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Lagos Building Nigeria's First 7 Star Hotel - Politics - Nairaland

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Lagos Building Nigeria's First 7 Star Hotel by Nobody: 5:18pm On May 27, 2013
[size=15pt]Lagos Gets Ready for 7-star Experience[/size]


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Le Meridien Ikoyi







Nigeria is fast becoming the new frontier in the hospitality industry in Africa and nothing compliments this status than the addition of a 7-star luxury hotel in the next two/three years. OMOLOLA ITAYEMI witnessed the launching and upgrading of the Le Meridien Grand Towers to the 1st Starwood 7-star Luxury Collection mixed Resort and Apartment

Last Friday at Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, Lekki, a very small select set of individuals including the honourable minister of culture, tourism and national orientation, Chief Edem Duke; the Chairman, Robert Dyson and Diket Ltd & SIO properties (promoters of this development), Chief Sonny Odogwu; General Manager Nigeria, Starwood Hotels and resorts, Alexander Gasseur; CEO Koray, Samil Capar; BIDC president, Bashir Ifo; President AfriExim Bank, Jean Louis Ekra; CEO Six Continents Travels and tour, Yomi Jones; Yinka Akinkugbe the MC; Ken Odogwu; Obinna Ekezie, former NBA player and CEO wakanow.com, to mention a few attended the launching and upgrading of the Le Meridien Mixed Resort and Apartment to 7-star status.

It started with a cocktail on the terrace of the conference hall, before guests and partners were seated to speeches and multi-media presentations. Currently there is only one 7-star hotel in the world, the Burj Al Arab in Dubai which began in 1994 and was modeled after the sail of a famous Arabian ship. The hotel is an architectural masterpiece whose foundation was constructed on an artificial island and is home to the world’s tallest atrium. While the Burj Al Arab likes to believe it is the world’s only seven-star hotel, it is officially known as a five-star deluxe hotel on the standard star system.

But Nigeria is not the only country inching towards the 7-star hotel status as Spain is set to start construction of its own between late January and early February next year to finish in 2015. The resort, called “Bahia Fenicia”, will involve an investment of 230 million euros and will create over 600 direct jobs. The hotel is to be built near Marina del Este on a surface of 13,000 square meters, will have 200 rooms and 32,000 meters for residential housing, as reported by local sources.

Unlike Spain which is yet to embark on this project, the 1st Starwood 7-star Luxury Collection mixed Resort and Apartment in highbrow Ikoyi is already a work-in-progress. The project, promoted by hotelier and business man with over 40 years real estate development and insurance industry, Chief Odogwu is currently projected at half a billion dollars. Assumed to be the most luxurious hotel project in Nigeria despite its controversial beginnings (Ikoyi residents were formerly against the erection of a big hospitality project in their neighbourhood and this involved some legal battle), this is one project that will change the landscape of Lagos in no small measure.

The occasion presented the perfect opportunity to show the public what kind of magnificent edifice the twin 15-storey hotel of 340 rooms will be like.

A very excited Chief Odogwu described this edifice as a jewel in the crown of the tourism sector of Lagos and the country as a whole. In his speech, he welcomed guests and partners and also appreciated Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola and his commissioners for erecting adequate infrastructure and enabling environment, which enticed the developers and investors to invest over US $350 million in the project at the vicinity situated at No 31-35 Ikoyi Crescent, Ikoyi, Lagos.


Refusing to allow the slow pace of tourism in the country cast a dull pallor on the event; Odogwu however mentioned his disappointment at the slow pace of tourism in the country. He said, ‘’Tourism has very much been neglected in this country. Tourism in other countries is a top foreign exchange earner; I can’t say same for us. Oil is considered number one but for those that don’t have oil, tourism is number one. Though, tourism is not properly promoted in this country, things are beginning to change. One of such is the presence of the ministry of tourism in this occasion.

‘’During the construction of the project and whilst the development was on the 14thfloor, the promoters and developers had the intuition to visit other foreign countries in Europe, American and Asia to ascertain whether their thoughts and designs of the ongoing project fall within the standard visualised to be the finished 7+star development. The enlightenment and success achieved during the trip convinced us to return to the drawing board, if we were to achieve the envisaged objective. This resulted in re-designing the interiors, by utilising newly developed materials and technology, thereby enhancing the aesthetics and re-arranging the financial structure and the appointment of a renowned foreign contractor to achieve a first-class finishing. On completion of the construction, you will all agree that the delay of the finished product was worth it.

