude, a clearer path emerges.
This assembly truly contributed to crafting Africa’s next chapter in air travel.

Lagos Street Art Festival 2025 Hosts Workshops, Exhibitions

The Lagos Street Art Festival 2025 is set to redefine the city’s creative landscape.
Returning with the theme “Legendary Lagos: City of dreams,” this event promises a significant transformation.
It is a public gathering celebrating expression, community, and the diverse character of Lagos.
The festival aims to showcase the city’s bold, dynamic spirit, moving beyond mere beautification.
It highlights the collective strength of artists reclaiming public spaces, turning urban areas into canvases for storytelling and connection.
This initiative firmly establishes Lagos as a center for vibrant artistic endeavors.

Led by renowned visual artists Osa Seven and Phisha, the festival offers a vital platform.
It empowers both emerging and established artists to express themselves freely and professionally.
Founding Council members emphasize creating a space for non-traditional artists to display their work publicly.
The vision is to elevate street art to a global event, fostering learning and worldwide recognition for creatives.
This movement represents a blend of creativity and purpose, where the city itself becomes both inspiration and gallery.
It demonstrates a deep belief in art’s power to move people and change spaces.

A core aspect of LSAF 2025 includes robust capacity building and knowledge sharing opportunities.
On December 10th, the British Council will host two specialized workshops.
These sessions focus on Design Thinking, teaching artists to approach creativity as a problem-solving tool.
Another workshop, Brand Storytelling, guides artists in crafting authentic personal and brand narratives.
These intimate, high-impact sessions will host one hundred participants, fostering learning and collaboration.
December 11th features Fireside Chats and Artist Talks, exploring Lagos’ creative economy and the navigation of public art.
These discussions provide valuable insights for young artists in a developing industry.

The festival underscores a shared commitment to nurturing talent and enhancing public spaces.
It positions Lagos as a thriving hub for creative expression and cultural dynamism.
Through murals, installations, and live projects, artists will transform everyday environments into vivid landmarks.
This initiative removes traditional barriers to artistic appreciation, bringing art directly into neighborhoods and schools.
It encourages upcoming artists to learn, connect, and gain visibility locally and internationally.
The Lagos Street Art Festival is a celebration of artists, their courage, and their ability to turn imagination into a source of pride for the entire city.

Continental Hotels Upgrades Lagos, Abuja Properties.

Karl Hala, Group General Manager for Continental Hotels in Lagos and Abuja, recently offered a compelling glimpse into his strategy for Nigeria’s hospitality landscape, as featured in Forbes Magazine.
His vision centers on elevating the nation’s appeal through significant luxury upgrades, a renewed emphasis on convention tourism, and impactful youth-focused training initiatives.
Overseeing the former Intercontinental in Lagos and the former Sheraton in Abuja, now operating under the Continental Hotels banner, Hala speaks of a commitment to delivering “African hospitality at its best.”
This strategic direction promises to refine Nigeria’s position on the global stage, especially for those in the meetings and events industry.

The ongoing transformation at both properties is designed with a clear eye on international competitiveness and the needs of the MICE sector.
In Lagos, the upgrades encompass expansive wellness facilities, refined culinary experiences, and premium recreation zones, all geared towards a heightened guest journey.
However, it is the Abuja property that truly amplifies the group’s commitment to business tourism.
Plans include a substantial 2,500-seat convention centre, a modern sports village featuring tennis and pickleball courts, and state-of-the-art fitness spaces.
Hala affirms that convention tourism sits at the core of their long-term blueprint, acknowledging Nigeria’s considerable demand for meetings and conferences.
He aims to establish both locations as the definitive hallmark of African hospitality.

A pivotal element of this ambitious strategy extends beyond physical infrastructure to the very people and practices that drive the industry.
Continental Hotels is deeply invested in youth empowerment through a Hospitality Academy, developed in collaboration with esteemed partners like UNICEF, IOM, and various ministries.
This academy is crafting structured career pathways for young Nigerians, offering internationally recognized certifications that broaden employment prospects both domestically and abroad.
Hala underscores that “for sustainability, my answer is youth,” highlighting a belief in nurturing future leaders.
Furthermore, the group’s redevelopment plans integrate strong sustainability measures, with the Abuja property moving towards solar power, and both hotels adopting advanced digital systems for enhanced guest services and operational flow.
Local sourcing remains a non-negotiable principle, fostering robust partnerships with Nigerian farmers, artisans, and manufacturers, aligning with a “Nigeria First” philosophy.

These comprehensive efforts culminate in a singular, powerful aspiration: to cement Nigeria’s status as Africa’s premier hospitality hub.
Hala articulates a profound understanding of Nigeria’s unique global connectivity, stating, “Nigeria connects to the world, and the world connects here.”
Continental Hotels positions itself as a proud architect in this narrative, committed to shaping the country into a leading destination for events, conferences, and world-class experiences.
This forward-looking approach reflects not just an investment in properties, but a profound belief in the nation’s potential to host, to welcome, and to inspire on an African and global scale.

That’s it for today, thank you for reading.