A moment in the sun

The coveted African Marketing Best-Tourism-Marketer in Africa Award for 2019 went to Sun International’s Africa sales and marketing manager Didier Bayeye-Mbombo.

The awards were to have been presented last year but were delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Bayeye-Mbombo and winners from the other categories received their awards at a gala event in Addis Ababa on 30 April.

The African Marketing Awards are a peer review process honouring the best in the travel and tourism industry from across the continent.

Partners to the awards include: Street of Gold Foundation in Ghana, Ethiopian Airlines, Skylight Hotel and the African Union Tourism Committee

With 20 years of industry experience under his belt, Bayeye-Mbombo first joined Sun International in 2015 as the marketing manager for West Africa and the Indian Ocean region.

Last year he was given Sun International’s Africa and Indian Ocean portfolio to manage.

Nominations for the awards are put forward by the trade and nominees are not notified they are in the running. This removes any element of bias.

The awards assess tourism activity, marketing promotions and sales, among other aspects.

“To be recognised by my peers ... is testament to the hard work we have all put in to promote Sun International across the continent,” says Bayeye-Mbombo.

“The efforts we invested in building a brand, selling a destination and promoting Africa has been seen, recognised and appreciated by the continent.”

Bayeye-Mbombo explains the award had already assisted Sun International in securing more bookings.

It also confirmed BayeyeMbombo’s reputation in Africa, as his peers put him forward, and shows Sun International is a brand with which to contend.

“It’s a great achievement and I am grateful to Sun International’s support,” which made this possible, he said. –