By Samson Echenim
The world’s largest hotel franchise, Mantis Group, weekend, officially unveiled the newest hotel in its chain, Providence Hotel in GRA, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.
Abike Dabiri, special adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari, performed the unveiling ceremony of the 5-star hotel, which became one of the over 200 hotels in Africa managed by the South African mega hotel chain, Mantis Group, with investment partnership with Parish-based Okwood.
A 79-room edifice, loved for an uncommon ambience and elegance, The Providence by Mantis is planted on Oba Akinjobi Way in the heart of Ikeja GRA commercial area. The hotel covers over 6000sqm of land.
“The Providence Hotel is something we are very proud of coming to Nigeria and I am going to encourage for all Nigerians in diaspora to use this beautiful place. They should come in with their families, friends and business partners. The investors have done a great thing,” Dabiri told business a.m. shortly after unveiling the hotel.
Hyacinth Oseji, owner of the hotel, who spoke earlier in a brief remark to open the hotel, said he was soon to find out that many travellers who sought comfortable hotel accommodation in Ikeja GRA always find it difficult to get space as oil & gas companies and the multinationals take up all the space.
“With the Mantis Group, we have brought to Nigeria, quality that one can compare with global standards. The project was a difficult task. We had rough moments with foreign exchange because the dollar went up when we were right in the middle of the project and affected a whole lot about it, but we are happy that today, we have delivered a world class project. Service delivery is world class. The ambience gives a homely feeling; it’s a home for everyone,” he said.
Commenting, Emile Muller, head of operation, Middle East and Africa, Mantis Group described The Providence Hotel as one of the special hotels in the group.
He said, “We have been here since 2005. It was difficult in the beginning, not because it is in Nigeria, but because we wanted to get the right product. We wanted to understand what the owner wants to offer—his vision. We wanted a specific location and a specific standard of what the owner wants, whether a 5-star, 4-star model. The scope of business in Nigeria is enormous. We have observed that things are getting better with the economy in Nigeria.
“In the last nine months we have noticed that more flights are coming into Nigeria and there’s now more stability for us. Our competitive edge is our service, the personal touch. We are at Mantis are so personal. We would stick with the owner. Our relationships are very strong with the owner and the staff. This is a family and this is why our brand is very strong. It is easy to talk to us. We are the only hotel group in the world present in all seven continents of the world. The rate of hotels is no longer what makes it better, but what you offer. We have brought an affordable luxury with a great service in offer to Nigeria.”
