Trevor Ward is a specialist consultant in the hospitality and leisure industries and is the Principal of the W Hospitality Group.

He started his consultancy career in 1983, having previously completed a university degree in hotel management at the University of Surrey, and worked in management positions with De Vere Hotels and Ladbroke Hotels in the UK.  From the late 1980s he has specialized in the provision of advisory services to clients in developing countries, and since 2003 has been based in Nigeria, advising clients there and throughout Africa.

His international experience includes advising clients on hotel and tourism development in more than 90 countries in Europe, North and South America, the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia. With a special focus on sub-Saharan Africa, he is working with many of the international hotel groups who are seeking a presence there, from the oil-rich countries of the west to the tourism hotspots of the south and east.  He is regarded as one of the foremost experts on the hotel industry in sub-Saharan Africa and is engaged primarily in development consultancy ranging from investment appraisals to operator selection, owner’s representation, and asset management.

In addition to his advisory work, Trevor is an active member of the Institute of Hospitality, for which he is their Ambassador for Africa, and of the International Society of Hospitality Consultants.  He is also closely involved with industry organisations such as the Hotel Owners and Managers Association of Lagos, the West Africa Tourism Organisation and the African Travel Commission.

Trevor is a regular speaker at industry conferences and writes in various professional and Africa-focused journals, including African Business Traveller and Africa Investor.