NAN-H-54
Hotel
By Taiye Baiyerohi and Idris Olukoya
Lagos, Nov. 1, 2016 (NAN) A Tourism Consultant, Mrs Aduke Gomez, has called on hoteliers to embrace the hotels classification by government, saying it would improve their services in the country.
Gomez gave the advice when she spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the closing of “AKWAABA Tourism Fair’’ on Tuesday in Lagos.
She said that because hoteliers shy away from hotels’ classification, they needed to be sensitised on the need for grading.
Gomez said that it would lead to the growth of hotel and hospitality businesses in the country if properly done.
She noted that hotels tended to benefit from the exercise as it served as an important marketing tool in local and international economies and demonstrated commitment to quality.
“Hotel classification provides assurance to local and international tourists that an establishment has been assessed and approved,’’ Gomez said.
Contributing, Mr Ayo Olowoporoku, the Group Managing Director of Hotel Support Group, also urged proprietors to embrace hotel classification.
Olowoporoku said the criteria sought for by the Hotel Licensing Authority were standards that obtained internationally, adding: “A customer must have access to the two sides of the bed in a standard hotel room.
“There must be a 24-hour reception service and the physically challenged should be considered in the course of equipping the hotel.
“There must be illumination commensurate with the rooms and the cuisine must cut across various ethnic groups,’’ he said.
On his part, Kushal Dutta, the Managing Director, Jumia Travels, urged hoteliers to digitalise the hospitality industry as it was obtainable in some developed countries.
“There are specific kinds of lighting in some hotels in Las Vegas which divulges some information as regards the hotel visited.
“These are artificial intelligence gadgets. There are also interactive walls in some hotels which tell a visitor what to do.
“The hospitality industry is moving to the digitisation era, we all need to follow suite,’’ Dutta said. (NAN)
PTB/SIO/PDE
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(Edited by Peter Ejiofor)