Africa’s largest tech and new media conference, Social Media Week Lagos, has set the stage for Lufthansa to introduce its new regional social media customer experience. On the same panel with Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture in Lagos State, Mr Folorunsho Folarin-Coker, Senior Manager Customer, Product and Marketing, Sub-Saharan Africa, Mrs Adenike Macaulay, introduced Lufthansa’s new social media strategy.

Lufthansa Nigeria is the official airline partner of the Social Media Week in Lagos

“Our customers can now get in touch with us through our Facebook platform in a direct way,” Macaulay said.

Lufthansa social media activities are centralized in Frankfurt, Lufthansa’s hub in Germany. However, Lagos will from now on function as the social media centre for Sub-Saharan Africa.

“We will engage more with our fans who have been following us for years, and respond to enquiries quicker , while inspiring them to travel to and from Nigeria with Lufthansa,” she added.

Her view was also shared by Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture in Lagos State, Folorunsho Folarin-Coker, who pointed out the need for soft power approach to make Lagos and Nigeria more attractive as a tourist destination.

According to him, “let’s give Lagos a chance. Let us consume more of Lagos and Nigeria and drive local consumption“. The Commissioner seized the opportunity to introduce the Lagos initiative “One Lagos“, a marketing platform with a focus of a “new Lagos story“. Already, the megacity has the most number of hotel rooms than any African city

The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, also disclosed his desire for the city. “We want you to fly into Lagos, start your business, find your way, live, work and enjoy in Lagos.“

The second day of the Social Media Week Lagos was dedicated to the travel industry. Lufthansa sponsored the “Travel Africa Day“ with its Lufthansa Welcome Lounge where guests could get a lounge feel and refreshments and experience the different class configurations on board through virtual reality glasses. The new social media channel gives the regional Lufthansa team the possibility to communicate to a wider audience especially, for example, to the Nigerian, Kenyan or South African taste. Special campaigns like the upcoming soccer fiesta – Europe Championship – can be promoted. Every month, inspirations to destinations that are off the beaten tracks in London, Paris and New York can be found on the Lufthansa initiated Facebook conversations.

Lufthansa has always been a pioneer in the digital world like with the Internet services on board its aircraft. Having equipped all planes in the Lufthansa intercontinental fleet with the successful FlyNet system, the success story continues by providing Internet on board the short and medium-haul flights. From early summer 2016, Lufthansa will be the first airline in Europe to offer broadband on board its short and medium-haul flights. This will enable passengers on continental flights and flights within Germany to enjoy the full freedom to communicate and to use the Internet with a wide bandwidth above the clouds. The first aircraft will be fitted with the new technology in early summer 2016. Lufthansa therefore is the first airline in Europe able to offer its guests an Internet surfing experience boasting the same quality and speed as they are used to at home.

Author: Theresa Igata