‘’Consequently, Starwood considered it prudent to upgrade the product from Le Meridien Brand to luxury Collection Brand, which is being launched today. Furthermore, it is the custom of Starwood to identify with or give the development the name of the historical founder of the town on which the property is located. This will be done with the cooperation of the Lagos State Government who are fully represented here in this occasion.’’

SIO Properties, one of the subsidiaries of Odogwu Group Africa, was incorporated in 1962 and has grown to become one of the largest property and estate development companies in Africa with several residential and commercial developments in the Africa, USA and UK in its kitty. It developed, owns and manages Grand Hotel, Resort and Convention Centre, Asaba, Nigeria. SIO Properties previously owned Radisson Plaza, Manhattan Beach, LA and No. 1, Times Square, New York.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc, managers and operators of this property was represented by Alexander Gasseur.
Gasseur emphasized the importance of the Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts in unlocking the world’s most treasured destinations. ‘’Our core values define how we create the rare memories each hotel curates. Each hotel in The Luxury Collection is an iconic landmark that offers the promise of the authentic, with the assurances of a global brand. ‘’

‘’Today is a great day for Lagos, Starwood hotels and Resorts and the future of Nigeria as a destination. Starwood has a presence in Nigeria for 27 years represented by three brands namely Le Meridien, Sheraton and Four Points which caters to budget, mid-market and luxury guests.’’

Arrangers and leader of the Consortium of Banks – African Export-Import Bank (Afrexim Bank) – Consortium consisting of ECOWAS Development Bank (EBID), Nigerian Export- Import Bank (Nexim Bank), FinBank/FCMB, especially the Diamond Bank of Nigeria were well represented. Jean Louis Ekra said in his speech, ‘’we are delighted to be part of this world class hotel which will support cross-border trade and generate income and employment.

The minister of culture, tourism and national orientation, Chief Edem Duke said, ‘’I stand as the greatest beneficiary of this type of project and also the greatest loser today because the minister of finance couldn’t make it to this epoch-making occasion. If Nigeria deserves to be one of the top 20 destinations in the world, then it deserves to do what others are doing in tourism by providing an enabling environment.
‘’A short while from now, the landscape of Lagos will be enhanced and the quality of hospitality facilities will be vastly improved. The time for Nigeria has come, the time for hospitality to be the catalyst here and a project like this is an eloquent testimony to this statement. It gives me great hope. An investment like this must be given soft landing and appreciated to stimulate investments like these all over. Nigeria is the new frontier in the hospitality industry.

Other experienced consultants working on the hotel project are NAIRDA, 16 foreign and 3 Nigeria-based consulting including GHL Architects, Del Qs, Percept Communications, WSP, Metex Interior Designs, Besutti Associates, DPA Lightings, KOA Associates, IAA Associates, EL-Rifai & Associates and a host of others.

1 Like

Re: Lagos Building Nigeria's First 7 Star Hotel by Inik(m): 5:22pm On May 27, 2013
A 7 star hotel for the elites and the super rich....smh

1 Like

Re: Lagos Building Nigeria's First 7 Star Hotel by Nobody: 5:26pm On May 27, 2013
Inik: A 7 star hotel for the elites and the super rich....smh

As well as for thousands of direct and indirect employees from labourers to surveyors, security staff, waiters, chefs, managers, admin staff, suppliers, electricians, cashiers, taxi drivers, money-changers, lift operators and dry cleaners!

Lesson: Projects like this boost employment and economic activities, and the more of them the merrier.

12 Likes

Re: Lagos Building Nigeria's First 7 Star Hotel by Nobody: 6:02pm On May 27, 2013
Inik: A 7 star hotel for the elites and the super rich....smh
Always double check before posting
Re: Lagos Building Nigeria's First 7 Star Hotel by Nobody: 6:03pm On May 27, 2013
Nice one! But is it really a 7 star hotel? I believe better hotels than this are in the States.
Re: Lagos Building Nigeria's First 7 Star Hotel by SLIDEwaxie(m): 6:49pm On May 27, 2013
Oh lagos haters!!!


::::

This


::::


is


:::::


the part of the movie


:::::


where


:::::

you grab


:::::


the


::::


Rat poison!!!

::::

Eko o ni bajee oooo!!!

Oya swallow!!!
tongue

4 Likes

Re: Lagos Building Nigeria's First 7 Star Hotel by sweettease(f): 6:53pm On May 27, 2013
SLIDE waxie: Oh lagos haters!!!


::::

This


::::


is


:::::


the part of the movie


:::::


where


:::::

you grab


:::::


the


::::


Rat poison!!!

::::

Eko o ni bajee oooo!!!

