The Nation Newspaper

Category: Travels on Saturday

  • Ambassador Heights wins property award

    Ambassador Heights, the luxury residential development rising adjacent to the Moevenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra, was awarded an International Property Award.

    In its quest to discover the best developers in Africa, the International Property Awards in London pursued development companies to present their finest works. Entries were received from companies in 13 countries across the continent.  The judging committee chaired by three members of the House of Lords scrutinized hundreds of entries and Ambassador Heights won an African Property Award in the category of “Residential Development.”

    A host of Africa’s finest developers, architects, interior designers and real estate agents gathered in the Joharah Ballroom at the MadinatJumeirah in Dubai on Thursday, December 4. There, in the presence of the Earl of Caithness, chairman of the judges for development categories, the results of the African Property Awards were announced.

    Sales Manager for the project, Robert Davis, commented: “Our team is honoured to win this coveted award which further validates Ambassador Heights’ position as the most exclusive and luxurious residential offering in Ghana.”

    When complete in the 4th quarter of 2015, Ambassador Heights will stand as the only true 5 Star mixed use project in West Africa.  Homeowners will enjoy unparalleled location within the city, world class build quality, attractive rental management options, and access to the amenities and services of the surrounding hotel.

    Ambassador Heights presents the opportunity for a select few to own within a globally recognized and award winning residential real estate development.

  • Four Points by Sheraton, Le Meridien get new heads

    Starwood Hotels  and  Resorts Worldwide has announced the appointment of a new general manager for Four Points by Sheraton Victoria Island. Lagos. He is Marc Wozniak. In his position, he will report to Barry Curran, Area Manager Nigeria and General Manager of the Sheraton Lagos Hotel, Nigeria.

    Prior to this appointment, Marc was General Manager at the Sheraton Adana Hotel, a position he held since June 2013.

    Marc has over 29 years of experience in the hospitality industry and has gathered extensive management experience in a variety of hotels in Germany, China, Kazakhstan and Nigeria.

    Also, Le Meridien Ogeyi Place Port Harcourt, Nigeria has appointed Mr. Chris Duncan as the General Manager. In his position, he is responsible for the day-to-day management of the hotel and its staff. Mr. Chris Duncan was Resident Operations Manager for the Cape Manor Hotel in Cape Town, South Africa, a position he had held since May 2013. Mr.Chris has over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry and has filled various management positions in South Africa.

  • African Travel Times honours tourism stakeholders

    African Travel Times honours tourism stakeholders

    African Travel Times magazine has announced the institution of an annual award.

    According to its Publisher/Editor, Lucky Onoriode George, the award is to annually recognize excellence in the travel and tourism sector in Nigeria.

    George said:“It is the process that differentiates the new awards from others, as awardees will be selected by professionals in the various subsectors”.

    Among the corporate organisations recognised for the  2014 and the inaugural edition are: God Is Good Motors – Best Emerging Transport Company in Nigeria; Eko Hotel & Suites – Most Supportive Travel and Tourism Organization; Carnival Calabar – Best Domestic Tourism Product; ABC Transport Plc – Best Family Friendly Transport Company in Nigeria;Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt – Most Resilient Performance Award in the Hospitality Industry.

    So far, some of the winners have received their awards in private, while others have been notified and a presentation will be done at a later date.

    Meanwhile, Mr. George said from this year, the awards ceremony would form part of his publication’s annual travel and tourism dinner, a special event to bring together industry practitioners, suppliers and related establishments.

  • Southern Sun win Advisor award

    Southern Sun Ikoyi Hotel has  emerged winner of ‘Travellers Choice 2015’. The award  wasto  the hotel by the renowned international travel and online review website Trip Advisor. Trip Advisor selected Southern Sun Ikoyi as a winner in its 2015 Best Hotels Category  in Nigeria.

    Elated with the award, Southern Sun Ikoyi General Manager Mr. Mark Loxley, attributed the hotel’s success to “fantastic team effort, quality customer service and the dedication of staff and management in providing a continuous high level of superior guest service”. Mr Loxley continued that, the award will “further motivate staff and management to continue in efforts in maintaining the status of high quality service delivery at all times”.

