Meet Temitope, Communications Manager for Europe, the Middle East, & Africa

From starting in the  General Manager Development Program in 2018 in the Marjan Islands to a Communication Manager for all EMEA, Temitope has been on an exciting journey in just five years. Below, she shares her Hilton journey, exciting projects she is worked on, and how Hilton has supported her career growth and development. 

Get to Know Temitope

“I joined Hilton in 2018 after being selected as one of the top 5 candidates to partake in the 18-month General Manager Development program. My first placement was in Operations and Human Resources at the DoubleTree by Hilton Resort & Spa Marjan Island, Ras al Khaimah, UAE. After this I moved to Ankara, Turkey to complete my second placement in Business Development and Finance at Ankara Hilton SA Upon completing the programme, I joined Hilton Salwa Beach Resort & Villas as the pre-opening Marketing Manager, overseeing Marketing and PR efforts for its 361 accommodation offerings, the largest water park in Qatar- Desert Falls Water and Adventure Park, over 20 restaurants highlighting global flavours, and other recreational facilities. The resort won over 30 awards including the prestigious World Travel Awards, World Luxury Awards, and the Conde Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards.   After almost two years in the role, I moved to Hilton Corporate as Communications Manager, EMEA, with a special focus on Africa and The Indian Ocean (A&IO). The region currently has 45 operating hotels with almost 12,000 keys and 67 hotels in the pipeline opening in the coming years. In my role, I am responsible for providing strategic communications oversight on development communications, F&B communications, corporate and consumer communications, people and culture stories, and sustainability.” 
What is an exciting project or initiative you have worked on at Hilton?
“The most exciting project I have worked on is launching the ‘Wild Spirit Wines of Africa’ Beverage Conservation program in collaboration with the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) & Under the Influence, which focused on driving sustainable travel and tourism in Africa. We selected the best wine farms and spirit distilleries in South Africa that champion environmental sustainability, biodynamic farming, and local ingenuity, and placed sustainable wines from these wine farms/spirit distilleries in eleven participating hotels in the region and counting.” 
What is the best career advice you have received?
“Do not outsource your career development to anyone - it is within you. Dream BIG because dreams do come true. You can achieve anything you put your mind to. There is only one of you in the world and that is more than good enough, so be unapologetically true to yourself!” 
How has Hilton supported your career growth and development?
“Hilton has provided me with an opportunity to really thrive as a young professional in the hospitality industry. I have lived and worked in 4 countries over the last 5 years, working with different teams, and getting accustomed to various cultures. I have interacted with executives, regional departmental leads, and senior management across different markets in my region. At Hilton, we know how to work efficiently and have fun, which I believe is what separates Hilton from other hospitality companies and makes us truly stand out as a leading hospitality company!”