Oya swallow!!!
tongue
Lmao
Re: Lagos Building Nigeria's First 7 Star Hotel by IGBOSON1: 6:56pm On May 27, 2013
Not so sure about the '7-star' status though, as there's only one in the world today (the Burj Al-arab); and even that cost an arm and a leg to build.

Re: Lagos Building Nigeria's First 7 Star Hotel by sweettease(f): 7:00pm On May 27, 2013
The good industries are getting better while the bad industries are getting worse..... Better hotels are springing up yet quality of agricultural produce, energy and education keeps declining

2 Likes

Re: Lagos Building Nigeria's First 7 Star Hotel by Nobody: 7:01pm On May 27, 2013
The Burj is NOT the only 7 star hotel in the world. There are scores of 7 star hotels in existence.

1 Like

Re: Lagos Building Nigeria's First 7 Star Hotel by Nobody: 7:03pm On May 27, 2013
sweet-tease:
The good industries are getting better while the bad industries are getting worse..... Better hotels are springing up yet quality of agricultural produce, energy and education keeps declining
Agricultural output in Nigeria, including cash crops, has nearly tripled in the last five years. Energy output has doubled, and education is seeing more investment than it's probably EVER seen. You need to follow the news and current affairs instead of knowing nothing and assuming the worst.

2 Likes

Re: Lagos Building Nigeria's First 7 Star Hotel by adconline(m): 7:13pm On May 27, 2013
We go build 5-star hotel first before 7-star.

1 Like

Re: Lagos Building Nigeria's First 7 Star Hotel by IGBOSON1: 7:14pm On May 27, 2013
My mistake on the 'only 7 star hotel' assertion, as the Burj Al-arab was the only one i had heard of till i just did a search.

Though i don't think this country is quite ready for a 'profitable' 7-star hotel, as (besides our moneybag politicians) it would need patronage from tourists/visitors from around the world to make it profitable, and we just don't have that number coming in presently. Some may even argue that there's presently no 5-star hotel in Nigeria in the strictest sense of the word.

2 Likes

Re: Lagos Building Nigeria's First 7 Star Hotel by sweettease(f): 7:17pm On May 27, 2013
ROSSIKE: Agricultural output in Nigeria, including cash crops, has nearly tripled in the last five years. Energy output has doubled, and education is seeing more investment than it's probably EVER seen. You need to follow the news and current affairs instead of knowing nothing and assuming the worst.
Oh you mean what the media feeds you? Wash!!!
Calculate the demand and the supply and you will realise the better are just numbers not reality
Havnt you noticed that even with the increased statistics, non of these sectors are any better than what they used to be? As a matter of fact, they are worse-off

5 Likes

Re: Lagos Building Nigeria's First 7 Star Hotel by Nobody: 7:17pm On May 27, 2013
fashola is really pimpin lasgidi oo.....aso rock should giv him a chance

1 Like

Re: Lagos Building Nigeria's First 7 Star Hotel by billante(m): 7:20pm On May 27, 2013
This report is like one year ago! Haven't they still completed it yet?
Re: Lagos Building Nigeria's First 7 Star Hotel by otokx(m): 7:49pm On May 27, 2013
looks more like a wannabe 3 star hotel.
Re: Lagos Building Nigeria's First 7 Star Hotel by ba7man(m): 8:02pm On May 27, 2013
otokx: looks more like a wannabe 3 star hotel.
Hehehehehehe!!!....The "Bad belle" force is strong with this one.

1 Like

Re: Lagos Building Nigeria's First 7 Star Hotel by adconline(m): 9:22pm On May 27, 2013
ROSSIKE: The Burj is NOT the only 7 star hotel in the world. There are scores of 7 star hotels in existence.

Name 5-star hotels in Naija first!

1 Like

Re: Lagos Building Nigeria's First 7 Star Hotel by EkoAtlantic: 9:34pm On May 27, 2013
This is good but frankly this is not worth the '7 star', can't stand some '5 star' hotels.
Re: Lagos Building Nigeria's First 7 Star Hotel by Horus(m): 9:47pm On May 27, 2013
Beautiful Hotel
Re: Lagos Building Nigeria's First 7 Star Hotel by EkoIle1: 9:59pm On May 27, 2013
IGBO-SON:
My mistake on the 'only 7 star hotel' assertion, as the Burj Al-arab was the only one i had heard of till i just did a search.

Though i don't think this country is quite ready for a 'profitable' 7-star hotel, as (besides our moneybag politicians) it would need patronage from tourists/visitors from around the world to make it profitable, and we just don't have that number coming in presently. Some may even argue that there's presently no 5-star hotel in Nigeria in the strictest sense of the word.