    The award was developed to identify, highlight and reward excellence in global hospitality industry. Trip Advisor offers the most visible international platform for providing reviews of travel related content. The awards are judged by the vast number of guests who visit any named hotel, their comments and reviews about the hotel are posted onto the international travel website which is visible to millions of travellers from around the world. The Southern Sun Ikoyi hotel standard was appraised by guests on a whole range of hospitality disciplines namely; service delivery, cleanliness, efficiency, security, comfort, value for money, tasty menu, ambience amongst other points. The hotel’s particular warm response to all comments and queries posted onto the website earned them excellent ratings with guests.

  • Calabar Carnival: Ten years of street party in Paradise City

    Calabar Carnival: Ten years of street party in Paradise City

    THE attendants at the restaurant of the Tinapa Lakeside Hotel were finding it difficult coping with tens of people that kept on trooping to the dinner table to have their breakfast. It was going to be a long, hectic day.  The Paradise City would be shut down. It was the carnival day, December 27.

    It was encouraging on a closer look at the profiles of the hotel guests. They were individuals, couples and families that could have decided to travel to the United Kingdom, Dubai, South Africa or Ghana for their Christmas holiday. The fact that these families would prefer to come and have fun and relax during the yuletide in Calabar shows the progress Cross River State has made in building the state into a destination. To achieve this, it has taken 10 years of annually throwing a showpiece, the Carnival Calabar,  to entertain the world.

    The 2014 edition of the Carnival Calabar is the tenth. The carnival was begun in 2014 by the former governor of Cross State, Mr. Donald Duke. Having identified tourism an area that the state had a comparative advantage, it was important to create a product that would attract tourists to the state to be entertained and  experience the hospitality of the people of the state.  The Duke administration held the first two editions of the festival, but it was the period of nurturing and trying to build the carnival into an acceptable product.

    The transformation of the Carnival  Calabar in a spectacle that many Nigerian families look forward to was done by the current administration led by Governor Liyel Imoke.  The current government in the state has, in the last eight years, nurtured the festival to a tourism product.  The socio-economic effect is very apparent in Calabar. Calabar still retains its lay-back mien. The low crime rate and the atmosphere leisure and relaxation with little or no care in the world are still there.

    Calabar, as Nigeria’s prime destination, has seen a steady rise in the bed spaces available in the city. Restaurant and fast food business in the town have also grown.  In no place is this clearer than in the old Marian Street now Ndidem Usang Isang  Street. The street has been taken over by restaurants, fast food outlets and other leisure activities. The reason for this is not far-fetched. It is the longest stretch in the 10-kilometre carnival route and most visitors troop to the street to watch the carnival.

    Cross River State, in the last ten years of the carnival, managed to build a tourism brand that many have come to accept. The state, knowing the enormity of the responsibility that comes with bringing visitors to a destination, managed also to keep all the other ancillary activities like the security and  environmental sanitation tick and maintained general law and order . However, kudos must be given to the people of Cross River State, most especially the Calabar people for their hospitality. The environment is welcoming, so also are the people. This makes for a quality destination which the state has become.

    Although so far so good, certain indicators at the 2014 carnival show that after ten years, the carnival needs to be re-scrutinised.  The high level of creativity and aesthetics that go into the costuming need to come. It went down a notch. There were some grey areas at the final presentation at the stadium that the organizers need to re-visit and correct.

    One area that has also kept  people in suspense and helped festival to continue to grow is the band’s story line for. The Masta Blasta, the winners of the last three edition, has been winning due the strong plot and ability to deliver captivating story lines. This added to their beautiful costuming.

    The chairman of the Carnival Committee, Mr. Gab Onah, has been around from the beginning in 2005 and looked back at how far the festival has fared after a decade: “It has been a humbling experience from when we mounted the high points of Cross River State on floats and drove through the city streets of Calabar, till when we decided in the year 2005. Through our three weeks’ training, our band managers are able to make costumes locally; through regular dry runs, our revelers are able to perfect their road match; through the formal unveiling of themes, our revelers and our band leaders are able to conceive themes and identify philosophies to play to and therefore give the carnival itself story lines and life. The desire has been that the carnival should have a life of its own, and that is where we are; and that the carnival should be the people’s carnival; and that the future should be with or without government, the carnival should go on.”

