The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Transcorp Hilton

  • Transcorp Hilton wins World Travel Awards

    Transcorp Hilton Abuja, for the second consecutive year, has won the prestigious Nigeria’s leading hotel 2014 and Nigeria’s leading MICE hotel 2014 awards presented by World Travel Awards.

    The General Manager Transcorp Hilton Abuja, Mr Etienne Gailliez, was delighted by the recognition, saying: “To receive these two prestigious awards in key categories from World Travel Awards is a great honour and an achievement for our hotel and indeed for team members who have and continued to work tirelessly to make ours the leading world class hotel in Abuja.  I am delighted that our commitment to the consistent delivery of world class experience to all our guests has been recognised once again by a reputable industry watchdog. I have no doubts that the awards will spur us to work even harder and attain greater heights of excellence.”

    Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Transcorp Hotels Plc, Mr Valentine Ozigbo, who received the awards on behalf of the hotel at the Nigerian stand at the World Travel Market in London last Wednesday, said he was pleased that the outstanding work and dedication of the team at Transcorp Hilton Abuja continues to be recognised internationally.

    Director-General of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, Mrs Sally Mbanefo noted that it is remarkable that Transcorp Hilton Abuja has won these awards consecutively.

  • Transcorp Hilton serves 1,800 guests in Switzerland

    Transcorp Hilton serves 1,800 guests in Switzerland

    Transcorp Hilton Abuja has successfully served Nigerian lunch to 1,800 guests at the on-going World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

    Following the success recorded by Transcorp Hilton Abuja in serving Nigerian dishes in Davos, President Goodluck Jonathan has urged the hotel to “replicate the 100 per cent perfect delivery of service known only to the Hilton.”

    He was said to have invited the Hilton team to take pictures with him as a sign of his endorsement of the hotel serving invited guest’s Nigerian lunch in May 2014 when the World Economic Forum comes to Nigeria.

    The World Economic Forum (WEF) is a Geneva-based non-profit organization best known for its Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, the Annual Meeting of New Champions in China (Summer Davos) and the Summit on the Global Agenda in Dubai.

    Nigeria will host the 24th edition of the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Africa in May. Tanzania and Ethiopia, respective hosts in 2010 and 2010 showcased that Africa’s growth story goes beyond natural resources.

    Nigeria has been selected to host the 24th edition of the World Economic Forum on Africa (WEF) between 7 – 9 May 2014 in Abuja. WEF Africa is the annual regional meeting of the Forum in Africa, often attracting about 1,000 delegates from over 70 countries.

    The summit in 2014 is poised to build on the progress made in the 2013 meeting that looked at “Delivering Africa’s Promise” by exploring ways to “Forge Inclusive Growth, (and) Create Jobs.”

    President Goodluck Jonathan is expected to host global business and political leaders in the country, and use the opportunity to tell the Nigerian story.

  • Transcorp Hilton is official hotel for WEFA

    Transcorp Hilton is official hotel for WEFA

    Transcorp Hilton Abuja has been named as the official hotel and hospitality partner of the 24th World Economic Forum on Africa (WEFA), which will be held for the first time in Nigeria.

    The three-day event, scheduled from May 7-10, 2014, is expected to draw over 700 participants from more than 40 countries to host city Abuja, to discuss the continent’s integration agenda and a renewed commitment to sustainable growth and development.

    Delegates will include regional and global leaders from business, government and civil society.

    According to w, MD/CEO of Transnational Hotels & Tourism Services Limited, which runs the Transcorp Hilton Abuja and is partly owned by Tony O. Elumelu’s proprietary investment company, Heirs Holdings, the hotel was unanimously selected by the World Economic Forum after a diligent evaluation of Nigeria’s hotels’ facilities and services.

    ‘’Transcorp Hilton won the hospitality ticket due to its track record of successfully hosting international conferences and events, coupled with its world class facilities and vintage Hilton quality standard of service delivery.

    “Transcorp Hilton has a proud history of successfully hosting high profile international events and we are honoured to be the official host of the 24th edition of WEFA. The forum presents an unprecedented opportunity for Nigeria to make a strong business case as Africa’s investment destination of choice, while showcasing our rich culture and tourism potential.”

    The Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance of Nigeria, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, first announced that Nigeria would host WEFA last May at the closing of the 23rd World Economic Forum in Cape Town, South Africa.

    In preparation for the 2014 program, a team of the local organizing committee led by Frank Nweke II met with the Managing Director and member of Governing Board of WEF, Borge Brende, last week to discuss plans for a successful hosting of WEFA 2014 in Abuja. Nweke restated the commitment of the Federal Government of Nigeria to ensure world class preparations and deliver a great WEFA 2014.

    In his remarks, Brende expressed the excitement of his team and the optimism shared by their members who are looking forward to a great showing in Abuja.

    The Director for Africa at the WEF, Elsie Kanza, will lead her team this week to Abuja to continue preparations and stakeholder engagement for a successful hosting.

    Nweke thanked the WEF team and promised that his team is ready to host the world. According to him, plans are progressing from all fronts to make WEFA 2014 in Abuja a remarkable event and a greater opportunity for foreign investors willing to do business in Nigeria.

    Last year, President Goodluck  Jonathan established a Steering Committee of select Cabinet members and eminent professionals under the co-Chairmanship of Okonjo-Iweala and the Chief Economic Adviser to the President, Dr Nwanze Okidegbe, to superintend Nigeria’s preparations.

  • Transcorp Hilton donates $3000 foodstuff weekly to hospital

    Transcorp Hilton donates $3000 foodstuff weekly to hospital

    Transcorp Hilton Hotel has shown its humanitarian side. The hotel’s new General Manager, Etienne- Charles Gailliez, told reporters that the hotel has been donating food items worth $3000, every week for five years to a hospital in Kubwa as well as supporting HIV/AIDS activities at the Hearts Foundation.

    This gesture, he said, is a way of giving back to its host community. As part of its social responsibility initiative, the hotel recently held an International Youth Week, during which it educated youths on the running of a hotel.

    On his arrival, Gailliez said the country is on the verge of having its first seven star hotel in Abuja. He said he has garnered a wealth of knowledge which he hopes to employ in raising the hotel to a seven-star hotel.

    He explained that “a seven star is just the way you offer the services”.

    Some of the transformations he hopes to bring include refurbishments which, according to him, “are not just changing the tissue of the sofa, but in essence, answering such questions as, is this the design we want? Is this how we want it?”

    Etienne is looking forward to exploiting social networks, and sophisticated technology such as I-pads and smart phones, to make activities such as booking reservations and ordering meals a whole lot easier.

    He also looks forward to transforming the menus to ‘offer healthy food’.

    On the issue of challenges, he said the security problems in the country in the light of the recent bombings is ‘a part of political life,” adding, “we have taken measures  to protect our guests”.

    On the issue of reward and incentives for clients and staff, Transcorp’s new General Manager said the hotel has a reward system called the ‘H-Honors’, whereby guests who enroll into the “frequent stay” are rewarded with air tickets and accommodation.

    Etienne said that Transcorp Hilton has the highest staff retention and that the hotel is re-negotiating new terms of service, which he said are the best any team member could possibly enjoy in Nigeria.

    Though the task ahead seems daunting, the new boss at Transcorp Hilton maintained there is reason to worry.

    ‘We have to show  our resilience, take it one day at a time, and say yes, we are there, and ensure always that our customers have a safe place to stay. I think we can do that for the community’.