Tourism Fund (TF) has launched an ambitious training programme for hospitality workers to elevate the quality of services in the tourism and hospitality sector.

Run under the agency’s Tourism Training Revolving Fund (TTRF), the initiative seeks to improve service standards in hotels, restaurants, and Airbnbs, enhancing the overall visitor experience and making these establishments more attractive to tourists.

TTRF Manager Enoch Chebii, the programme has already trained over 1,000 hospitality workers nationwide, with more being targeted to boost industry revenue. Currently, TTRF is training 150 workers in Kisii and 200 in Nakuru, with plans to expand to other counties.

Tourism Fund Manager Patricia Ondeng (pictured), representing the CEO during the training sessions, emphasised the importance of this initiative in providing certification to hospitality workers who lack formal qualifications.

“This not only validates their skills but also enhances their credibility and employability, preparing them to meet guest expectations and improve service delivery in the sector,” she added.

The training empowers workers by instilling a sense of pride and accomplishment, motivating them to deliver excellent service. Many hospitality workers, who previously faced a lack of skills, praised the Tourism Fund for sponsoring these programmes, which offer them valuable opportunities for skill acquisition and certification.

Elsi Kerubo who works at Park View Hotel and Bill Clinton from Alexander Hotel expressed their satisfaction with the training, with many advocating for an extension of the program from one week to at least one month to allow for deeper learning and practice.

The training covers a wide range of topics with ultimate goal of boosting the quality of services provided to tourists, thereby enhancing the reputation of regions as tourist destinations.

Chebii noted that while the industry stands to gain from increased revenue, there is reluctance among some hoteliers to release their workers for training, fearing higher wage demands from newly skilled staff.