CALMHAF Takes Calmness to The Prestigious Andover Hotel
Hotel staff in Nigeria often carry more than the guest list. Long shifts, understaffing, difficult guests, irregular rosters, and the demand to remain cheerful through exhaustion are everyday conditions in many properties. Rising living costs and long commutes add to the pressure, and one person is frequently expected to do the work of several. The result is burnout, fatigue, missed details, and staff who are present but worn down.
On 22 September 2026, CALMHAF, through COLI Mental Health Academy, delivered a tailored stress management workshop at The Andover Hotel, Enugu, to equip staff with practical skills to manage stress, protect their wellbeing, and remain effective on the job. The central emphasis of the session was staying calm under pressure and managing emotions so that service quality, focus, and workplace climate are protected.
Less drained staff recover service better, work with more focus, and contribute to a calmer, more productive floor. Supporting staff wellbeing is an investment in performance, retention, and a healthier workplace.
Content Delivered
The workshop covered among other themes, the distinction between eustress (constructive, motivating stress) and distress (harmful, depleting stress), Identifying personal and workplace stress triggers, body and mind reactions to stress, long-term consequences of unmanaged stress, proven, practical solutions for managing stress on and off the floor. The thread running through every segment was emotional regulation under pressure.
Multiple breakout sessions were used so that participants could move from listening to applying and made hotel-specific examples easier to surface. Benefits included higher engagement, peer learning - skills that staff could immediately apply to front-desk, housekeeping, kitchen, and other departments.
Group sessions tackled scenario-based problems faced by hotel workers, like an angry guest over a billing error and similar high-friction situations. These sessions practised calm language, ownership without self-blame, and recovery after the interaction.
Wellness Games and Play Therapy
Wellness games saw teams unwind after intensive discussion and role-play. Physical and light competitive play lowered residual tension, restored energy, rebuilt team rapport after difficult scenarios, and demonstrated that recovery can be brief and practical rather than postponed until the end of a shift. Play therapy elements gave staff a safe, structured way to express pressure without remaining stuck in problem-talk, supporting the workshop’s emphasis on emotional management.
Facilitation Team
Teachings, lectures, and breakout sessions were anchored by Founder and Executive Director, Reverend Chukwudiebube Nwachukwu and Co-Founder, Mrs. Uzoamaka Nwachukwu. The programme was expertly moderated by Ambassador and OAP Miss Ophilia Alete of Correct FM Enugu. Volunteers Ifeoma Nwafor and Chiderah Chidi, together with Centre Manager Precious Nwodo, participated fully in the activities and supported group work throughout.
Outcome and Closing Note
The session combined teaching with practice: participants left with language for eustress and distress, tools for spotting triggers, methods for de-escalating guests, and short recovery habits for peak hours. Attendance of 44 staff, including the General Manager, signalled organisational commitment to staff wellbeing as a performance issue, not a luxury.
CALMHAF and COLI Mental Health Academy remain available to deliver tailored stress management workshops for other hospitality and service teams.
Contact us to book a workshop for your team.
