Cut costs, time to ditch the ‘five-star’ meetings

TANZANIA: IT is no secret that some government meetings are often held at luxury hotels. It is also no secret that those meetings cost taxpayers a pretty penny. When government officials, private sector leaders and everyone in between are sent to swanky venues in the name of “strategic discussions,” the price tag stacks up quickly-especially when hefty per diems and allowances are involved.

While these may seem like small figures individually, they add up to a stunning waste of resources, especially when that money could be better spent on the very projects these meetings aim to discuss. Let us face it: The time has come for a reality check on the cost of government operations and meetings in expensive hotels should be at the top of the list for cuts.

The sheer irony is that these costly gatherings often take place under the guise of “important” meetings and “necessary” travel. If anything, the notion that business can only be conducted in opulence undermines the very principles of cost-effectiveness and accountability.

This is a wake-up to Ministers/Heads of Departments/ Chief Executive Officers and their teams regularly travelling from their home stations to distant regions for these high-priced summits. Once there, the lavish expenses pile up in the form of food, lodging and transportation-funds that could otherwise support local infrastructure, healthcare, or education projects. It is almost as if the further the location, the more tempting it becomes to ‘invest’ in the luxury, all under the noble pretext of making progress.

But the real question is: Does booking an expensive hotel room contribute to solving the issues at hand? Or does it simply make attendees feel better about their work, with nice dinners and five-star service serving as the backdrop for abstract discussions and bureaucratic jargon? When the focus is more on the ambiance than on real, tangible outcomes, one must ask: What are we really achieving here?

Government officials—along with their counterparts in the private sector—must face the facts. The money spent on these lavish retreats could be redirected to ensure that the policies discussed in these forums are actually implemented. Instead of hosting yet another “high-level” meeting in a luxurious venue, why not consider more accessible and cost-effective spaces, like local government offices, community halls, or even virtual platforms for certain topics? Virtual meetings, for example, can connect officials from far-flung regions without the need for hefty per diems or hotel costs. Travel budgets could be better allocated to fund essential services like healthcare, education and infrastructure development.

A shift in mindset is required here. Rather than revelling in extravagant settings, our leaders should strive for humility and focus. The people they serve need solutions-not more meetings that cost the earth but produce little in return. Let us ask them to take a hard look at the practical side of governance and spend the money where it really matters: On real projects that directly benefit the public, not on lavish hotel lobbies or catered luncheons.