Nigerian Hotelier

How to prepare for your weekend guests

Phoebe — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:26:41 +0000

It is always good to prepare properly for your weekend guests to achieve high profit in all departments. Always remember that weekends usually start slow but ends up very busy in most cases. Guests like to stay in bed a little longer then usual and then suddenly realise that breakfast will be over by 11am, so expect a rush from 10am. They will usually spend more time in the restaurant instead having just a cup of tea and some slices of bread so it is wise to have more variety of food on weekend mornings. Don’t miss out on bacon, sausages, eggs, pancakes, yam and plantain. Lunch should include soups,swallows, rice and a lot to eat. Supper should not be too heavy, so you should be talking about porridge, stews, sauces and a lot toeat and drink. Background music is also importantto keep the atmosphre alive in the public areas of the hotel. From your history over the weekends, you should be able to forecast how many guests to plan for. You may also want to consider the events taking place in your hotel and how many people are in-house for that event. Weekends are usually a good time to make good money from food, beverages, fitness outlets and rooms.

Improving your hotel employee performance

Phoebe — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 05:40:08 +0000

Being a fast and very demanding industry, it is very easy to get so carried away with pleasing the guests and making money and actually forgeting the people who make things happen. Your employees are as important as the guests you are taking care of. It’s more like a reverse strategy; your plan is to make your guests happy so they come back. This way, you are sure of repeat business. It is important to remember the people that have direct contact with the guests. You can have the latest technology on ground but if the people using these gadgets are not friendly, honest and happy, your guests will be looking for the next hotel to lodge in.

To improve employee performance, you may want to consider basic options like treating them like you would want to be treated, provide sufficient training, provide a clean and comfortable changing room, good-looking uniforms, a culture of reward and a relaxed environment for your employees. If you can afford it, you may include transport allowance, medical allowance, bonus of some form and some entertainment in their staff lounge. These people spend a lot of hours in the hotel and sometimes, may have to do extra hours, so it is only proper to make them comfortable and happy.This will boost their self-esteem and encourage them to perform with a sense of confidence and pride. If you can achieve this, then you can be sure of good business

All that glitters, is not gold

Phoebe — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 10:10:50 +0000

I was trying to seek for greener pastures so I applied for another job in a five star hotel. I’m glad I decided to try it out first before tendering my resignation letter in my present hotel.I got the job during my annual leave but I ran back to my ‘family and friends’ hotel at the end of my leave with all pleasure. I wish I didn’t bother, now I have not rested. The devil you know is better than the angel you do not know.

I’m not saying all five star hotels enslave you, but this one does. No one was smiling, everyone seemed tense, you pay for everything you break or misplace. The pay is slightly higher than what I earn now but the work is a lot more than I do now. They had a nice staff lounge with sufficient TV screens with DSTV; table tennis, play station and card games were also available but it was obvious that nobody was enjoying any of these.

My colleagues were all very scared of the supervisors, who hardly said a nice word to any of us. The managers were always shouting at the junior staff and treating them like they are worthless. Oh, I hated waking up in the mornings and I never wanted my OFF days to end. I kept hoping the working environment would improve but it didn’t change the whole month. I have learnt that work is enjoyable if the office environment is friendly and relaxed and not if the staff lounge is fully equipped or not – though it helps.It’s good to be back to my hotel.

Nitestay redefines online booking system in Nigeria

Phoebe — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 21:29:10 +0000

To enhance travelling and online booking experience in NIgeria, Nitestay- a new entrant into the online hotel business, offers one-click-booking for customers’ convenience. Nitestay is affiliated to Hotels.com in the United States, which accords its customers the opportunity to book over 40,000 hotels around the world in addition to Nigeria hotel partners.

According to Tribune Newspaper, Nitestay expects an additional 300 hotels to list its partners by mid-year and over 1,000 hotels across Nigeria on its website by end of year. Speaking with Tribune Tourism Magazine in Ibadan, recently, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Nitestay, Mr Femi Okanla, a graduate of Economics from Georgia Southern University in the United States of America, said Nitestay is out to redefine the online booking system in Nigeria to meet global trend.

