₦airaland Forum

markessien:
Hello Guys,

I am Mark Essien, the founder of Hotels.ng and Hotels.ng just raised $1.2m in funding from international investors. I started this business on my own two years ago in Calabar, and now we have become a big business. Hopefully, some people will read this and know that it's possible to be innovative, creative and build something from nothing in a few years.


http://www.forbes.com/sites/mfonobongnsehe/2015/05/26/nigerias-hotels-ng-raises-1-2-million/

Questions that people have asked me and answers. If you have any other questions, ask below and I will reply.

What's your view on competition? How closely do you follow what Wakanow, Travelstart, etc., are doing relative to hotels.ng?

Competition is necessary for you to have a baseline on which you want to improve from. Otherwise you can have a really crappy product, and you don't know because there is nothing to compare it with.

At the end of 2014, you made the following statement: "We recorded almost no customer complaints in last two months, while booking tens of thousands of people.” So...what's your approach towards customer service? And how has your team (apparently) been able to proactively address issues?

Customer service in my opinion, is about empowering customer service to do the best they can to help people, no matter what it costs.

As an entrepreneur, getting the right staff is usually a challenge. How do you get talented people? What is your recruiting trick for finding great staff?

I do things like this - https://medium.com/mark-essien/hotels-ng-interview-questions-to-screen-for-a-genius-49bb6cb9946a - to find people.

What was your biggest fear on the journey to this point, and how long did you anticipate it will take you to cross this threshold?
My biggest fear was that we would not make enough money in time to be able to survive, in case we did not raise money in time. Luckily, with focus and a bit of luck, we crossed that bridge.

What would you do differently if you were starting over today?
Differently - I would have avoided doing things that are side-experiments and been more focused on the main thing.

How many percent of your company did you have to give up for $1.2million. Do you own controlling shares?
Right now, I own more of the company than if I had no investment, but I had a co-founder.

Who are your senior management team? In every conversation about Hotels I only hear about you the founder, never about the team.
So far we have operated without a 'senior' management team. But that is about changing. Expect some news here.

Did you choose your investors or did they choose you? I am personally working on a service and trying to decide who my investors should be.
We chose each other, just like a marriage

Tell us three business development hacks you used to stay afloat while you raised money..?
1. staying very focused on what would contribute to bottom line and what would not

2. Implementing performance based compensation across board

3. 3. Deferring expenses that were not critical.

What is it about hotels culture that has made you successful and how will you keep it consistent as you scale.
Hotels Culture is one of everyone-do-your-best and always keep thinking. The overall philosophy is that people should not need to be controlled to do their best. The Netflix presentation on this is one of the best I have read, and I hope we one day achieve this.

Do you consider yourself a technology company or a hotel booking service?
We are 100% a technology company.

What inspired you to start Hotels.ng?
I was inspired by wanting to do something in tech in Nigeria, and seeing a big open market

Here's my question before you received funding from spark how many employees did you have?
First of all, it was just me coding the site, then after that I hired a friend called Charles Bassey - and we were working together getting our inventory in calabar. That was before I moved to Lagos.

---
If you have any questions, feel free to ask, I will answer them all!

Me and the team

hi mr essien..nice post
my questions
what were the challenges and the breakthrough

pls check my site http://www.evilla.com.ng, tell me where i can make changes thanks

gloryhouse:
Executive 6units of 3bedroom Flat with all room en suit + Guest toilet + all roles with Full P O P + Large Master bedroom with wardrobe + Big Living room with Dining space + Fitted Kitchen with cabinet and store + Ample Packing Space + Good Neighborhood @ Lekki Phase 1 (RHS) around Elf Estate.

