AfricaNews:Please tell us a bit about yourself (name, company, country, line of business)?

Herbert Friese: My name is Herbert Friese, 44 years of age, a Dutch National with 22 years experience in the international hotel industry, amongst which 12 years in Africa, and currently the Managing Director and owner of Hotel Solutions Limited.

I started Hotel Solutions Limited as per the 1st September 2010, prior to which I was employed by Golden Tulip Hospitality Group as Vice President West Africa and responsible for the operations and portfolio growth/development in the West African region.

Hotel Solutions Ltd. is a company based in Accra and offering advice on consultancy basis to stakeholders in the hospitality industry, varying from operational hotels, to initiators of new hotel & tourism projects, financial institutions that fund such initiatives, international brands looking for presence in Ghana and West Africa and government institutions that have tourism development on their agenda.

Furthermore Hotel Solutions Ltd offers services related to Interior design, the supply and installation of furniture, fittings and equipment and recruitment services.

AfricaNews: What was your purpose of your first visit to Ghana?

Herbert: My first visit to Ghana was in December 1994 in order to take up my position as F&B Manager of the Golden Tulip Accra.

I met my wife in Ghana and we left Ghana in 1998 as result of reassignments of locations by Golden Tulip Hospitality Group

We lived in the Netherlands for one year, in Malta for 3 years and in Tanzania for 4 years where I worked as General Manager for the same employer.

In 2006 we decided to come back to Ghana in order to settle, and although I had left the company, Golden Tulip approached me to take up the responsibility to operate and develop the region. During the 4 years in this position I opened Golden Tulip Kumasi City and Golden Tulip Festac Lagos, and initiated the refurbishment program at the Golden Tulip Accra. Furthermore I managed the Technical & Development assistance agreements of several hotels in the region. From the 1st September I am self employed and running my own company.

AfricaNews: Where are you going or where did you go during your stay in Ghana?

Herbert: During my early days in Ghana most business was concentrated within Accra and within the hotel. However and in order to secure a supply line of quality products a lot of effort went in to visiting manufactures and suppliers to see the operations and to understand how to form partnerships.

More recently and especially in the role of being part of the hotel development circuit one meets on the strangest locations in order to seek the opportunity to find hotel projects.

In Ghana, due to a enhanced road network and an increase in providers of airline services one can easily do his/her business in the several parts of the country.


AfricaNews: Have you visited Africa before for your business? (Where have you been? Are there big differences between the countries you have been?)

Herbert: I have travelled to several countries in Africa for business, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Togo, Benin, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa. Of course there are differences between the several countries especially in the physical appearance of the respective cities.

The biggest and most profound difference worth mentioning is the use of geographical beauty in East and West Africa. In East Africa, countries have maximized on the natural beauty the country has to offer and turned the countries into Tourist destinations. In West Africa you do not find such enhanced usage of the natural geographical beauty yet. The focus in West Africa is more on the business and conference travellers.

AfricaNews: What are your three most important advices for investors doing business in Africa? (Do's and dont's).

Herbert: It is important to prepare yourself well for a trip. Travel light and make arrangements for accommodation prior to travelling since most hotels in African larger cities are highly occupied or very expensive when paying a walk inn rate without prior reservation. Travel with cash currency, preferably USD, since credit cards are not accepted everywhere and since ATM machines operate differently than in Europe.

It is advisable to gather some information on the country you are visiting and learn about the people and the do and don't s. Doing business in Africa is different then what you may be used to and it is a sign of respect to know upfront how to handle certain matters. Show respect to the people you meet and be open to learn and experience other and possibly different ways. Although one should try the cuisine of the country you are visiting, try to avoid street food since you may not be used to the methods of preservation and preparation. Most hotels and restaurants have local specialties on their menu.