As we speak this month, I reflect on our environment, on what is taking place around us, and how it impacts our business. The key message is that the global economic forum has changed forever. It has become evident that prudency in all we do has come to the fore and is now a key business imperative more than it has ever been.

In order to preserve value for the business, for ourselves and attain sustainable growth, we will have to become mavericks at what we do and in all areas of operation while maintaining our values. Although I use the term maverick, very much tongue in cheek, I must emphasize that we must realize that we will have to do more with less.

Income streams from our existing and potential clients are largely rationalized thereby resulting in a ripple effect to the service industry. This means that our guests are more likely to be price sensitive and at the same time demanding better service standards and delivery from us. This expectation has a direct bearing on our staffing and the requisite levels and caliber of personnel handling our guests.

I recently presented a paper at the Institute of People Management of Zimbabwe (IPMZ) conference held in Victoria Falls and my talk touched on these key issues of what is expected of our people to enable them to deliver to internationally acceptable standards, yet at the same time managing head count as any efficient business should. The issue of multi-skilling with the right candidates is a real one which should be the backbone of any organization. In order to effectively deliver at all times, we need to identify talent, nurture it, and this will eventually ensure our competitiveness not only on the African platform but on a global scale as well.

This forces me to revisit our staff skills competitiveness globally. What comes to mind is that we have pockets of excellence, but in order to change the perception of current skills level for Africa, our current training and development model has to be revamped in order to fit and meet modern challenges. The framework of the past will not work, therefore I leave you with this food for thought, what part can you play in your organization to ensure that your team remains relevant for today's world and beyond?

The Victoria Falls Mountain Bike Challenge is an amazing new event operated by the organisers of the successful Victoria Falls Marathon, ZambeziMan multi event and the Kilimanjaro Marathon. Riding through some of the most scenic areas along the Zambezi River Gorge below the Victoria Falls, private game areas, rural villages and culminating in a ride along the length of the Zambezi from the Botswana border to the Victoria Falls through the Zambezi National Park. The ride comprises of a combination of single track, rural roads and a small amount of tar (near the hotels). Please note that most of these areas are not usually available to any mountain bike rider and are unique to this event.

The Victoria Falls Mountain Bike Challenge will be fully backed up, marshalled, and controlled to world standards and is a must for all mountain bike cyclists and adventurers.

The accommodation for The Victoria Falls Mountain Bike Challenge, which is included in the package, is in the 4 star Elephant Hills Resort. Supporters are also catered for and included in their package they have transfers to view the event on the route from selected sites as well as take in all the extra options available in the area. Add on a few days and enjoy helicopter flights, canoeing, rafting, elephant back safaris or, for the wild at heart, gorge swinging or bungee jumping.

The ride is open to single riders and team riders (2 people). The single riders will start behind the team riders. Prize money is only open to team riders.

Packages are available through Wild Frontiers.

If you were to ask the average person where the next football World Cup is being held, most would say, “South Africa”. However, an ardent fan would answer, “Nigeria”. The U17 World Cup kicked off on Saturday 24th October and will keep the West African nation captivated until November 15th. The teams from the twenty-four participating nations and spectators from all over the world have descended upon the eight host cities which include Abuja, Calabar, Enugu and Lagos.

In Enugu the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium is a striking example of the world class facilities that are a major source of pride for the nation. Such confidence is indicative of Nigeria’s strong desire to tempt FIFA back with more international tournaments. This is good news for Nigeria hotels, a chance to show to the world that there’s more to Nigeria than Oil.

Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, is seen as the place to party. Even before the matches began the city was in carnival mode. With dancers and musicians lining the streets, the city resounded to the beat of a nation whose love of football is more than pure passion, it is utter devotion.

The opportunity to showcase their hospitality has certainly been grasped by the Nigeria hotels. Amber Tinapa, located a few minutes’ drive from the centre of Calabar, in the Tinapa Free Trade Zone, is only a few months old, yet fully equipped to provide a relaxing night’s stay. Away from the hubbub, this is the location of choice for those who desire a little more than football. This Nigeria hotel offers easy access to one of the most exhilarating water parks in the country and is also at the centre of ‘Nollywood’ – the Nigerian film industry.

Nike Lake Resort Hotel, one of the designated Enugu hotels for the tournament, is ideally suited to meet the interests of those fans that also like to play sport. With a superbly equipped gym and the opportunity to enjoy swimming, volleyball, basketball and tennis there’s no excuse for being a couch potato.

Once the football fans have departed, Nigeria looks forward to the arrival of international athletes, eager to test their stamina in a gruelling uphill climb, in the mountains of Obudu. Don’t worry, you won’t need to make excuses here, the race was over-subscribed long ago! Relax at Obudu Mountain Resort and watch the athletes do all the hard work!