Rent is 2m net x1yr Respectively.
For Inspection call 08164968133 or 08185959536.

post for free on http://www.evilla.com.ng

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http://evilla.com.ng/index.php/all-properties

new properties for sale
follow @evillaNG
CURRENTLIST OF PROPERTIES FOR SALE WITH CUSTOMERS NAME
| S/N | ADDRESS/NATURE OF TITLE | DESCRIPTION | ASKINGPRICE (N) |
| | LEKKI /AJAH AXIS | | |
| 1 | property off Orisanya Road, Oniru Family, layout Victoria Island Annex, Oniru
Lagos. | 4nos. block of 8 nos. serviced semi-detached houses on 2 floors with
inbuilt boy’s quarters. | 412.5Million |
| 2 | Property @ Olaitan Sobanjo Street, Lekki Peninsula Residential Scheme 1, Lagos
covered by C of O | Block of 2 wings of 5 bedroom duplex, with pent house, BQ and
Security house. | 99.5Million |
| 3 | Plot 46, Block 1, VGC, Lagos. | 5 bedroom mansion and boys quarter and
security house enclosed within the unpaved but well fenced curtilage. | 104.3
Million IKOYI/ LAGOS ISLAND | | |
| 4 | property @ Oke – Olowogbowo Street, Off Broad Street, Lagos covered with Land
Certificate; | 2 storey commercial property designed to incorporate offices with
conveniences on the ground and upper floors. | N25M |
| | LAGOS MAINLAND AXIS | | |
| 5 |property @ Unity Road, off Mobolaji Bank Anthony Road, Ikeja, Lagos State
covered by C of O No. 11/11/2003M | A Commercial property on 3 floors with a pent
house and a gate house | 93.0Million |
| 6 | Property located at Omole Phase 1 Ikeja Lagos | Detached duplex with inbuilt
B/Q with fenced gate | N60Million |
| 7 | property @ Adewale Ayuba Way, Ajao Estate, Anthony Village, Lagos. Covered by
C of O | A residential building comprising 5 No bedroom bungalow with 3 No. bedroom
boys quarter. | 47.0 Million |
| 8 | property @ Adeloju Close Akoka Lagos covered by Certificate of Occupancy
| A two storey residential building. | 30.4 Million |
| 9 | property@ Lavender Court, off Aggrey Rd, near Yaba college of Technology,
Yaba. | 3 storey 4-bedroom terrace houses incorporating a domestic staff room. |
42.0 Million |
|10 |,property @ Mushin Road, Isolo, Lagos covered by Certificate of Occupancy |
A commercial building | 52M |
| 11 | property @ Church Street, Ijaye-Ojokoro, Ifako, Ijaye Lagos, covered by C of
O | 2 residential block of flats | 41.0 Million | |
| | ISOLO/FESTAC/APAPA AXIS | | |
| 12 | property@ Ahmed Olabode Street, off Kubosole Street, Okerube, Ikotun, Lagos,
covered by Certificate of Occupancy No.| A residential property of 2 nos. 2 bedroom
flats, 6 nos mini flat and 4 bedroom flats with a room pent house all on 2 floors,
gate house mosque and shop. | 34M |
| 13 | Property at Alh. Abisatu Kolawole Close, Ire Akari ...Estate, Phase 2 Isolo,
Lagos covered with C of O | 2 storey residential detached houses with pent house
designed to incorporate 3 –No lounges & 7 No. ensuite bedrooms with inbuilt domestic
staff accommodation, a security and car shade. | 66.0 Million |
| 14 | Property @ 21 road, W close, Festac Town | A detached 6 bedroom residential
storey building with pent house flat and Boys Quarter | 140.0 Million |
| 15 | Property @ Biodun Lawson Crescent, Off Global Success Street, Amuwo Odofin,
Lagos covered by C of O | A Detached House On Two (2) floors at the rear end of the
plot, a modern house and a security post. | N135M |
| 16 | Property at Telsim Adeosun Street, Okota | 5 bedroom Semidetached and 2
Nos. 3 bedroom flats | 35.0 Million |
| 17 | Property @ Jemtok Street, off Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos covered by C of O
| 4 storey residential building on two wings. | 73.0 Million |
| 18 | Property @ Okota Road, Amuwo Odofin Residential scheme | 500 seater
multipurpose hall and 5 Room office, 5 Functional Toilet and Security House. |
103.5Million |
| 19 | Shop @ Alaba International Market, Ojo, Lagos | Lock- up shop in Alaba
International Market, Ojo, Lagos | N20.10 |
| 20 | Property @ Layode Street, Olodi Apapa, Lagos. Covered by C of O | A block of
6 flats. | 58.5 Million |
| | LAGOS/OGUN BORDERS’s AXIS | | |
| 21 |Property @ Abudu Obayomi Street, Yakoyo village, near Isheri, Ogun Sate | A
storey building | 42.0 Million |
| 22 | Property @ Metropolitan Close, off Tarmac Road, Iloye, Dalemo, Sango Ota,
Ogun State covered by C of O | An uncompleted block of 4 (NO) 3 bedroom flats, 2
(No) lock up shops, a generator house and a security gate all fenced round. | 28.5
Million |
| 23 | Property @Cele Oke Ayo Street, off Igangan Street, Ilo Awela Road, Sango-Ota,
Ogun State. | Residential detach house consist of 7 bedrooms with 2 storey buildings
of 3 units of 3 bedroom flat together with its appurtenant 2 bedroom boys quarter,
gate house and generator house. | 172.59Million |
| 24 | Plot 1-3, Block L, Oke –Idota Layout, Off Idiroko Road, Sango, Ogun
State.Near Obasanjo Farms Nigeria Ltd. Covered with C of O registered as |
Development on site consists of a Warehouse, 2 office buildings, generator house and
a security gate. | N151.7M |
| | IKORODU AXIS | | |
| 25 | Property @ Agboola Street, Agbede, Ikorodu, Lagos covered by Certificate of
Occupancy | Uncompleted bungalow | N7.3M |

