Accor Hospitality Southern Africa ceo Vincent Joyner has left the group, effective since December 15, to embark on a new venture. As the founder of Hospitality Investment Partners Africa (HIP in Africa), Joyner explains that the group is setting out to create tourism partnerships with Africans within the hotel sector. HIP in Africa has come about in recognition that hotels remain a critical component of the infrastructure in any modern economy. The company sets out to tap into the growing demand for new, modern hotels to add value to the existing offerings within African countries. Hip in Africa, with its investment, development and operating partners, aims to take the lead in these opportunities, bringing know-how and creating employment prospects.  “My treasured decade leading Accor Hospitality Southern Africa working with the Mercure and Formula 1 brands, not to mention my memorable 17 years with Accor worldwide, has cemented my belief in the current potential of hospitality in Africa,” Joyner explains. “Profits without ploughing back are truly meaningless to me. The secret to a successful business is making profits in a fair and just manner.”