Former Hilton Trainer Returns to Rwanda to Transform Hospitality Standards
A Rwandan hospitality professional who spent more than three decades building an international career in France has returned home with a mission to elevate service standards across the country's tourism sector. Emma Lestideau, who previously worked as a trainer with one of the world's largest hotel companies, now dedicates her expertise to preparing young Rwandans for successful careers in hospitality.
Operating from offices in Remera, Kigali, Lestideau leads Terre d'Afrique, an initiative focused on professional development, relocation support and women's economic empowerment. Her workspace reflects the organisation's values, incorporating sustainable design elements and greenery throughout.
"For everything to go well, it all begins with something simple: confidence, authenticity and a smile," she explains when discussing her approach to hospitality training.
Lestideau departed Rwanda in 1997 and built her career in France, eventually joining a global hotel brand where she advanced to training positions that took her across multiple countries. Despite her international success, she maintained strong connections to her homeland.
"Even in quiet moments, people would ask where I come from. So Rwanda was always there. I carried it professionally and personally," she recalls.
Her journey abroad was not without obstacles. As a Black African woman from a nation often misunderstood internationally, she frequently encountered scepticism about her capabilities before demonstrating her expertise. She remembers arriving at a prestigious hotel during an international film festival to train staff, only to face doubt from those expecting someone different.
"Before you even start, you feel the hesitation," she says. "You don't justify yourself. You show what you can do."
After witnessing Rwanda's remarkable transformation over the years, Lestideau felt compelled to return and contribute directly to the country's development. She now focuses on addressing a critical gap she observed while working with hospitality education institutions locally.
"Graduates had degrees and certificates, but when it came to delivering quality service, something was missing," she notes. That missing element encompasses confidence, professionalism, problem-solving abilities and workplace culture awareness, skills rarely taught in traditional classroom settings.
Her training programmes help young professionals identify their strengths, improve how they present themselves and negotiate employment terms with confidence. The results speak through former students who now hold leadership positions in major hotels and have launched their own businesses creating employment opportunities.
Beyond individual career development, Lestideau is pioneering agro-tourism initiatives that could reshape how visitors experience rural Rwanda. Working with the Isoko Women Association near Lake Mugesera, she supports agricultural activities including poultry farming, beekeeping and flower production for export markets.
Seven women work full-time on a two-hectare farm, with additional members joining during larger projects. The association manages over 200 chickens and 47 beehives while exploring hibiscus cultivation and dried flower sales. This model demonstrates how agriculture, hospitality and tourism can combine to generate sustainable income while offering visitors authentic experiences.
"We don't do it for women. We do with them," Lestideau emphasises regarding her partnership approach.
She is also working to document traditional Rwandan cooking through a forthcoming book, encouraging local chefs to develop authentic gastronomy rather than copying international menus. "Visitors don't come here to eat what they eat at home. They come to discover what we cook," she argues.
For Rwandans living abroad who consider returning, her message is straightforward: "You are not coming to replace anyone. You are coming to contribute. Even a small contribution can have a big impact."
Looking ahead, Lestideau plans to expand agro-tourism projects, strengthen practical training opportunities and build partnerships supporting internships and long-term employment. Her vision positions Rwandan hospitality professionals not merely as service providers but as creators of unforgettable experiences that will shape how the world perceives the nation.
