The Lagos Airport Hotel Ltd. on Tuesday held a public lecture to commemorate its 80th anniversary.
Princess Olufunke Olugboji, Chairperson, Board of Directors of Lagos Airport Hotel Ltd., during the public lecture in Lagos said it had been years of exceptional service delivery.
The programme had the theme: “Culture, Tourism, and Hospitality as agents of Economic Growth in the South-West Region”.
According to agency report, the Lagos Airport Hotel is a subsidiary of Odu’a Investment Company Ltd., owned by the six south-west states of Oyo, Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, and Lagos.
Olugboji said with 277 comfortable rooms within three major blocks and a monarchial suite, the hotel was popular for its location on over 10 acres of land with a standard hospitality setting.
“I am very delighted to celebrate the Lagos Airport Hotel Limited – one of the legacies left behind by the founding fathers of the Yoruba race.
“The sun is still showing its face at 80, with thanks to the Almighty God, many hotels have come and gone, many businesses and their owners are already forgotten.
“Our hotel is still standing and providing exceptional hospitality services to its numerous clients.
“The owners are happy to see the company grow, the clients want to identify with the greatness of the hotel and the staff are very proud to say that they are part of this celebration of greatness.
“We started with five lettable rooms and has grown over 80 years of doing the same business through the resourcefulness, creativity, and innovation of its handlers,” she said.
Also, Chief Bimbo Ashiru, Chairman, Odu’a Investment Company Ltd. (OICL), said that the attainment of 80 years for the hotel was a testament to the resilience of both management and boards at various times in its history.
He said since his inauguration as the Chairman of the Group board, he had remained resolute in achieving the vision to make the hotel among the top five hotels and conferencing destinations in Lagos.
According to him, the history of the hotel industry in Nigeria cannot be told without the mention of Lagos Airport Hotel.
“We are committed along with the backing of our shareholders to use strategic partnership with credible investors to unleash massive infrastructural remodeling and redevelopment of our hospitality businesses with acclaimed brands of global recognition.
“This we believe is the right strategy as it avails us access to capital and global hospitality expertise to make our hotels world class.
“In the pursuit of this, I am pleased to inform you that we have made a breakthrough with Premier Hotel in Ibadan recently and we will vigorously pursue a similar strategy for Lagos Airport Hotel,” he said.
Ashiru noted that over the last decade, the hospitality industry had faced various headwinds and notable amongst them was the COVID-19 outbreak which decimated the tourism and hospitality market.
“In spite all, at Lagos Airport Hotel, we have remained true to our values as an Odu’a Investment company, as a resilient company, proud of its history, heritage and committed.
“We as a board remain committed to the long-term future of Lagos Airport Hotel as a sustainable business entity that will hold its own for many more years to come,” he said.
Mr Gbenga Owokalade, President, Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN), the guest lecturer, advised the Federal Government to embark on accelerated infrastructural development to attract tourism with all attendant benefits.
Owokalade said that government must lead the way by creating a sustainably conducive environment to support the private sector in tourism development for economic growth and development
He said Nigeria must strive to improve its ease of doing business profile as there is direct correlation between auspicious business and growth in tourism and hospitality business.
“To fully explore culture, tourism and hospitality as agents of economic growth, deliberate, purposeful and sustained efforts must be made by the government to develop many of the huge tourism potential of the country that are yet untapped.
“Government should also make efforts to reduce visa bureaucracy with a view to promote visitations to the country.
“The more complicated the bureaucracy, the less inclined people are to embark on tourism to such destination.
“There should be a collaborative effort among all stakeholders to improve the image and brand of the country while efforts should be sustained to inculcate in the people’s psyche the national ethics and ethos,” he said.
This, he said would lead to positive national transformation.
According to him, the nation must not only sustain but must continue to improve its partnership with other countries and international organisation like World Trade Organisation (WTO).
He said this was to promote international understanding, cooperation and position the country as strategic partner in the global economic parlance.
Mrs Folashade Awe, acting General Manager, Lagos Airport Hotel, said “This is a hotel that has defied all odds to remain standing and continue to provide exceptional 80 years of hospitality services to its numerous customers.
“It deserves an accolade and is worthy of celebration,” she said.
