By Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti
Hospitality stakeholders across the Southwest are gearing up for the 2026 Biennial Conference of the Hoteliers Association of Nigeria (HAN), Southwest Zone, tagged EKITI KETE 2026.
The four-day conference, slated for April 19–22, 2026, at Midas Hotel and Arena, Ado Ekiti, is projected to attract over 2,000 participants, including hotel owners, tourism investors, regulators and policymakers from the six Southwest states and other parts of the country.
Announcing the event at the press briefing held in Ado Ekiti yesterday was Dr Oladapo Olaleye, who is the National Secretary of the Association and the Secretary of the Main Organising Committee for Southwest Congress of Hoteliers association and the chairman of the Local organising committee who is also the Ekiti state president, Hon Akin Stephen Abimbola.
The Press conference was conveyed by
Southwest zone under the leadership of Chief Adoroh Jerome, the President of the Hoteliers Association, Southwest Zone, who is also the National Deputy President.
The association’s Southwest leadership described the biennial gathering as a strategic forum to enhance regional collaboration, strengthen regulatory dialogue and develop practical solutions for sustainable growth within the hospitality industry.
Themed “Gathering—Regulatory Framework and Policy: Creating a Conducive Environment for Hospitality Growth,” the conference will feature expert-led sessions on national tax reforms, regulatory compliance, investment prospects and service standardisation across the region.
Organisers added that the programme will also provide platforms for exhibitions, networking and business partnerships aimed at improving professionalism and competitiveness in the Southwest hospitality sector.
While stressing that EKITI KETE 2026 is a regional initiative, the association acknowledged the support of the Ekiti State Government in hosting the event. Industry leaders particularly commended Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji for promoting a business-friendly climate through tax harmonisation and consistent engagement with private sector operators.
They noted that such reforms and collaboration between government and industry players are essential to unlocking growth opportunities not only in Ekiti but across the Southwest and Nigeria at large.
The association called on members and stakeholders nationwide to participate actively in the conference, describing it as a defining platform for advancing the future of the hospitality industry in the region.