When various pioneers in the Namibian hospitality sector came together in late 1987, their aim was to pave the way for the creation of a lobby group to speak out for the interests of the tourism accommodation sector, and to see tourism take up a key role in Namibia’s economy. Fast forward 35 years and much has been achieved: the Namibian tourism industry is one of the three economic pillars in Namibia, and tourism businesses provide an impressive percentage of employment opportunities for Namibians at all skill levels and in all regions. But while much has changed in the tourism landscape over the past 35 years, it is noteworthy that much has stayed the same.