Oworoshoki Property ;
2no detached 3 bedroom flat, on approx a plot of land, fences with barbed wires,
gate, borehole, security gate house, interlocked compound, parking for 4-6 cars
asking price NGN26m i

Lagoon Park Estate located at Shapata village, off Lekki-Epe Expressway, Eti-osa
L.G.A of Lagos. Behind Chevron taking through the alternate route.

It has an Irrevocably Power of Attorney donated by the customary owner. C of O
process has been initiated(payment stage)
Residential District
Plot size Price per Sqm Cost
per plot
- 600Sqm NGN58,333 NGN34,999,800

- 900Sqm NGN55,555 NGN49,999,500

Business District
Min. Acquisition Price per Sqm Total cost

- 1000Sqm NGN83,333 Depends on
total Sqm acquired.

see more @ http://evilla.com.ng

God bless you

lol

i laugh tire...so u and akin and paw paw r relatives

freezone4real:
Wheres the Photo?

network probs cc:lalasticlala

cc:lalasticlala

skj1377:
went to do some facility inspection, what i can tell you is the government of jonathan goodluck was involved in sponsoring boko haram you need to see the level of devastation caused by these ordinary thugs. well all that will change and the truth will come out soon

I don't want to bliv jona has a hand in this

skj1377:
I actually drove past that one i have this pics of the tank

u mean u reside in bazza

A Vickers Mk.3 Eagle tank seized by Nigerian troops from Boko Haram seen here in Bazza, after the Nigerian military recaptured it from the insurgent group

Perils of a soft-skinned vehicle: A military vehicle pockmarked with
bullet holes is seen abandoned along a road in Bazza
to be sincere this soldiers are trying just imagine the sight of that truck...not all of us can live like this, respect the troops

https://beegeagle./2015/05/28/field-imagery-from-northeastern-nigeria-2/

cc:lalasticlala

naija i hail thee

digitite:
This is for newbies and aspiring web designers starting from the basics...

If you need it, indicate and it can be sent via email...

God bless my social entrepreneurship endeavor

pls me too

bkolez429@yahoo.com

The 33 Artillery Brigade, Nigerian Army has recorded another land mark success in the ongoing Operation Zaman Lafiyah as troops of the Brigade recently arrested one Aliyu Hussaini, popularly known as Colonel, a suspected Boko Haram Terrorist (BHT) member and an Impostor who has been parading himself as a Brigadier General in the Nigerian Army.

