The General Manager of Radisson Blu Mammy Yoko Hotel, Nuno Neves left the shores of Sierra Leone last Friday after serving the institution for the last three years.
In an emotional farewell speech, Nuno said he came to Sierra Leone and was given the task to build the Radisson Blu brand in the country. Two months after the start of operation, ebola struck.
“My head office called me and said I should shut down, but I advised them that I was staying as I had already employed 210 Sierra Leoneans that I can’t abandon. They took my advice. I spoke with my staff that we will continue to operate and make sure we stay safe and all of them will be receiving part of their salaries as business has gone south.”
The beginning was rough he said but they steadied the ship and their contribution to the ebola fight was huge because they had many international guests coming to help the country. He ensured they had a perfect and safe place to stay.
“It was because we opened our doors during the ebola that so many CDC, UN, and staff of international NGOs came because they knew that there is a Radisson Blu brand in Sierra Leone,” he said.
Mr Neves averred that they too were able to make some donations during the fight and they trained their staff on prevention. Radisson Blu Mammy Yoko never closed throughout the crisis and they had no case of ebola in or outside the hotel as they kept their guests safe at all time.
The out gone General Manager said he has done his own bit and he is happy that the staff, his bosses and President Koroma are all happy for what he has done in Sierra Leone. He said he will never forget the country, the rich culture and the fine people in Sierra Leone he met with.
“I am proud to have worked in Sierra Leone and I know that my job in the country was a success because of all the awards the hotel won during my three years. I also believe that most of the guests who stayed in the hotel for the past three years were happy with the treatment they received and that is why I am still receiving positive messages from them.”
Heads of Department of the hotel were thankful for the time they spent with Nuno and were all in praise of his managerial skills that made the hotel a household name in the country. They presented him gifts and wished him well in his new station.
Mr Nuno Neves will be back in Portugal for few days before taking office in Muskat, Oman, where his family will join him. “I will still be in the Radisson Blu family in Oman and my successor John Klana is experienced in working in Africa.”
Johan Klana is a Swedish and has been in the hotel business for over 30 years, but has worked for Radisson Blu for seven years. He has spent 5 years of his time with Radisson Blu working in Africa in Libya, Mozambique and Nigeria.
Monday June 27, 2016
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