Working 9 to 5, what a way to make a living...

So how about getting some work done, and share what this project is all about anyhow. It's not too long, you'll live through it....

First of all, let me introduce the people working at Tempo, part of an NGO organization, called CDS.

So, top left, we have Zia. She is temporarily working for tempo, and she is married to a Nigerian. She got married just some time ago, and she said it was a special experience. His father had to pay her father to get her "on board" for the full price of 110 N. In Euro: 0,5 €. Feeling appreciated ? Of course it's symbolic, but still, wouldn't you rather be wedded out for like a couple of camels and maybe a donkey even ? Right from Zia, you see Blessing, and she is. She takes care of everything, Office Management galore, she simply gets everything done. Easy living this way...

Left lower side, you see Jane. She is an MBA Grad from the US, and has been working here for quite some months now. Yesterday she had to present to the Nigerian stakeholders (restaurant and hotels) and she did a great job. Her enthusiasm is contagious, and fantastic to start the day with.

Right lower side is Jessica. Jessica works on the Demand Side of the project, the consumers. Today she had a bit of a nasty experience, as she got electrocuted on one of the power plugs. She actually felt the power running through her arms, and she had to sit down for a while. If electricity fails again(which happens every so often) she now can hand-start the generator, X-men eat your heart out !

The big man Alvin is coming in on Wednesday at 10 am. He will get us started for real...

About the project: It is funded by the World Bank and Federal Government of Nigeria.The project began December 15, 2008 and will end March 14, 2010. It will identify needs in Cross River State to improve tourism products and services and provide business development services through technical assistance. The Tempo team and our partners will:

• Conduct market demand research and inventories of tourism assets

• Propose industry standards for the tourism trade, branded as Cross River Quality (CRQ)

• Provide training activity in those industry standards

• Implement a pilot promotion to support tourism product development

• Lay the foundation for a sustainable, independent Destination Management Organization

The outward face of Cross River Quality, is the Ambassadors Promotion, a program created to draw travelers and tourists from niche markets in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Abuja, and Kano/Kaduna to Cross River State for 30 days in Feb/Mar 2010.

After the December festival season, hotels and restaurants in Cross River are quiet.

Tempo’s goal is to increase occupancy at hotels during this period. During February/March 2010, customers will be provided with discounted packages for group meetings and on various leisure themes. The target is to attract 1,200 visitors through 800 transactions over the promotional period. To create packages of good value for visitors (Ambassadors), restaurant and hotel-owners that participate will be required to contribute by discounting and/or matching grant funding. In return, the promotion will boost occupancy and develop brand awareness, basically boost their longer term profit by higher awareness and new selling techniques. Tempo anticipates not only repeat visits but also increased traffic from people who have heard about Cross River State from “word of mouth” marketing by the Ambassadors to friends, family and colleagues.

So what will we do in this specific context ? Well… at this time the team here is trying to convince local restaurant and hotel owners to be part of a big tourism promotion month, offering hotel rooms, changing price setting in restaurants, teaching on up-selling techniques. Tomorrow I’ll be going to the 3 largest hotels in the region in support of Jane to help them get on board. Get the contracts signed !!! Sounds familiar...?