Hotels in the south-south especially in Port Harcourt have bounced back from the trauma of killings few months back and are now safe heavens offering bubbling experiences and leisure services better than before. The national vice president of the Nigerian Hotels Association (NHA), Grace Maxwell Efeoghene, who made this disclosure, said hotels in the oil region have bounced back to dish out new experiences that now make the region an attractive zone.
In an exclusive interview in Port Harcourt, the pastor and CEO of Prince Kin Hotel located on Ikwerre Road near Rumuokoro area hotels in the region lost almost 80 per cent of the market during the killings spree in hotels. Now, the NHA is out to prove to the hospitality world that the industry in the region is safe and back.
With a vision and goal to let Nigerians know how to live, the pastor said most persons do not understand the hospitality industry, and that many do not believe in hotel life. The industry is out to give adequate comfort, to help people understand how to live and use hotels. “You need it for travelling, for rest, and for many activities. Holiday makers are taken care of by hotel facilities.’
She went on: “Our mission is to show you have to rest and how to have a comfortable lifestyle. People must learn to rest instead of working all year round and slump and die. If you work all year, you do not last, but if you rest, you prolong your life.
“With moderate prices, we give you rest, good stay, good security system. The notion is that people have fled the region but it is not true. People come and enjoy their lives. You need to understand your environment. There is recreational value in the region. Beaches abound.
“South-south is a place to live and rest. Most hotels offer you parties, peace, joy, etc. Happiness is essential in life and we boost the happiness index. The hotels are safe. It’s not true that its where they kill people.”
Read also: Hope rises for air travellers to S/South, S/East through Asaba Airport
Killing in hotels took events away from the region
On the impact the scandalous killings in hotels had on the industry, the woman of God said; “The issue of women being killed is no more. The suspected killer has been arrested. Now, CCTV rules the hotels. We are working with government agencies to sanitise and protect the industry. The NHA moved in and worked with the police to arrest the situation. We did everything humanly possible.
“We found out that this trend came. We now put in check-in and check-out policies, data, camera, etc, to monitor their movement. We also stopped under-aged girls. We began to find out the relationship of partners coming to hotels and the police was informed.
“Hotel occupancy was down because of fear, panic, bad mouth. It affected the returns. After the arrest, people returned to hotel life. Drop was much. It was dramatic. Hotels were deserted, almost 80 per cent drop occured. Hotel is a social matter. Big programmes were being taken away from PH. Now, the market is returning.”
Looking ahead
The Nigerian Hotels Association has held training, sensitization, etc, to make hotel workers understand security measures in hotels, she said. “People should watch one another. Wherever you are, you must watch out and know how to alert the police. Working with the police has been a good experience. The CP and team have given us good orientation. In recent times, we have had keen interest. We are now watchful with CCTV. We see everything now. We stop anything before it ever happens.
“We are enjoying the job because of safety and we now feel that our businesses are safe. We watch from afar. People should look forward to south-south and enjoy the region. Let them enjoy this season in hotels. International events can hold easily and safely in the region now”.
Hotel run by a woman of God
The national vice president said hers is a hotel run by a woman of God. Her younger brother, the person actually managing Prince Kin Hotel on day-to-day basis, is also a pastor. That could explain why men of God often feel safe and free at Prince Kin.
She said: “A pastor too needs rest. If they invite you, go to a hotel and rest before going to preach. Many people shun hotels as if that is the essence of Christianity. Mindset is to make people know that hotel is home. We help soldiers, students, families, and the masses. Hotelling is about catering for everyone. Stop staying with relatives when you travel. You need your rest, privacy, dignity, etc.
“In Nigeria, we seem not to respect rest and privacy. Most pastors suffer trauma when they go to preach. Hotel is your best safe outlet.”
Prince Kin Hotel started with her grand parents and later to their parents and now to their generation. The experience is incrementally in the family. Now, she says; “Going out increases the happiness index. The society is being robbed of happiness. The environment can reduce your tension. Hotel is your best bet.
“Image of hospitality industry has been battered. A woman can go to a hotel, relax, and check out. Most domestic violence can be avoided by escaping to a hotel room to come back better. Choking homes kill men quickly.”
Calling it a gold mine beyond sleeping at night, she said to rest, and to relax save lives. She called it buying back your life once in a while. You stress yourself a lot, so how do you buy back your life? A house can be low in oxygen. So, go to eco-friendly environment, a hotel and relax and buy back your life. Step away from work and rest.
“Companies should include rest moments and force their workers to rest. Jesus always took time off to rest. Rest and reset your head. House wives should leave their environments and go rest somewhere. We are not resting at all in this country.”
Efeoghene can be described as a hotelier who lodges in other hotels in the same city. She said she often escapes from drudgery and stress to lodge in another hotel and rest and buy back her life. “Hotel is not a bad place. Yes, bad things happen in hotels but bad things happen at home, in the office, etc. Its not hotels that do bad, it is people that do bad. The hoteliers have to control things.’
She gave insight into one of the challenges in hotel business, pilfering and nasty behaviours. “Yes, customers steal towels, beddings, spoons, plates, etc. We manage human beings and teach them manners.”