Tribune

Imo State Government to build more hotels in the state

Phoebe — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 21:26:17 +0000

The Imo State Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha is set to embark on the construction of a 23-floor five hotel in Owerri the State Capital and two other five star hotels in Orlu and Okigwe. The 23-floor hotel is to be known as The Crystal. This is to boost tourism, advance industrialization and make Imo State and investor friendly state.
Furthermore, the rebranded Imo Hotels will be known as Royal Guest and the proposed 16 storey buildings therin will be called Renaissance Court. These are some of the many buildings planned by the government to make Imo State better.

Nigerian Horn Newspaper

Protea to open more hotels across Nigeria

Phoebe — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 21:22:36 +0000

The Protea Hospitality Group is forging ahead with extensive expansion plans on the continent this year.The chief executive officer of Protea Hospitality Group, Arthur Gillis ‘said the company was viewing the African market with much optimism this year, notwithstanding the uncertainty facing the global economy.

‘The new hotels by the group expected in Nigeria and in other African countries between now and 2013 are as follows: Protea Hotel Ibadan, Oyo State, 75 rooms, to open mid-2012; Protea Hotel Select Emotan – Benin City, Edo State, 100 rooms, opening in late-2012; Protea Hotel Select Ikeja, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, Lagos State, 120 rooms, under construction and set to open in early 2013; African Pride Avalon Hotel and Spa, GRA Ikeja, Lagos, Lagos State,150 rooms, under construction and due to open in late-2013; and Protea Hotel Asaba, Asaba, Delta State, 125 rooms, expected to be ready in April 2012′.

The Hotel group will provide more direct and indirect jobs in the supply industry as a result of the new hotels. He also added that hoteliers and developers are looking to partner with the Protea Hospitality Group based on its strong brand equity and excellent track record in management and logistics across Africa.

Business Day

Hilton partners with Transcorp to build more hotels in Nigeria

Phoebe — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 21:17:55 +0000

Hilton Worldwide is looking at partnering with Transnational Corporation Plc (Transcorp) to develop eight new luxury hotel facilities across Nigerian cities within seven years in Lagos and some other select cities across Nigeria says Mr. Rudi Jagersbacher, the Area President, Middle East and Africa at Hilton Worldwide
He explained that the Hilton Group had identified Africa and Asia as a potential growth region with growing economy and hence, desires to invest considerably.The hotels will not only include the Hilton brand but also some mid-market properties like Hampton and Hilton Guard Inn and the contemporary Conrad. When asked about the country’s political and security instability, He added that the Group always ensures training for safety and security as well as emergency procedures to manage security threats

This Day Live

Nigeria leads in African Hotel Development

Phoebe — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 21:14:05 +0000

According to W Hospitality Group, Nigeria is leading the African continent in hotel development as hotel firms are investing more in the booming hospitality industry with a total of 43 new hotels in the pipeline and 6,808 rooms slated to open in the next five years. Countries following Nigeria include Morocco, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Ghana,... [Read More...]

The food was tempting

Phoebe — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 13:47:14 +0000

I got into trouble today. I didn’t have the chance to have breakfast this morning so I was starving. I got in and started my shift but everything was going wrong. I was dizzy, weak and for some reason, I had an argument with my colleague. The clock was ticking like the battery was running down and I couldn’t just wait for lunchtime, then I thought God answered my prayers. I went into a room to clean and the guest had checked out but left a plate of pancakes with bacon and sausages. There was marmalade and butter, mouth watering croissant, juice and a jug of warm chocolate drink. I didn’t want the food to be wasted – I said to myself so I sat down and enjoyed my breakfast but as I was just about swallowing my last bite, my supervisor walked in. I was taken to the Director of Human Resources and I was issued a written warning but one question the DHR asked me got me thinking – what if the food was poisoned?

Nigerian Hotel Association kick against police directive on registration

Phoebe — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 12:45:40 +0000

The Nigeria Hotel Association (NHA) have kicked against the directive from the Acting IG of police to have all hospitality centers registered with Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) or considered as operating illegally. It told Sunday Punch that the state government is responsible for registering hotels not NTDC of any other Federal Government agency.
According to the National Coordinator of the NHA, Lanre Awoseyin, although it is necessary to improve security around hotels and tourist centres, the association does not subscribe to registering with NTDC because it has registered with state governments. He also added that NTDC is harassing their members to collect money from them though nothing will be done after that. He advised its members to ensure proper documentation of all guests to assist security agents.

Punch