Taia resort to change to Leone Lodge

The multi million dollar Taia resort situated along Lumley beach front is in the process of changing to ‘Leone Lodge’ with the partnership of South African based Savoy Group of Hotels.
This was disclosed by proprietor Sam King as he explained that the Savoy Group have now taken over as a management company and will be effectively running the hotel and in the near future all the other six properties.
Shadrack Tshabalala who over the past few weeks took over a manager explained that Savoy is a management and marketing company, specializing in hospitality and tourism establishments. He said they have contracts in South Africa, Zanzibar and now in Sierra Leone and they are presently negotiating another contract in Nigeria.
Tshbalala who is no relation to the footballer who scored the first goal in the World Cup said he is coming in with 33 years experience in the industry and he hopes to replicate the Savoy style in the Leone Lodge saying “at Savoy you will have a pampered stay with excellent cuisine and quality rooms.”
He said the idea is not only to make money but to position the group “so that Sierra Leone can be in competition with the rest of the world.”
Tshabalala said in the few days that he has been around he has observed that in terms of skills there is a lot of room for improvement, and he was prepared to work hard with the staff “to attain the highest level of expertise with them.”
The South African born manager disclosed that they will be opening a training centre at Taia for all the group employees and after some time other people from outside the group will be able to come into the centre for training as well. Presently he said the training will be done with 50% lectures and 50% practical. He said they are determined to create a win win situation and he was certain they will not fail because he has done it before.
Tshabalala stated that Sierra Leoneans are hard working people they only need good management and to improve on their skills “there is a lot that can be achieved in this country” he said.