In the fast-growing tourism world of Rwanda, one hospitality professional believes the secret to world-class service begins with something surprisingly simple: confidence, authenticity, and a genuine smile.
Source: The New Times
According to travelnews.africa, after building a decades-long international career in France, Emma Lestideau has returned to her homeland with a mission that goes beyond hotel training. Her goal is to help shape a new generation of hospitality professionals while strengthening Rwanda’s identity as a destination known not only for wildlife and landscapes but also for unforgettable service.
Working from her offices in Remera, Kigali, Lestideau now leads Terre d’Afrique, an initiative focused on professional development, relocation support, and economic empowerment for women.
Her story reflects a broader shift happening across Africa’s tourism industry. Skilled professionals who built careers abroad are increasingly returning home, bringing global experience back to growing destinations.
From global hotel training to local impact
Lestideau’s journey began when she left Rwanda in 1997 and moved to France. Over the next three decades, she built a career in international hospitality, eventually working as a trainer with one of the world’s largest hotel companies.
Her role saw her travelling between countries, guiding staff at major hotels, and helping teams refine the kind of service standards expected at global luxury brands.
Yet Rwanda remained close to her heart throughout those years.
Even in international settings, she often found people curious about where she came from. Rwanda was always part of the conversation and part of her identity.
Her career was not without its challenges. As a Black African woman working in an industry where perceptions and expectations can shape first impressions, she sometimes encountered scepticism before she even began speaking.
At one international film festival event held at a prestigious hotel, she recalls arriving to train staff and sensing hesitation from people who expected someone else.
Rather than defend herself, she focused on demonstrating her expertise through her work.
Closing the real gap in hospitality training
When Lestideau eventually returned to Rwanda, she quickly noticed something important within the country’s hospitality education system.
Many graduates held degrees or certificates. But something was still missing when it came to real service delivery.
According to her, the difference often lies in soft skills that traditional classrooms rarely teach. Confidence, professionalism, communication, and problem-solving are what turn employees into outstanding hosts.
Her programmes now help young professionals recognise their strengths, present themselves professionally, and negotiate employment opportunities with greater confidence.
The results are already visible. Several of her former students have moved into leadership roles in hotels, while others have launched their own businesses and created jobs for others.
Tourism meets agriculture in rural Rwanda
Beyond hospitality training, Lestideau is also helping develop new ways for travellers to experience Rwanda.
One of her projects focuses on agritourism near Lake Mugesera, where visitors can explore rural life while supporting local communities.
Working with the Isoko Women Association, she supports agricultural activities such as poultry farming, beekeeping, and flower cultivation. The project currently employs seven women full-time on a two-hectare farm, with additional members joining during larger initiatives.
The association manages more than 200 chickens and dozens of beehives while exploring new crops such as hibiscus and dried flowers for export.
It is a model designed to blend agriculture, tourism, and local entrepreneurship, offering travellers a more authentic connection to Rwanda beyond traditional hotel experiences.
Bringing Rwanda’s food culture to the spotlight
Another passion project currently underway is a book documenting traditional Rwandan cooking.
Lestideau hopes the project will encourage chefs to celebrate local gastronomy rather than replicate international menus.
Her belief is simple. Visitors travel to discover local culture, not to eat the same food they would find back home.
This philosophy is gaining traction across Africa’s tourism sector, where authentic culinary experiences are increasingly becoming a major draw for travellers.
A message to Africans abroad
For members of the Rwandan diaspora considering returning home, Lestideau offers a message rooted in collaboration rather than competition.
She believes returning professionals are not there to replace local talent but to contribute knowledge and experience that can strengthen the industry.
Even small contributions, she says, can help shape the future.
A bigger vision for Rwanda’s tourism future
Looking ahead, Lestideau plans to expand agrotourism initiatives, strengthen practical training programmes, and build partnerships that create internships and long-term employment opportunities.
Her broader vision positions hospitality workers as storytellers and cultural ambassadors who shape how visitors perceive Rwanda.
For travellers exploring Africa, Rwanda already stands out for its mountain gorillas, national parks, and dramatic landscapes. But professionals like Lestideau believe the country’s greatest competitive edge may ultimately come from something less visible.
Service that feels genuine, confident, and deeply rooted in local pride.
Source: travelnews.africa
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