The troops who were acting on a tip off, said Aliyu Hussaini was a sponsor and also a member of the Boko Haram Terrorist organisation, carried out a raid operation which led to the successful arrest of Aliyu and another suspected BHT member, one Ibrahim Mohammed who is also known as Yuram. It was later gathered that Aliyu had been defrauding innocent citizens in the belief that he was a General in the Nigerian Army.


The two suspects were arrested at New GRA behind the Deputy Governor’s House in Bauchi Metropolis, and the following items were recovered from them: two Nokia, a Samsung hand set and a Techno handset, one MTN sim card and a Peugeot 406 vehicle with registration number AU 222 BWR (ABUJA). Documents indicative of various fraudulent details were also recovered from the suspects.


http://army.mil.ng/Army-Apprehends-Fake-Brigadier-General.html#prettyPhoto


cc:lalasticlala

The brigade commander of the 23 Armoured Brigade in Yola, Adamawa State, Victor, Ebhaleme, has been acquitted by a general court martial holding at the 9 brigade officer’s mess, Ikeja cantonment.
Mr. Ebhaleme, a colonel, was accused of failing to ensure that support weapons approved for units under his brigade were collected.
He was arraigned on a lone count charge of negligent performance of military duty under section 62b of the Armed Forces Act.
A military source told PREMIUM TIMES that available evidence in court showed that there was no such approval for the weapons.
The colonel was arraigned alongside 21 other officers including a Brigadier-General, J.O Komolafe, on January 19.
The investigating officer of the case against Mr. Ebhaleme told the court that the brigade commander was never indicted during the entire investigation.
Following this, the colonel’s counsel, Femi Oyebanji, a retired Major, representing the Falana and Falana chambers, made a no case submission at the close of the prosecution.
He said essential elements to prove the charge was not established, he therefore urged the court to discharge and acquit the officer.
The General Court Martial headed by S. D Aliyu, a Major General, upheld a no case submission and subsequently discharged and acquitted Mr. Ebhaleme.
Also, a different general court martial convened to try a Brigadier General, Enitan Ransome Kuti, and four other senior officers, blamed for the loss of Baga in Borno State, to Boko Haram insurgents in January, is expected to resume sitting Thursday.
The court adjourned May 4 due to some issues raised during its inauguration.
Mr. Ransome-Kuti, his Chief of Staff, Lieutenant Colonel G.A. Suru, and some other senior officers, were arrested for failing to repel Boko Haram attack on the headquarters of the Multinational Joint Task Force [MNJTF] in Baga.
Mr. Ebhaleme is the first publicly known senior officer cleared by the military in its trial of hundreds of soldiers accused of misdeeds in the fight against Boko Haram.


cc:lalasticlala

.

find sell rent buy properties
search through here
http://evilla.com.ng/index.php/all-properties

tundeayo2020:
As the preciding judge in the court of law, situated here in nairaland, you are hereby sentenced to twenty years of community service without your mobile phones and laptops.

no phones no laptops...haba wickedness of d highest order

.
yah...social media is now a tool for change and transformation which works at speed

an except from the war against boko haram...air raids

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&list=PLw613M86o5o7q1cjb26MfCgdxJtshvRZ-&v=AIxs_NVOuTk

cc:lalasticlala

lets be sincere with this question..



cc:lalasticlala

A mass grave near the Abattoir in Gwoza Borno State the 8th of April 2015. In hasn t be determined when were those people killed or in which circumstances. They were presented to the media as victims of Boko Haram.


http://archive.noorimages.com/webgate/preview.php?SECTION=SERIESRESULT&IMGID=00058439


cc:lalasticlala

Stingray gunboats and landing craft, built by Suncraft(Singapore) and well-armed with Singapore Technologies Kinetics CIS-50 12.7mm heavy machine guns

https://beegeagle./2015/05/18/gunboats-and-landing-craft-of-the-nigerian-army-amphibious-forces/


cc:lalasticlala

nice...not only him but all other politicians in Nigeria as a whole

luluosas:
Beware of 419ners.

i just got duped by dat guy sha...crazydata ur in trouble ooo

oga henry120, agaugust your replies are needed

https://beegeagle./2015/05/14/south-african-mercenaries-and-nigeria-chairman-of-sttep-colonel-eeben-barlow-speaks-to-the-beegeagles-blog-community-on-on-pervasive-false-narratives/

Full text of Colonel Barlow’s statement reads as follows;

QUOTE

“A long time ago, I wrote that Nigeria was a prize. This prize is not only targeted by armed force but also by propaganda, disinformation,sanctions, coercive diplomacy and so forth.