    He believed the festival has seen  the high and low but that each experience has been a learning process: “In the last ten years, for our highs, we got sponsorship and created awareness. The likes of Guinness, Ecobank, First Bank and the others, came in to appreciate the huge opportunity that they had in marrying with this great brand. So, it created opportunity for these brands to identify and merge. What we are praying is that in the long term, the government should only be in position to provide the enabling environment while the private sector runs with it. The bottom line is that if we get it right, as we seem to be doing, this should be a source for survival for our boys and girls who participate in the carnival route match.”

    One of biggest advantages of tourism as an industry is its ability to impact directly on host community. Individuals within the community are direct beneficiary of  tourists coming to a host community. It is every evident in Cross River. Food vending business has blossomed for many. The craft artisans have also received a lot of patronage from tourist visitors.

    Mr. Onah captured it succinctly: “Our culture is our best foot forward in our tourism initiative. Our culture is the palm oil with which our tourism eaten. The carnival itself is a means to an end. We are using it as a pull factor to attract tourists who will come and savour culture and thereafter want to visit the attractions. As you are aware, out attractions are enjoying an over-supply. The destinations that they have become from their site status. So, there is not carnival as a pull factor, Calabar being at the end of the road, would have remained a dead end, the carnival gives the reason people to come here, that has been achieved.

    Socio-economic impact is obvious: Photographers everywhere, pure water sellers, vending opportunity on a 10-kilometre route. You can see that the crowd this year overwhelms that of last year. But until we make it a people’s carnival, we are not there. “

    In the last 10 years of the Carnival Calabar, different areas of tourism have been dived into by many who see the opportunity. In line, with most destinations all over the world, the state this year was   the introduction of open double decker bus for tours. This was done by Nova Rosta  Bus Tours.

    The head of the company, Miss Geraldine Itoe, spoke about the company and what they are trying to do in Calabar: “Nova Rosta is into events and sightseeing. We will be carrying the  governor for today, around the carnival route . It is open to the public on normal days. We have two basic routes, the Tinapa Route and the City Tour Route.  We have only one bus for now; we will certainly add some more in the near future.”

  • 2014: Difficult year for Nigerian tourism

    THIS year is supposed to be an epoch year for Nigeria being 60 years since Nigeria, through the Nigerian Tourism Association (NTA), joined the United Nations World Tourism Organization in 1964. Many expected much within the years,but unfortunately, not much was achieved.

    In January, Nigeria, through the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, was expected to participate in the FITUR tourism expo to market the country. Unfortunately, the NTDC failed to attend, having earlier promised to participate.

    The next event was the ITB-Berlin in March.  It is the biggest tourism fair in the world where virtually all the top players, countries and corporate organizations participate. It was an embarrassment for the country as the organizers left a space for Nigeria. Unfortunately, the Nigerian stand at Berlin was left empty. Many Nigerians at the fair were disappointed.

    Ebola and Nigerian tourism industry

    Nigeria’s hospitality industry is the fastest growing in Africa. Annually, bed spaces  above 1,000 are being added by new international hospitality brands. Although the hospitality industry is still growing with new hotels springing up,  2014 turned out to be the most difficult year for the hospitality industry in recent times.

    The biggest single event that impacted on tourism in Nigeria was the Ebola virus disease. Ordinarily, most hotels in Nigeria’s two major cities, Lagos and Abuja run at an average room occupancy of 70 per cent, but 2014 was different.

    It all started on July 20 when an Asky Airline flight originating from Liberia landed at the Murtala Muhammed International  Airport, Lagos. One of the passengers, Mr. Patrick Sawyer, collapsed and was rushed to the First Consultant Medical Centre, Obalende, Lagos. It turned out  Sawyer had contracted the dreaded Ebola disease. The ripple effect sent the Nigerian hospitality industry crashing. Because of the failure of the late Sawyer to disclose his health status, some  health workers were infected. There was genuine fear that the country would soon see an outbreak of Ebola. This sent the country into panic. Many foreigners took the next available flight out of Nigeria. Many airlines cancelled flights to Nigeria and many countries treated visitors from Nigeria with suspicion. Countries like Australia outrightly denied visitors from Nigeria visas.

