FTAN lauds Eko Hotel for contineous collaboration
…seeks partnership with Weatbaker Hotel
The President of Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria, FTAN, Dr. Aliyu Badaki has lauded the management of Eko Hotel and Suites and Wheatbaker Hotel, Lagos for their collarborations, partnerships and support over the years.
Badaki said the collarboration from Eko Hotel has been huge, adding that the Federation is happy about that.
The President of FTAN while commending the management of Eko Hotel during a courtersy visit to the Hotel on Tuesday June 2nd also congratulated its management on their recent 50th anniversary celebration.
Badaki noted that: “We celebrate with you because its an achievement worth celebrating, it was a huge success, we are happy to be part of the celebration and also rejoice with you too and hoped that Eko Hotel will keep flying”.
He commended the hotel in the aspect of safety and security, pointing out that last year November, the Federation gave the hotel an award on this aspect they are good at.
He stated further: “To the best of our knowledge, you assisted Lagos state in the area of fire figthing.
The kind of equipment you have, the training you have for your staff and how much you have invested both in training and infrastructure, no other hotel around here in Nigeria has it. You have invested hugely in that area. We have to commend you on that and thank you so much.
“What we do as the umbrella body of all the private associations that are involved in tourism businesses and private sector in Nigeria is to align with our members, the investors, associations and hotels like Eko Hotel.”
He continued: “We are able to do this. It is our responsibility to protect our members like in the case with NIHOTOUR. We have to address the matter with the Minister.
“Unfortunately, they did not stop until we have to be in court, we are not relenting. We are with you in whatever case that will benefit you and benefit the business you are doing and other members. We wish you well and we do hope that the collaboration you have been enjoying will continue”.
At the Weatbaker Hotel, Badaki also emphasised the need for collarboration and support.
FTAN President explained that its cardinal point is to protect the interests of their members where the need arises.
Badaki said: “We’ve been doing that very well. We’re having robust engagements with the governments and some other agencies. And that means striving to ensure that proper things are done that will promote our business and have a conducive environment to work”.
In his response, the Managing Director of Eko Hotels and Suites, Mr Ghassan Faddoul who was accompanied by Chief Samuel Alabi, company Secretary of Eko Hotels and former President and BOT chairman of FTAN respectively, appreciated the body for courtesy visit and the good words of appreciation.
He explained that if any government in the world supports the private sector in achieving their ultimate goal, the private sector will also be altogether with the government in pushing the industry forward.
According to him: “But once they put a certain objective and the picture is clear and they say we need to support this industry because this industry could be a very major contributor to our GDP.
“When we took over we had around 300 employees, around 500 rooms out of which only 150 were available for sale”.
He stated that due to the hard work and dedication of the owners, the hotel today has 824 rooms, 1,500 employees.
In his words: “So you can imagine our operation, how it has created jobs and how it has created not only immediate job but both direct and indirect jobs.
We have a 10 megawatt power plant. We are managing a mini city. The indirect jobs creation also include the suppliers and the contractors.
“Before we have one or two restaurants and now we have reached 10 and 12. So this is also increasing the supply chain and everybody is benefiting.
And we are happy with it because we are creating a momentum. We are investing in the property. We are investing in our human capital”.
Faddoul said the hotel want to develop its human capital because it believe in their motto and also to be of international hospitality standards with African hospitality.
In his remarks, the General Manager of Wheatbaker Hotel, Mr Paul Kavanagh welcomed the idea of collarboration and support for FTAN.
Kavanagh stated that Wheatbaker Hotel is open to partnership and support based on what is available at the time of request.
The GM disclosed the hotel has done so much in the area of corporate social responsiblity which remained largely unannounced or publicised.
He said: “Currently, I am tasked by my owners to build the greatest hotel this part of Africa, including the one the whole of West Africa, has ever seen.
We’re not building another hotel, we’re not building another few rooms. We are building what Government, organizations, competitors will marvel at.
This nation said is impossible that you can’t build a hotel that is on that par, that It’s not possible here.