NHC booklet

www.fnu.ac.fj

Date: Friday, 7 June 2024

Time: 8:00am – 6 30pm

Venue: Tanoa International Hotel, Nadi

Cocktail Venue: FNU Namaka Campus

Theme: Orange and Black

MC: Melissa Kumar

Fiji National University

National Training & Productivity Centre

National Hospitality Conference

“Embracing

Innovation and Continuous Improvement in Hospitality”

Programme

8:00am 8:30am 8:45am 8:55am 9:00am am 0am am 0am 0am 0am 0am 5am

Registration Begins

Participants to be seated

MC to call house to order

Arrival of the Chief Guest

Welcome Address by the Fiji National University Vice-Chancellor Professor Unaisi Nabobo-Baba

Keynote Address by the Chief Guest Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Honourable Viliame Gavoka

Address by the Fij i National University Pro-Vice-Chancellor TVET Dr Isimeli Tagicakiverata

Token of Appreciation

Photo Session

Morning Tea

Presentation on “Adapting to Changing Consumer Preferences” by the Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association Chief Executive Officer Fantasha Lockington

Q&A Session by the Raffe Hotels & Resorts Group Manager - Learning & Capability - Quality Assurance

Altaab Khan

Presentation on “Case Studies of Successful Innovation Projects” by the Fiji Airports General Manager - Air Traffic Management & Operations

Amit Singh

www.fnu.ac.fj

Date: Friday, 7 June 2024

Time: 8:00am – 6 30pm

Venue:

Tanoa International Hotel, Nadi

Cocktail Venue:

FNU Namaka Campus

Theme: Orange and Black

Fiji National University

National Training & Productivity Centre

National Hospitality Conference

“Embracing Innovation and Continuous Improvement in

Hospitality”

MC: Melissa Kumar Programme

12:15pm 12:30pm 1:30pm 0pm pm pm 0pm pm pm

Q&A Session by the Raffe Hotels & Resorts Group Manager - Learning & Capability - Quality Assurance

Altaab Khan Lunch

Presentation on “Technology Adoption and Digital Transformation” by the Vodafone Fiji (Pte) Limited ICT Solutions Architect

Sanil Prakashan

Q&A Session by the Raffe Hotels & Resorts

Group Manager - Learning & Capability - Quality Assurance

Altaab Khan

Presentation on “Sustainability Practices and EcoFriendly Innovations” by the Vision Commercial General Manager

Nikunj Vaghela

Presentation on “Leadership Strategies for Fostering Innovation” by the Tourism Fiji Chief Executive Officer

Brent Hill

Q&A Session by the Raffe Hotels & Resorts Group Manager - Learning & Capability - Quality Assurance

Altaab Khan

Afternoon Tea

Presentation on “World Food Safety Day” by the Fiji

National University

National Training & Productivity Centre

Instructor - Food Safety, Environment, and Green Productivity

Vicky Narayan

Date: Friday, 7 June 2024

Time: 8:00am – 6 30pm

Venue: Tanoa International Hotel, Nadi

Cocktail Venue: FNU Namaka Campus

Theme: Orange and Black

MC: Melissa Kumar

Fiji National University

National Training & Productivity Centre

National Hospitality Conference

4:00pm 4:15pm pm 0pm pm

Address by the Fiji National University

National Training & Productivity Centre

Acting Director

Bob Kolitagane

Closing Remarks by the Fiji National University

National Training & Productivity Centre

Head of Training - Tourism, Hospitality, Fashion, and Travel

Sheileshni Nair

Presentation of Certificates & Photo Session

Networking and Cocktail Programme Ends

BIOGRAPHY OF HONOURABLE VILIAME GAVOKA

Honourable Viliame Rogoibulu Gavoka is the current Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation.

A hotelier by profession, Honourable Gavoka has over 30 years of experience in the tourism and travel industry. He has held several executive level positions, including as the Director of External Relations, Shangri-La’s Fijian Resort and Spa, Chief Executive Officer, Fiji Visitors Bureau (now Tourism Fiji) and General Manager, Amunuca Island Resort and Spa.

During the term of his career in the private sector, he has held several Chairmanship and Board positions on statutory organisations, including Fijian Holdings Limited, Fiji TV and Media Niugini Ltd, South Sea Cruises/Blue Lagoon Cruises, Fiji Rugby Union, Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji and Air Terminal Services.

Honourable Gavoka is the current Party Leader of the Social Democratic Liberal Party of Fiji and has been a member of Parliament since 2014.

Adapting to Change in Consumer Preferences

Ms Fantasha Lockington Chief Executive Officer

Fiji Hotel & Tourism Association

Ms Lockington is a determined tourism and sustainability advocate who believes in the potential for tourism to create a stronger and more vibrant economy that improves Fijian lives. She is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) with a Master of Business Administration from the University of the South Pacific (USP), along with several IATA airlinerelated management qualifications, and has spent most of her working life in the tourism sector apart from a 6-year stint in the public sector. She is the tourism industry’s recognised proponent for government and development partner engagement in shaping growth opportunities and providing industry insight to guide regulatory reforms for an industry that has rapidly advanced its economic footprint.

Case Study: Successful Innovation Projects

Mr Amit Prakash Singh

GM ATM & Operations

Fiji Airports

Mr Amit Prakash Singh is an enthusiastic aviation professional with 27 years of experience in Air Traffic Management and Airport Operations. Amit was appointed as the General Manager ATM & Operations in June 2022 and leads the Air Traffic Management and Airport Operations at Nadi International Airport. He is part of the senior leadership team at Fiji Airports ensuring that the organisation maintains the strategic direction set by the Executives and the Board of Directors. Amit has acted as the Chief Executive Officer for Fiji Airports from April to August 2023, holds industry-wide connections in the Asia-Pacific Region and is able to communicate across different cultural backgrounds with ease.

Sustainability Practices and Eco-Friendly Innovations

Mr Nikunj Vaghela

GM Commercial & Technical Services

Vision Investments Limited

Mr Nikunj is a qualified B.Tech Electrical Engineer with over 20 years of professional experience. He has been working with Vision for the last 14 years and currently holds the title of General Manager for Commercial and Technical Services. Nikunj has extensive experience in conducting feasibility studies, energy audits, and ensuring compliance with safety standards and regulations. He oversees Commercial Business and Renewable Energy projects, collaborates with multidisciplinary teams, and stays up-to-date with emerging technologies and industry trends to improve system efficiency and reliability.

Technological Adaption and Digital Transformation

Mr Sanil Shiva Prakashan

ICT Solutions Architect

Vodafone Fiji Pte Ltd

Mr Sanil Prakashan is an initiative-taking ICT professional with a demonstrated history of working in the maritime, telecommunications, and insurance industries for the last 8 years. Holds a Master’s in Information System from the University of the South Pacific. Loves achieving efficiency and effectiveness for people and organisations using technology. He finds it very satisfying to witness game-changing results with minimal technological investments.

Leadership Strategies for Fostering Innovation

Mr Brent Hill Chief Executive Officer

Tourism Fiji

Originally from Adelaide, Australia and now living in Fiji, Mr Brent Hill is a multi-award-winning marketer and leader who joined Tourism Fiji as CEO in mid-2021 after 6 years at the South Australian Tourism Commission. Brent led the incredible effort to reopen Fiji to the world in December 2021, achieving double the visitor arrivals target in 2022 and exceeding pre-COVID levels in 2023. Brent leads a team based in Nadi, Fiji as well as offices across the world, in pursuit of the goal of $3.4 billion in tourism revenue by December 2024, equating to 38% of Fiji’s economy.

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