A N30 billion 5-star InterContinental Hotel Lagos partly funded by Skye and Wema banks on Sunday officially threw its doors open for business.
Built on an elevated terrain, the 23-storey hotel sitting on Victoria Island with 352 rooms is fully owned by Milan Group. The group currently has a total of 20 hotels across Africa with intentions to expand its footprint by 20 percent in the next 5 years.
In his address at the opening ceremony, Babatunde Fashola, governor of Lagos State, described the hotel as a worthy investment that has further closed the gap in the deficit of world-class hospitality infrastructure in the state.
Beyond the empowerment and development of skilled professionals in the hospitality sector, the excited governor noted that the five-star hotel complemented the Lagos mega city vision, and urged more investors to take advantage of the friendly environment the state is offering them to expand their businesses.
Ramesh Valechha, chairman, Milan Group, said the luxurious hotel was a commitment and right investment made in the economy of Lagos State and Nigerian hospitality industry at large.
He said InterContinental Lagos was possible through a partnership funding by Skye Bank and Wema Bank that saw the need to assist in getting a five-star property for the growing high-profile guests that deserve nothing but quality accommodation in Nigeria’s commercial capital.
With 650 Nigerians and 24 expatriates as employees, the chairman noted that the hotel is poised to offer world-class hospitality offerings, professional training that will ensure new career paths in the hospitality industry and empowerment to Nigerians, among others, who do business with it.
Karl Hala, regional general manager Africa, InterContinental Hotels Group, was glad that the hotel, the first of the group’s property in West Africa, whose partnership agreement started in 2000, is now a beautiful product for everyone to enjoy.
Source:Businessday
