Kenyan hotelier, Samuel Maina, bags continental hospitality award

Thirty-nine-year-old Kenyan national, Samuel Maina, trounced three other contestants from across Africa to emerge as the Restaurant Manager of the Year in this year’s edition of the annual Pyne Awards Africa.

The 5th edition of the prestigious hospitality industry awards took place on September 9, 2022 at the Eko Hotel in Lagos, Nigeria.

Kenya’s Tourism Minister Najib Balala, Zanzibar Mayor Mahmoud Mohammed Musa and Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu also received special recognition awards during the ceremony.

“I got an email from a representative of Pyne Awards Africa informing me that the African Tourism Board had proposed me as a nominee in the Restaurant Manager of the Year category,” said Maina.

“I then attended a series of interviews with the judging panel which was comprised of hospitality industry professionals from across Africa ahead of the winners’ announcement.”

Maina’s journey in the hospitality industry began 16 years ago when he took up a part-time job with Starbucks Coffee while studying in the United Kingdom.

He joined Dormans Coffee upon hist return to Kenya before taking on the Operations Manager role for Good African Coffee in Uganda where he worked until 2018.

He is currently the Restaurants and Bars Manager at The Social House, one of Nairobi’s premium business hotels, where he runs four restaurants; Inca, The Other Room, The Living Room and Copper.

He also manages events and outside catering activities at the Lavington based hotel.

“This award is an affirmation that with hard work, creativity and passion it is possible to excel in the hospitality industry,” said Maina.

“Our industry is one of the biggest employers in Kenya and I always encourage my team members and young people in general to embrace the opportunities that this profession can bring to their personal and professional growth.”

About 1,000 hospitality industry professionals drawn from government and private sector attended the exclusive event whose theme was “excellence of African royalty”.