African Design Magazine March 2016 | Page 21

African project Hôtel du 2 Février was finished in 1980 and was formerly managed by the Sofitel Hôtel chain. The hotel is currently undergoing a full renovation. 36 years after its opening, this historical building is soon to be fully restored to its former glory. Q Were there any challenges on site? MP: Various challenges exist when executing projects in West Africa. The lack of adequate artisan skills within the region does initially pose challenges in terms of achieving the correct levels of quality required of an international brand hotel. This is overcome by constant on-site staff skills training by our specialists and managers. Challenges relative to shipping and airfreight of goods and clearing thereof also play a role. Goods not arriving on site as programmed does create delays. Through our experience, we make use of the best shipping agencies, who have contacts in the country, which eases the clearing processes. By forging relationships with various local stakeholders, the en \