Mount Kigali University (MKUR), through its Institute of Capacity Building (ICB), has officially launched the “Building the Data-Driven Hotel” Executive Training Programme, bringing together hospitality leaders from across Rwanda for a transformative three-day executive programme at Kigali Paramount Hotel. The initiative demonstrates MKUR’s commitment to empowering industry professionals with practical skills in data analytics, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and strategic decision-making to shape the future of hospitality.
Opening the programme, the Vice Chancellor of Mount Kigali University emphasized that the training marks more than the beginning of a learning session, it represents a strategic partnership between academia and industry to transform Rwanda’s hospitality sector. He noted that the quality of leadership in hotels will determine the quality of service, competitiveness and growth of the country’s tourism industry, adding that “every investment in knowledge is an investment in tomorrow’s competitiveness.”
The General Manager of Kigali Paramount Hotel, Mr. Simon Muhoro, welcomed participants and reaffirmed the hotel’s commitment to innovation and continuous professional development. He highlighted Kigali Paramount Hotel as a living example of how hospitality is embracing digital transformation through the integration of Artificial Intelligence-powered hotel management systems that analyse operational data in real time to support smarter and faster management decisions. He further showcased the hotel’s adoption of Virtual Reality (VR) technology, enabling guests to enjoy immersive previews of tourism attractions such as the Rwanda Gorilla Trek experience, while also offering virtual tours of the hotel’s facilities to enhance customer engagement and the guest experience.
Facilitated by Dr. Krantz Mwantepele of Koncept AI Academy, the programme equips participants with practical knowledge on how to transform hotel data into actionable business intelligence. Rather than focusing solely on technology, the programme dedicates 70% of its content to operations and management, 20% to data and analytics, and 10% to Artificial Intelligence, ensuring AI serves as an enabler of better leadership and decision-making.
Day One focused on establishing the foundations of a data-driven hotel. Participants explored the hotel operations value chain, identified the different types of operational data generated across Reservations, Front Office, Housekeeping and Food & Beverage departments, and learned how this information can be translated into operational, tactical and strategic decisions. Through practical departmental workshops, participants mapped their own hotel’s data flow and defined clear ownership for collecting, validating, analysing and reporting data. The day’s key outcome was the development of a Data Ownership Matrix, giving each participating hotel a practical framework for improving accountability and operational excellence.
Hosted at Kigali Paramount Hotel, the programme reflects the hotel’s growing reputation as a centre for innovation and executive learning while demonstrating how emerging technologies such as AI and Virtual Reality are redefining modern hospitality. At the same time, the initiative reinforces Mount Kigali University’s position as a premier institution that bridges academia and industry by delivering practical executive education aligned with Rwanda’s vision of building a knowledge-driven and technology-enabled economy.
Over the next two days, participants will develop hotel management dashboards, analyse international hospitality case studies, experience live AI demonstrations and design practical 90-day transformation roadmaps that they can immediately implement within their respective properties.