Hotel du Golf, Aba: Redefining hospitality

By Samson Echenim

Aba’s flagship hotel, Hotel du Golf, is not only the biggest hotel in Abia State, but also showing the direction for hospitality business and guest care.

When it comes to offering luxury and comfort, the hotel is proud to tell how it is redefining hospitality in Nigeria’s south-east region.

Aba is a commercial hub in the region. The city is also tinted with elements of industrialisation, which makes it a centre for technology transfer in Nigeria. Hotel du Golf is taking full advantage of the business euphoria offered by the city.

Gibson Ejimogu, general manager, Hotel du Golf told Traveller & Hospitality that the hotel which just marked its second year anniversary has become home for many expatriates and business travellers. The Valentine day is over, but the air around the hotel still smells love.

“During Valentine, we had it quite busy taking care of over a hundred guests. It was a full house,” Ejimogu said.

“We have just marked our two years anniversary and we are humbled by the level of patronage from our guests across Nigeria and from overseas. When we started operation, we decided to redefine hospitality in this region and that has been our core objective. With constant feedback from our guests through questionnaires, we are on top our guests’ needs and we keep training and retraining staff for best service delivery” added Ejimogu, a former president of National Union of Hotels and Personal Service Workers and NLC representative at the National Productivity Centre.

The Hotel offered 30 percent discount on all rooms and free breakfast across its room categories for guests who make full payments for rooms during valentine.

“On Val Day, the we offered a la carte and we slashed the price of the meals by half. This means that this period, our guests only have to pay 50 percent of the total meal cost. We are also offering free swimming in our exotic swimming pool, free gym, as well as cake and champagne display,” Ejimogu said.

Located on 1-3 Margret Avenue, European Quarters, Old GRA, the 4-star Hotel du Golf, is Abia State’s biggest, attracting scores of guest seeking affordable luxury from across South-East Nigeria and other neighbouring states.

Hotel Du Golf is set on beautifully landscaped gardens, overlooking the golf course, to offer a wide range of business and leisure facilities.

The 94-room luxury Hotel du Golf is beautifully designed and decorated in an ultra-modern style. It features a restaurant, an outdoor pool, and three bars/lounges. Free continental breakfast, free WiFi in public areas, and free self parking are also provided. Additionally, a fitness center, a poolside bar, and a 24-hour business center are onsite. All 94 rooms provide conveniences like sitting areas and refrigerators, plus free WiFi and flat-screen TVs with satellite channels. 24-hour room service, electric kettles, and free bottled water are among the other amenities available to guests.

The hotel also provides complimentary wireless Internet access. Business-friendly amenities include desks and phones. Housekeeping is offered daily and hair dryers can be requested.

An outdoor pool and a children’s pool are on site. Other recreational amenities include a fitness centre.

Rooms are lovely, though, with a sleek design aesthetic, private balconies, and gorgeous bathrooms. The hotel has very wide array of room types. This makes it easy for guests to find what fits their pockets. Rooms categories, which have all basic facilities that ensures a comfortable stay in luxury include Suite Bedroom, Diplomatic Deluxe, Executive Deluxe, Classic Golf View, Standard Deluxe, Business Deluxe, Executive Deluxe and Business Deluxe.

The availability of Wifi, gym, exotic restaurant & bar, local and intercontinental dishes, meeting and party halls is a pointer to the fact that the hotel was built to take in a beehive of activities — business, social or political —all at the same time.

Places attractions around the hotel include the Aba Sports Club, the Cinema, Market Square, Naval Base, PZ factory, and the New Market, GRA. The Ariara International Market and the Shopping Centre, a popular textile materials market is just four kilometres away. The Abia State Polytechnic is also at sight.

Olamilekan Olalemi, consultant to Hotel du Golf said, “We can say that our core focus is redefining hospitality, but we are also seeking ways to exceed guests’ expectations. Our guest service and business development team are constantly thinking outside the box and coming up with new ways to make our guests have the best of luxury and comfort. We have created unique arrangements for birthday events; the way we deliver cakes and fix the party is special to give the celebrant a royal treat. This is how we keep working to keep redefining hospitality and guest service.”

Because Aba is a business hub, many companies are also finding very conducive meeting place in Hotel du Golf. The hotel’s four halls, which include banquet halls cater to various corporate and political meeting needs and parties.

“We are committed to a maintenance culture that is novel in this part of the world. The credibility that we bring into hospitality is something our guests are proud of and we continue to take guests’ complaints with the seriousness and urgency they require,” Ejimogu concluded.