    It was a nightmare for international hospitality brands in the country, as they saw the occupancy rate crashing overnight from 70 to 90 per cent to less than 10 per cent.  Suddenly, hoteliers were faced with the problem of survival. Many were forced to cut down their budgets and devise means of survival. They had empty rooms with fixed costs.

    It was an industry on the verge of collapse that heaved a sigh of relief when on September 21  Nigeria was declared an Ebola-free country by the World Health Organisation (WHO). However, four months after this declaration, the hospitality industry is yet to recover from the effect.

    Appointment of new Director-General for NIHOTOUR

    When the tenure of the former Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Alhaji Munzali Dantata,came to an end, President Goodluck Jonathan approved the appointment of Mrs. Chika Balogun  as the new Director-General. It was a new dawn for the NIHOTOUR.

    In her maiden meeting with stakeholders recently in Abuja, Chika unfolded her agenda for the industry, promising to reposition the institute to be more responsive to the industry and attuned to the needs of the industry.

    The Brazil misadventure

    Nigeria also lost the opportunity to burnish the country’s tourism profile in Brazil during the 2014 World Cup mundial . Prior to the World Cup, there were plans to set up a Nigerian village to showcase Nigeria’s tourism and culture and also use the opportunity to invite visitors to Nigeria. However, the plan was scuttled when the NTDC and its partners led by Mr. Azania Omo-Agege entered into a serious disagreement.  At the end of the day, it was a show of shame as Nigerian tourism  made little or no impact in Brazil.

    The  Synagogue hostel

    Outside business tourism, the biggest tourist attraction to Nigeria is religious tourism and a large chunk of this tourist traffic  comes from the followers of T.B. Joshua, the man in the Synagogue.  Before the collapse of a building belonging to the church, every week, tens of tourist visitors flocked to Nigeria for spiritual experience. It is rather  unfortunate that Nigeria is bereft of a Tourism Satelite Account (STA), it would have captured and given the specific figure of the number of tourist arrivals that flock to Synagogue Church of All Nations, Ikotun.  The  hostel of the church  killed more than 100 religious tourists to the church. Since then, the number of tourist visitors has shrunk. The church has a very effective bus shuttle service that caters for these inbound visitors. Despite this, many of the visitors still provide big business for the airport  car hire service. Many of them complained of low patronage with the dwindling number of tourist visitors.

    Many stakeholders  complained that the handling of the information after the collapsed building by the NTDC, from a tourism perspective, was very poor. They complained that there was no publicized visit by Director-General of the NTDC, Mrs. Sally Mbanefo, to visit the site for on-the- spot assessment. They  pointed out that disasters do occur in distinations, but the aftermath is very critical. The country, through the tourism board, ought to keep tourists within and outside the country abreast of what was happening. This is done by telling the truth about the situation and then going on to say what the country of the tourism board would help solve the situation. This, they say, was never the case. Tourists in and outside the country were left with no assurance and what was being done would be expected by any tourist organization on top the event.

    The effect, they say, has made many  ruled out coming to Nigeria.  It was double jeopardy for Nigerian tourism industry,having lost heavily as a result of the hurried departure of business tourists due to the Ebola scare and the country heavily lost in the area of  religious tourism as a result of the Synagogue hostel collapse.

    Akwaaba 2014

    October saw the hosting of the 9th edition of the Africa Travel Fair, Akwaaba. It was a success. This year’s event was heavily affected by the Ebola crisis. Many international participants withdrew at the eleventh hour. However, this did not affect the quality of  the attendance as many from within and outside the country trooped to the venue. Among those honoured at the fair were Africa’s first female pilot of Boeing Dreamliner.

    In the first week of November, Nigeria, for the first time in 2014, put up a stand in a major tourist fair to promote Nigerian tourist. Unfortunately, due to the past experience, many boycotted it. The tour operators boycotted the stand. One of the leading travel personalities in the country described the Nigeria’s performance at the fair as the worst from Nigeria since Mrs. Omotayo Omotoso, the former Director- General of the NTDC. However, the NTDC was quick to explain that they had a financial constraint.

    Generally, 2014 was welcomed with high hopes in the industry, but a series of events, including self-inflicted ineptitude conspired to stop the country from making progress in the industry.

