The management of Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort Limited, Ekiti State, and 23 other hospitality firms have been rewarded for their outstanding performance as they tirelessly worked towards improving and sustaining service delivery in the country to the best global practices.
This was made known at the event held at Swiss International Hotel, Owerri, the Imo State capital where the firms were given the awards at the fifth edition of the Hotel Managers Conference, charging the stakeholders to maintain the tempo.
They poured encomiums on the management and staff of Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort for their remarkable service, especially for being the only resort that provides warm and cold springs in the world.
Speaking during the inspiring ceremony, the convener of the event, Olugbenga Omotayo Sunday, a leading hospitality, tourism and travel consultant; Omotayo Sunday, said While speaking, Sunday said, “The selection process was very transparent by the panel. Entries, nominations of the awardees were done well. Performance and professionalism towards customer satisfaction were considered.”
Also, the General Manager of Gocient Hospitality Limited, owners of Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort, Lanre Balogun, commended the Best Holiday Resort in Nigeria, saying the organization was proud to be rewarded, stressing that it was heartwarming to be associated with others who have taken the industry to enviable height.
He stated, “We have transformed the economy of Ekiti State. Let us support ourselves. You don’t need to japa. Nigeria is a blessed country. Ikogosi is the only resort that has cold and warm springs in the world, with serenity and staff members of over 125 and indirect staff of over 800 people. Emphasis is on job, job, and job for our people.
“The hospitality sector in Nigeria is the most lucrative in the world and we have not even tapped 30 percent of it. What we need to make more viable is power. We took over Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort barely six months ago but before this time the place was a dead zone but we have turned it around. It was concessioned to Glocient Limited by the Ekiti State government for certain years. The award is simply a recognition of what we have already done with Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort and we are going to replicate it.”
Balogun continued that, “We invested hugely in the resort which has today attracted tourists from as far as Russia, U.S., United Kingdom and many others because it is only in Nigeria we have a warm and cold springs from the same source on this planet earth. So, it is a natural phenomenon that does not exist anywhere else in this world. Today we have improved the economy of not only the locals but also the internally generated revenue of the state.
“So, don’t take that money abroad, bring it here and invest in this sector as it will create more value, more impact, create jobs for our youths and improve the economy of Nigeria. That is what we have done by investing in Ikogosi Warm Springs Resorts.”
Other winners and categories of the Hotel Managers Award were Best Luxury Boutique Hotel In Nigeria, won by Nordic Hotel, Lagos; Best Luxury Business Hotel In Nigeria- Lagos Continental Hotel Lagos; Best Luxury Lifestyle Hotel in Nigeria, won by Rento Hotel & Suites, Owerri; Best City Business Hotel in Nigeria, awarded to Lagos Marriott Hotel, Ikeja; Best Customer Friendly Hotel in Nigeria, H53 Suites Lagos and The Longest Serving/Sustaining Hotel in Nigeria won by Federal Palace Hotel & Casino Lagos.
Others included the Most Popular Hotel in Nigeria, received by Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos; Best Indigenous Chain Hotel in Nigeria, won by Presken Hotels & Resorts Lagos; Best Resort in Nigeria, clinched by Jara Beach Resort, Lagos; Best Outdoor Experience Centre by Old English Bar & Grills, Owerri; and the Best New Hospitality Outfit, awarded to Panyu Hotels & Resorts, Aba.
In the Hotel Managers Choice corporate awards category, the awardees were Hotel Managers Choice Award for Best Online Booking Platform in Nigeria Award, Wakanow; Hotel Managers Choice Award for HMC Headline Sponsor Owerri 2023, LG Electronics West Africa; Hotel Managers Choice Award for Electronics Company of the Year in Nigeria 2023; LG Electronics West Africa; and Hotel Managers Choice Award for International Industrial Conglomerate in Nigeria 2023, Dangote Cement Nigeria PLC.
Others were Hotel Manager’s Choice Award for PayTV Platform of the Year 2023, MultiChoice Nigeria; Hotel Managers Choice Award for Food & Agro-allied Group of the Year 2023, Flour Mill Nigeria Plc; Hotel Managers Choice Award for Foodservice Equipment Company of the Year 2023 BCE Equipment; Hotel Managers Choice Award for Hotels Group of Year 2023
Monty Suites; Hotel Managers Choice Award for FMCG Company of the Year 2023, won by Promasidor Nigeria Limited; Hotel Managers Choice Award for Airline of the Year 2023 awarded to Air Peace; Hotel Managers Choice Award for Local Airline of the Year 2023, Dana Airlines; and Hotel Managers Choice Award for Personal & Environmental Care Industry of the Year 2023, awarded to METCEM Limited.