You only need to look at who writes what to determine the agenda and what part they are playing in the attack on your country.

The NA men we were honoured to work with are good men who have a deep desire to end the conflict. What they did, they did with dedication and will.

However, their role was a small part in a larger NA effort. Do not be misled as the efforts of the NA/NAF were what turned the conflict around.

Insofar as STTEP is concerned, I only gave ONE interview and that was with SOREP. All other media reports were lifted off SOFREP and the journos then used their imagination to fill in whatever they wanted and were at pains to expose their agendas all the while intimating they interviewed me, which they didn’t.

Some have even tried to create the impression that they attended my talks at the Royal Danish Defence College and that I discussed STTEP in Nigeria. They didn’t attend my talks and I certainly did not divulge the NA’s campaign strategy, operational design or tactics.

All the negativity that is written is aimed at creating a poor perception of Nigeria and thereby hoping to erode the will of the populace. We all know that Nigeria has problems, as does South Africa. But show me a country that can claim they have no problems…even those whose media viciously attacks you have major problems. They just don’t want anyone to know…

I say again, only Africans can solve Africa’s problems.

END

ADDENDUM

FIND comments as stated at 4.00am 14-5-2015 in response to Beegeagle.

https://beegeagle./2015/05/13/special-forces-units-and-operators-of-the-nigerian-armed-forces/

BACKGROUNDERS: (Colonel Barlow has been a regular and very well-respected commentator on BEEGEAGLE’S BLOG since 2012)

https://beegeagle./2012/09/08/world-exclusive-eeben-barlow-african-counterinsurgency-and-expeditionary-operations-legend-speaks-to-beegeagles-blog-reviews-the-ott-puma-m26-15-mine-protected-vehicle-sheds-light-on-his-engage/

https://beegeagle./2013/02/06/must-read-executive-outcomes-against-all-odds-by-eeben-barlow/


FOR ALL THOSE THAT THINK MERCENARIES ARE REALLY FIGHTING FOR US YOU NEED TO READ THIS
CC:LALASTICLALA

https://beegeagle./2013/02/13/against-all-odds-eeben-barlow-excerpts-on-joint-operations-involving-executive-outcomes-nigerian-forces-sierra-leone-army-and-kamajor-militiamen/

What do you call this..

Eluala:
Jaja was an Igbo boy from a place called Amaigbo in the present day Imo State. Back then there was a constant trading relationship between Igbos from the hinterland and the Ijaws, Ibibios, Ibanis, Efiks etc towards the coast.

He was sold as a slave at age 9 to Ibani buyers and he ended up working his way up the social ladder by first paying for his own freedom and subsequently became so powerful as to dominate even the people that bought him. As the conflict increased, he decided to leave Ibani (Bonny) and moved away to occupy the place called Opobo today. Of course he moved with his household, slaves and army to establish Opobo. So judge for yourself if he is still Igbo or Ijaw.

thanks....

Summer1:
Dunno if you were trying to correct me or u were trying to intimidate me..it's your problem though cuz i can never be intimidated

but ur already sounding like one...u didnt need to reply him...

i think killing the ladies and the children captured by boko haram wont be a bad idea thou

cause they've been brainwashed after all

tonychristopher:
To be honest, I just dont get it..please simplify

i co-own a real estate listing site...http://evilla.com.ng to be sincere when i went on awareness i discovered online advert is what most agents do now...

tonychristopher:
oh i forgot that one seff....people are uploading their homes, even some advert agency will lose jobs, who need an advert agency where i can call linda ikeji directly and send my picture to them

i have am a privileged care taker of a real estate website created by Jesus....i went to an estate surveyor...he was like this is the real deal...estate agents will collect most estate sites uploading ppty is free and we r making real money tru AD