  • La Campagne boss honoured in Cote d’Ivoire

    The proprietor of La Campagne Tropicana Resort, Ikegun, Lagos, Otunba Wanle Akinboboye, was recently honoured in Cote d’Ivoire with a chieftaincy title, which comes with responsibility of superintending over 151 villages in the region de Marahoue.

    He was bestowed with the title of Chef Ole Tribu de Paouflor Izuerioula Region de Marahoue. This honour, which comes with great responsibility, is according to the people of the region, in recognition of his commitment to the development and promotion of the tourism industry with special reference to the promotion of African culture and tradition.

    With this title, Akinboboye now rules over 151 villages in the region as they head and he is expected to bring his wealth of experience and resources in administering and ordering the affairs of the villages. To this, a befitting palace has been built for him in the region through communal effort and he expected to reside there whenever he visits the country to carry out his traditional duties.

    His inauguration ceremony as chief was held some months ago, but he couldn’t attend the ceremony due to the restriction on flight operations from Nigeria to Cote d’ Ivoire by the country due to Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), which then break out in Nigeria.

    However, two representatives of the paramount ruler of the region were in Nigeria recently to formally present the title to him and decorate him with the paraphernalia and symbol of the office. The event took place at Idanre town and it turned out to be a communal feasting with the whole town and traditional rulers in attendance as well the government of Ondo State.

    In conferring the title on him, Dr. Youan Tra Jerome, who was accompanied to the event and assisted by John Ajala, described Akinboboye who is also the tourism ambassador of the World Conference of Mayors (WCM) as a very pragmatic person, a tourism icon and devoted promoter and investor in the preservation of African cultural heritage and traditions.

    Jerome, who is also a chief back in his region, said it is an historic feat as this would be the time that his region is bestowing such an honour and responsibility on someone from outside the region or country. He said Akinboboye is an inspiration to the people, especially the youth and expressed the hope that the honour would further boast his commitment to the continent and that his community looks to benefiting from his experience, wise counsel and resources in the days ahead.

    In his response, Akinboboye expressed appreciation to the paramount ruler of the region and his people for the honour, describing it as recognition of his contributions to the development of the continent. The fact that it is coming from outside Nigeria, he said made it all the more special.

    Akinboboye said he is elated by the symbolism of the honour, which he said represent a great leap in the development of the continent as it is a bridge between the Anglophone and Francophone regions of Africa, stressing that he hopes to further cement this relationship through his new office and continued commitment to African culture.

  • Qatar Airways partners Aspire Academy

    Qatar Airways has announced its partnership with Aspire Academy to support this year’s edition of the Aspire Football Dreams project by forming “Qatar Airways and Aspire Academy  Football Dreams Africa”.

    Aspire Football Dreams is a fascinating and unique project aimed at empowering the development of youth by identifying and training young football talent. As part of the Football Dreams project this year, Aspire Academy has begun scouting for football talent in Africa. Once selected, finalists will be offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to train in Barcelona and play a friendly game against one of the world’s most popular football clubs FC Barcelona’s youth team.

    As FC Barcelona’s global main sponsor, Qatar Airways has been associated with a series of initiatives, involving the world-renowned football team in order to spread the love of football to all corners of the world. Football Dreams Africa is the latest initiative that will offer talented young footballers in Africa dedicated training and a memorable experience of playing with one of the world’s best football teams.

    Commenting on the partnership with Aspire Academy, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “Qatar Airways has a proud tradition of supporting meaningful socially relevant initiatives and we believe that the Qatar Airways & Aspire Academy  Football Dreams Africa project is an excellent opportunity to make the dreams of young footballers in Africa come true. We aim to use this project as a platform to nurture the budding football talent and highlight the effectiveness of sports as a key development tool.

    “Giving young people in Africa the chance to fulfil their potential while being able to make a big step towards becoming a professional football player has been very important for Aspire Academy in the past and we are happy and proud to have partnered with Qatar Airways on this project,” said Ivan Bravo, Director- General of Aspire Academy, on the new partnership.

    Javier Faus, First VP and the Head of FC Barcelona Finance and Strategy Department, said: “This is one more example of the projects resulting from our sponsorship agreement with Qatar Airways. Through this joint initiative with Aspire and Qatar Airways, Barça is offering the possibility for young footballers, in this case from the African continent, to be able to enjoy a unique experience and, at the same time, is reasserting its commitment to sport as a part of education.”

