…impressive performance, potential woo investors
The Cross River State hospitality sector, particularly the Calabar hotel market, ended 2024 on an impressive note courtesy of the sustained patronage from the over 300,000 tourists, who visited between November and December for sightseeing of its exciting tourism potential and the annual carnival.
According to data released this January by the Research Department, Cross River State Tourism Bureau, hotels recorded full room occupancy across the combined 3,600 available rooms in Calabar, as well as bars, restaurants and nightclubs.
“Throughout the period under review, November – December, 2024, the occupancy rate of accommodation establishments in Calabar rose to 68 percent from 57 percent in 2023. More than 90 percent of hotels in Calabar had a 100 percent occupancy rate from December 15–29, 2024.
“Revenue generated from hotel bookings is estimated at N2.79 billion ($1.74 million) with N25,000 per night confirmed hotel bookings in December alone for about 3,600 available bed spaces in Calabar Cluster.
“Revenue from food and breakfast alone stood at an estimated N900 million ($562,000),” the data showed.
Meanwhile, nine hotels generated more than 54 percent of the revenue from hotel bookings. They include; Hogis Royale, Metropolitan Hotel, Hogis Hotel, Monty Suites, UG Willis Hotel, Moju Hotel, Danic Hotel, Dallas Suits and De Grand Hotel.
But Hogis Royal and Moju Hotel, according to the data, were not major contributors to the 2023 revenue bookings as they were not in full operation then.
Also adding to the impressive record, the five major night clubs in the city; Roman, Zero Arena, Amber Lounge, Club Voltage and Bays Bar, generated N400 million ($267, 000), within the period under review.
With the anticipation of more visitors this year, amid need for more rooms to meet the growing demand, potential investors are being wooed by the business opportunities presented by infrastructure deficit in Calabar and the state at large.
Reviewing the figures from the Cross River State Tourism Bureau, Imeh Ekwoh, a hotelier, noted that if the attendance of the 2024 carnival outweighed the 2023 edition by 42 percent, then more visitors are expected this year, implying more rooms.
“My financial advisers are encouraging me to invest more in the hospitality sector in Cross River because of the huge potential. Also, I went to 16 hotels and 7 restaurants during the festive season to confirm things and the 100 percent occupancy is real. What I need now is money because there is a market for more rooms in Calabar, especially now that our CallyAir is operational,” Ekwoh said.
Abimbola Onitiri, a sales director at a Lagos-based four-star hotel, who spent his leave with his family in Calabar last December, was excited at the impressive performance across all the hotels, noting that such feats need to be sustained all-year-round to for Calabar to become a true destination for tourists in Nigeria and Africa.
Read also: Calabar Carnival records 42 % growth attendance
According to him, the owners of his hotel and their partners are also considering a project in Calabar from the second quarter of the year.
Apart from the annual carnival and tourism sites, the meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) sector is also thriving in Cross River, with many corporate and government events held in Calabar across the year.
“We lost the events hosting some time ago, but they are coming back, especially since His Excellency Prince Bassey Otu, assumed office as the governor of Cross River State.
“More company AGMs, retreats and corporate bonding are returning back to Calabar and we hope to see more when the Obdud Mountain Resort bounces back shortly and the Obudu airport commences operation this year. Cally Air will increase capacity soon to meet the growing demand for air access to the state,” a government official, who pleaded for anonymity, said.
Recognizing the place of tourism in its economic diversification drive, the Cross River State government is also offering potential investors an enabling environment, as well as seeking partnerships to close the infrastructure gap in the tourism sector.
There are also a number of pipeline hotel projects across the state that would boost room availability and facility offerings, as well as address the growing demand for quality accommodation in the state.
Speaking on the sideline of the 2024 Carnival Calabar, Governor Bassey Otu, noted that the state is improving tourism and hospitality infrastructure to boost tourist traffic and also ensure value for money offerings for the visitors.
“We have hotels that are almost completed. When completed, they will compete with any international one anywhere in the world.
“Before you come next time, you are coming to see a completely different environment in terms of hospitality offerings,” Governor Otu reassured.
Speaking further, he explained that the projects are part of his administration’s commitment to positively impact the hospitality industry with more quality hotels, additional rooms, more comfort and value for money offerings for visitors during the carnival season and across the year.
Apart from Calabar, the governor said that the improvement in hospitality infrastructure extends to the Obudu Mountain Resort, with an ongoing facility upgrade and restoration that has attracted the likes of Marriott International, foremost global hospitality chain.
With Cally Air operational to boost air access, amid other domestic airlines, and the likes of Marriott International on board, more foreign hotel brands, local and international investors are expected to come in to further boost the Calabar hotel market and the state’s hospitality sector at large, this year.
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