Human capital development: perspectives of an expatriate hotel manager in Africa

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore, from the vantage point of an expatriate manager, some of the issues that surround human capital development (HCD) in the tourism and hospitality industry in Africa. Design/methodology/approach An informal interview was carried out via email. Marco Cecchi has 33 years experience working in the tourism and hospitality industry in Europe and now in Africa. He was recently appointed General Manager at Hotel Bon Voyage in Lagos under the African Management Service Company (AMSCO), an initiative of the United Nations Development Programme and the International Finance Corporation to help build human capital for sustainable African enterprises. Findings The interview offers valuable insights for researchers and practitioners who are seeking to understand cross-cultural differences related to human resources. Originality/value The transcript provides a much needed context for understanding the issues facing HCD in the African continent.