You know this because you've scrutinized what's in everybody's pockets and bank accounts in Nigeria including global business folks all over the world flying into and out of Nigeria?



Investors invest their precious money after doing their research and feasibility studies to guarantee return on investment, not based on layman reasonings on NL..


You people need to slow down with your pointless bad bele sometimes..
Re: Lagos Building Nigeria's First 7 Star Hotel by DisGuy: 11:42pm On May 27, 2013
the honourable minister of culture, tourism and national orientation, Chief Edem Duke

chei so we have a minister of tourism,

i remember one dude jmaine atelling us how this hotelier will revolutionise our toursim sector when he was appointed based on one big hotel in calabar tongue
Re: Lagos Building Nigeria's First 7 Star Hotel by Nobody: 2:53am On May 28, 2013
IGBO-SON:
Not so sure about the '7-star' status though, as there's only one in the world today (the Burj Al-arab); and even that cost an arm and a leg to build.


Nope, The Burj Al-arab is the First 7- star hotel and not the only 7-star.
Re: Lagos Building Nigeria's First 7 Star Hotel by hariorh: 3:30am On May 28, 2013
ROSSIKE: Agricultural output in Nigeria, including cash crops, has nearly tripled in the last five years. Energy output has doubled, and education is seeing more investment than it's probably EVER seen. You need to follow the news and current affairs instead of knowing nothing and assuming the worst.

Dude if this is really true, then I still wonder why the price of garri and others, have refused to drop in TRIPLES within the last five years. Abi na different market u been dey purchase foodstuffs?

grin
Re: Lagos Building Nigeria's First 7 Star Hotel by Ikengawo: 4:28am On May 28, 2013
Larryfly: fashola is really pimpin lasgidi oo.....aso rock should giv him a chance
i didn't know Fashola is a hotel tycoon named Chief Odogwu
Re: Lagos Building Nigeria's First 7 Star Hotel by EkoIle1: 5:07am On May 28, 2013
Ikengawo:
i didn't know Fashola is a hotel tycoon named Chief Odogwu


As the governor of any state, you don't have to be any hotel tycoon to secure investments like the hotel in question. It is your job as the governor to love-vendor your state to the world as the best place to invest, create jobs and make money.


I guess the usual tribal hate and bad bele let that flew over your head...
Re: Lagos Building Nigeria's First 7 Star Hotel by UyiIredia(m): 5:49am On May 28, 2013
Build roads, portable water delivery systems, efficinet drainage & sewage systems and good schools. That way we will have the local capacity to design and construct these structures. This news doesn't excite me since its not among the basic infrastructural needs of the bulk of Lagosians.

3 Likes

Re: Lagos Building Nigeria's First 7 Star Hotel by justsayemma(m): 7:51am On May 28, 2013
M sure dis one won't b like d 5 star hotel,they ve bin building in Bayela since d days of Alams.I remember dats d only tin Gej talked abt in Dickson's final campaign.
I think a good move,if we'll implemented,cos it wil create a lot of jobs,n boost our tourism sector.

1 Like

Re: Lagos Building Nigeria's First 7 Star Hotel by Nobody: 10:23am On May 28, 2013
Uyi Iredia: Build roads, portable water delivery systems, efficinet drainage & sewage systems and good schools. That way we will have the local capacity to design and construct these structures. This news doesn't excite me since its not among the basic infrastructural needs of the bulk of Lagosians.

Nigeria is a joke in many respects. A third world hell-hole grappling with non-existent infrastructures, poor power supply, extensive insecurity, and multi-faceted socio-economic underdevelopment. Yet it reckons that what it needs is a "7 Star" (scoffs) hotel? What a laughable misplacement of priorities. Then again, misplacing priorities is what we do best as a people and as a country. That's why, in a country experiencing severe homelessness and housing deficit, more and more unoccupied 'luxury' estates are springing up all over the place, whereas no thought is given to low and medium cost housing needed by millions of average working class people.

In any case, since this rubbish is a private project set up as a purely private business concern, it should be regarded merely as such. rather than being paraded as something that adds any value to Nigerians, other than the 1% thieves among the political and business elite that would patronise the place. Anyone who thinks this pretentious, barely 4-star, vanity project would improve Nigeria's tourism rating needs psychiatric evaluation.
Re: Lagos Building Nigeria's First 7 Star Hotel by Nobody: 10:31am On May 28, 2013
Chief Odogwu, in-law of Babangida. I see where the funding is coming from.

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