In a bid to further the awareness on its breathtaking nature and man-made hospitality offerings, Glocient Hospitality Limited, managers of Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort in Ekiti State, took the centre stage at the just-concluded 68th United Nations Tourism Regional Commission for Africa (CAF) meeting in Abuja.
At its presentation to the African-wide delegates on the day 2 of the meeting, Glocient Hospitality shared a bold vision for the future of tourism in Africa; one that is rooted in empowerment, sustainability, and innovation.
Delivering a presentation titled “Hospitality with Heart: Creating Tourism Spaces that Empower Communities and Celebrate Nature through Innovation,” Sharafa Balogun, general manager, Glocient Hospitality, called on African hospitality leaders to go beyond conventional tourism models and embrace a more intentional, impact-driven approaches.
“Tourism must do more than entertain, it must enrich,” said Balogun. “At Glocient, we are committed to creating experiences that are not only memorable for guests, but meaningful for the communities and environments that host them.”
Drawing from the revitalization of Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort, Balogun highlighted how Glocient is integrating youth empowerment, gender inclusion, and ecological education into the guest experience. At Ikogosi, local youths are trained and employed in key hospitality roles, while women make up 60 percent of the workforce, a testament to the company’s focus on inclusive growth.
The presentation also unveiled an ambitious four-phase innovation project at Ikogosi: the development of an AI-powered educational chatbot designed to offer real-time, culturally contextual information about the site’s botanical heritage. The project, currently in its second phase, aims to blend technology with tradition and turn the resort into an immersive learning environment where guests connect deeply with nature.
As conversations and collaborations at the CAF meeting continue to reshape Africa’s tourism narrative, Glocient remains proud to be part of a movement that places people, planet, and purpose at the heart of hospitality.
