As many hospitality experts project events that will shape the industry in their outlook for 2013, the expectation is high on the many new hotels that will be opening their doors to the public this year. The biggest of them all, of course, is the long-expected grand opening of the Intercontinental Hotel Lagos.
Finally, the 358-room hotel opens this June and is already turning the table around for the hospitality business in Lagos and Nigeria at large as the global Intercontinental hotel brand comes in with the needed difference that will benchmark standard in the industry.
At 100 metres high, the 23-storey building hotel is so far the tallest hospitality property in Nigeria, and as well an architectural wonder on Kofo Abayomi Street in Victoria Island. The towering height is visibly imposing from anywhere on Victoria Island.
Speaking during a recent pre-opening media tour of the hotel facility, Didier Coeln, general manager of the hotel, noted that the hotel, which is centrally located on Victoria Island, will cater for a steadily increasing number of business travellers arriving in Nigeria, as the country goes through a period of renewed investment in its infrastructure. The French-born general manager disclosed that on the part of the franchise owner, the development is a clear reflection of Intercontinental Hotel Group’s confidence in Lagos, a city that has become a thriving commercial hub of West Africa.
As the hotel opens its doors to the public this June, it will usher into the Lagos hospitality market additional 358 rooms and suites made up of 246 standard rooms, 30 twin rooms, 17 large corner king rooms, 17 corner one-bedroom suites, 14 one-bedroom end suites, 4 club floor junior suites, 2 large one-bedroom suites (club floors), 1 presidential suite, 55 suites and larger rooms, 4 club floors with 72 club floor rooms and suites.
Other facilities include Grand African Ballroom of 1,477 sq. metres with eight branded meeting rooms, a-250 sq. metres Intercontinental Club Lounge, including meeting room facilities, 24-hour gym and health club, three spa and massage treatment rooms, outdoor lapping pool and pool deck, roof top Zen Garden, WIFI, branded luxury retail, and 200 underground parking spaces.
The hotel will also offer the best dining experience to guests with a world-class menu and drinks under the personal touch and supervision of its highly skilled Food & Beverage department staff.
The fine dining options include ‘Ekaabo’, an all-day dining restaurant with 160 seats; SOHO, a Chinese restaurant for 90 guests; and Milano Rest & Bar, Italian bar seating between 28-60 guests. Austen Reid, the executive chef of the hotel, will lead other international chefs in delivering the best mix of international and local cuisines.
Others include Soul Bar Lounge, an 80-seater lounge offering best of wine menu, Lobby Café for 56 guests and, of course, Poolside Café & Bar.
Coeln hopes to take advantage of the inbound travel that is on the increase in the country and also to offer Nigerians and international guests the traditional Intercontinental experience which, according to him, is never rivalled anywhere in the world.
To enjoy the comfort of the hotel starts with the luxury rooms that go from $500 per night. However, Silvia Jurecka, director of sales and marketing of the hotel, assured us that the rates are flexible depending on the volume of business, the number of guests and other offerings guests are willing to buy into.
While the hotel management welcomes guests, it assures that Intercontinental is a one-stop-shop hospitality experience for any guest and will remain so even in Nigeria.