  • Agodi Garden returns in style

    Agodi Garden returns in style

    After about 18 months of remodelling and upgrading of facilities, Agodi Resort and Conference Centre (formerly Agodi Gardens) was opened by Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, on Sunday.

    It was a day of pomp and fun for top government functionaries and fun seekers, including school children, who trooped to the world-class resort centre to savour its facilities.

    The muli-million naira project has undergone total transformation, looking entirely modern.

    Addressing the crowd that graced the opening ceremony, an elated Ajimobi recalled how he discovered the abandoned gardens, while passing by on a fateful day.

    He said the resort centre was like a forest as weeds had overgrown the entire landscape with the remaining few animals in the zoological unit seriously starved.

    His words: ” I was just passing by one day and I asked what was in the bush. In fact, it was a forest. What struck me was that the place was so desolate. The animals were hungry. They were not well fed. Everything was just bad. I said this represented Oyo State where things had deteriorated so bad. I thought about what we could do. Then, ideas started flowing. I know there are places like this in South Africa, Dubai and everywhere. Why can’t we make ours so? I thought.

    “I called my people and eventually approached a young man who said he could do it like those in other countries. This is the baby of the ideas.”

    He explained that the new resort centre is the flagship of his administration, stressing that projects that create employment for citizens are the best forms of stomach infrastructure.

    “Here is the flagship of our government – to take something that has deteriorated and revive it. What we are doing is restoration. We see what is not good and turn it to what is good. This place is now a recreational centre with a plan for a golf course and a conference centre. It is a world-class recreation centre that all of us in Nigeria can be proud of,”he said.

    The resort centre is being managed by JD Capital under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.

    Mr Makin Soyinka, who represented the Managing Director, JD Capital, Mr John Darlington, at the ceremony, said his firm accepted to work with the government based on Ajimobi’s vision to restore the state’s old glory and monuments of which Agodi Garden is one.

    His words: “This is where JD Capital comes in to partner through the PPP structure to support the Governor and people of Oyo State to bring the dream and vision to fruition. JD Capital is a multidisciplinary group of companies focused on infrastructure development, water transportation, prime real estate, entertainment/tourism, oil and gas, marine and professional world class services.

    “The first step in this rebirth process is the rebranding and creation of a brand identity for the garden. This  has commenced with the renaming of Agodi Gardens to “Agodi Resort & Conferences.

    “The new name needs to communicate the audaciousness of the dream. A clear evidence that we walk our talk , is that we are all seated amidst this fantastic display of lights, visually delightful scenery and action-packed fun and games arena for the children  that has been created within 72 hours to wow and entertain the people of Ibadan during this yuletide season. Within the next four to six weeks, we are focusing on providing international class entertainment,  the festival lights and a mind blowing concert scheduled for today.

    “The concert will feature international and Nigerian artistes, namely, Mafikizolo, Tiwa Savage , Olamide and Wizkid supported by other acts.

    “However, our greater focus is on long term. Between the next 18  and 36 months, we plan to transform Agodi Resort and Conference to a world-class facility with  21st century eco-friendly type architecture featuring  an international conference centre with  1,000-seat capacity  sitting on 8,000sq metres with  a parking space for 300 cars, world-class eco-friendly villas and types of accommodation with lease options and also used as the first ever time-share lease in the country.

    “We will develop and maintain other recreational facilities within the resort such as the canopy walk, zoo and the events centre to attract high profile destination events such as weddings and concerts, build and maintain a

  • Southern Sun to indulge guests

    In celebrating this season of yuletide, Southern Sun Ikoyi Hotel said it is offering guests most memorable experience with its “Cracking Festive Season Offer”.

    The offers include specail offers for room per night and buffet breakfast for two at half the usual price. There is also special  Christmas and new year season extra special for all guests for Christmas Day and New Year’s day brunch.

    Also complementing the dining experience for this season, is the hotel’s stylish and contemporary look  which adequately boasts of superb accommodation with a large main pool area, an exquisite indoor bar area, comfortable facilities and top notch services designed to provide a truly memorable time.