KETHA Partners with French Press to Strengthen Rwanda’s Hospitality and Tourism Industry

By The Inspirer.

Kigali, September 18, 2025__Kigali Excellent Tourism and Hospitality Academy (KETHA) has entered into a strategic partnership with French Press Ltd, a move expected to significantly boost service quality in Rwanda’s hotel sector and support the broader growth of the tourism industry.

The agreement, signed in Kigali, will focus on three key areas: professional training for hotel staff to meet international standards, consultancy services tailored to the hospitality sector, and initiatives aimed at strengthening service excellence and governance across hotels and tourism enterprises.

According to officials, the partnership will help align Rwanda’s hospitality industry with global benchmarks while also contributing to the country’s development goals under the National Strategy for Transformation (NST1 and NST2), where tourism is identified as a pillar of economic growth.

“KETHA continues to seek partnerships with diverse stakeholders to strengthen the skills of students and professionals in tourism and hospitality. This collaboration with French Press will deliver meaningful impact both nationally and internationally,” said Dr. Habimana Alphonse, Managing Director of KETHA.

French Press Ltd brings together a team of hospitality experts with wide experience in hotel performance audits, modern curriculum development, and professional coaching. The organization works with institutions and businesses to enhance staff skills, improve service delivery, and raise industry competitiveness.

Speaking on behalf of French Press Ltd, Pacifique Gihoza, an expert in hospitality, highlighted how the partnership will deliver measurable improvements in service quality and staff skills.

“We are embedding East African Community hotel classification standards directly into our training and assessment programs. Using RTB-approved manuals in food and beverage, front office, housekeeping, and tourism, we ensure consistent delivery of internationally aligned skills,” he said.

Gihoza noted that French Press Ltd will use competency-based assessments and hotel feedback loops to directly measure improvements in professionalism, customer satisfaction, and operational efficiency.

Building on its proven Professional Barista Course—which has already trained over 200 youth—the organization plans to scale such successful models nationwide.

Beyond training, French Press and KETHA will work to align Rwanda’s hospitality sector with international standards. This will include modernizing curricula to reflect global best practices in customer service, hygiene, sustainability, and digital hotel operations.

The partnership will also launch specialized certification programs and invest in training of trainers (ToT) to build sustainable capacity within KETHA.

“We will benchmark Rwanda’s hotels against leading destinations such as Kenya, Mauritius, and South Africa,” Gihoza explained. “Our goal is to ensure that Rwanda not only meets but exceeds EAC standards, positioning the country as a regional hub for quality hospitality.”

KETHA has already established itself as a leading technical and vocational training institution in tourism and hospitality.

Accredited by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Rwanda TVET Board (RTB), and the National Examination and School Inspection Authority (NESA), the academy offers training from Level 1 to Level 5, as well as short professional courses.

Since its founding in 2018, KETHA has partnered with some of Rwanda’s top hotels, including Kigali Marriott Hotel, Radisson Blu Hotel, Park Inn by Radisson, Lemigo Hotel, Epic Hotel by Mantis, and Grand Legacy Hotel. These partnerships allow students to access internships, hands-on training, and employment opportunities while ensuring that programs remain industry-driven.

The expected impact of the KETHA–French Press Ltd partnership includes improved service quality in hotels, a stronger pool of skilled graduates, increased regional competitiveness, and greater economic growth through enhanced visitor satisfaction and repeat business.

Both institutions expressed confidence that this collaboration will uplift service delivery within Rwanda’s hospitality industry and further enhance the country’s reputation as a premier tourism destination on the African continent and beyond.