Legend Airport Hotel reflects on five years in business

…Sets for additional 134 rooms, facilities

In October 2018, the Nigerian hospitality industry welcomed a new entrant in the bourgeoning hotel market.

The new hotel came with a lot of uniqueness and promises to make a difference.

Firstly, Legend Airport Hotel Curio Collection by Hilton Lagos, debuted to become the first internationally branded airport hotel in Nigeria, a record it still holds till date.

It is also the first Curio Collection by Hilton in West Africa, and the second Hilton branded hotel in Nigeria.

Moreover, it is the only hotel in Nigeria and probably in West Africa with immigration and customs facilities that facilitate seamless air travel for guests and other users.

Read also: A look at Legend Hotel Lagos Airport after two years in business

Its location at the Quits Aviation Free Trade Zone, at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, makes it a few steps from the hotel to the aircraft, offering both convenience and exclusivity to the high profile guests.

The most exciting thing for many stakeholders in the Nigerian hospitality industry is that it is the first internationally branded hotel with an ingenious general manager, though he grew across the ranks in the Hilton hierarchy to reach that position.

Excitedly, Peter Idoko, a Nigerian hospitality expert with over two decades experience, has been in charge for the five years the hotel has been in operations.

Read also: Legend Hotel Lagos Airport raises bar in hospitality market

Of course, that testifies to the confidence Quits Aviation, the owners and Hilton Worldwide, the managing brand, repose on the ever-cheerful Idoko.

So far, the hotel has excited guests with exceptional services, amid attention to details across its rooms categories, an indoor pool with adjoining terrace bar, a fitness center, and steam room, steak restaurant and two lounges, in-house immigration facilities for private jet passengers, among others.

Looking back at the five years in business, the owners, brand managers, staff members and guests were excited as the hotel surpassed all expectations.

In the excitement, the hotel rolled out colorful drums on October 26, 2023 to celebrate its five years in business, an event that witnessed the gathering of its guests, partners and industry stakeholders in the hotel’s convivial atmosphere.

Speaking at the anniversary ceremony, Sam Iwuajoku Jnr., director, Quits Hospitality, owners of the hotel, noted facilities such the aviation maintenance facility, in-house immigration facility and Execujet have combined to offer seamless experiences to guests and provide them with luxury and convenience while on a visit.

“The Legend’s affiliation to Execujet and Hilton, a premier global hotel company, with several renowned brands, is a testimony to our commitment and excellence.

“Our affiliation to Curio Collection signifies that we are part of a collection of one market and one-of-a-kind hotel worldwide that is offering exceptional quality to our customers.” he said.

Iwuajoku Jnr attributed the success so far achieved by the hotel to the hard work and commitment of a team of professionals, who offer exceptional service and attention to details to guests, while expressing gratitude to corporate and individual guests who have been loyal in the last five years.

However, the ceremony was a platform to announce the hotel’s expansion plans.

“We are set for the expansion of the hotel which will include an additional 134 rooms, a purpose built flexible conference center, an expanded restaurant, a new indoor bar, a new outlet terrace, an outdoor swimming pool among other enhancements, which will elevate guests’ experience.

“As we raise a toast to our next five years, let us cherish the memories we have created and anticipate the new adventures that await us,” Iwuajoku Jnr said.

He noted further that Legend Hotel will continue to be a beacon of excellence, a place where luxury meets comfort and where every guest is treated like royalty.

On his part, Peter Idoko, the general manager of the hotel, since the opening in 2018, was excited that the hotel has survived many challenges in its five years of operation, especially the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Sometime you think that five years is a small time. But for us it is very significant because we started in 2018 October, we were just finding our feet and then 2019, we were committed to do hospitality, which we are assigned to do and then COVID 19 came and I wished we could delete 2020 from our calendar and say we are four years old, because it had a very big impact on us as a young business.

COVID came and we had to shut our doors and then we had to restrategise, the reason we are celebrating this 5 years is because we survived that year 2020 and because we could survive that year 2020, we will survive as a business.

Our greatest achievement was to survive 2020, the year of the COVID because of our background. I am saying this to underscore the reason we invited you here because every single one of you here today was part of our backbone, the reason we are where we are today. If it wasn’t for the support of our esteemed guests, the support of our esteemed partners, our wonderful Legend team, we would not be here to celebrate,” Idoko said.

According to him, the team is the best anyone can work with considering the kind of work they have done in the past five years.

“The team has redefined hospitality in Lagos. In five years we have become a reference point for hospitality business and every year, since we started, we have won awards. We have won the Travellers Choice Award, which is TripAdvisor, we have won the Pyne Award, among others.

Read also: The Legend: A review of Nigeria’s Curio Collection

“There is no hospitality award of substance in Nigeria today and some international ones that we have not won. All thanks to these friends we have here today and thanks to you, our guests. Every single one of you has been invited because you have been part of what we have been doing,” the general manager said.

Looking at another five years of redefining hospitality in Lagos, Idoko noted that the hotel is not bound by the standards of Lagos because it is an international brand.

He also appreciated Sam Iwuajoku of Quits Hospitality, the owner and visioner of the hotel, saying that without him “this project will not have happened and without his support we will not be where we are today.

“The quality you are seeing here today is a vision of the man himself, and I want to say thank you to him, I say thank you to Sam”.