Travel/Tourism
Hotels Must be Creative, Have Good Customer Service to Succeed—Hotelier
By Dipo Olowookere
The need for hotel operators to put in place good customer service system has been emphasised by Mr Bonaventure Iyida, owner of Erico Bellisima Hotel, one of the best and most affordable hotels around Egbeda, in Alimosho area of Lagos State.
Speaking in an interview recently, the hotelier of repute disclosed that one of the lessons he has learnt about his online travel guests is that hotels must be “careful with the way they treat guests because of their (guests) access to the social media.”
He said social media could be used against “such affected hotel and it will affect us generally. We should have a good sense of customer service and respect.”
Mr Iyida described working in the hospitality industry as a very good venture especially for someone who has the passion for it and was ready to leverage on such passion to make an impact.
“This is my 12th year in the industry and it has been fun all the way. All you need is to have passion and work hard to survive in the industry.
“You will also need patience, handwork and dedication to your duties to be able to make a lot of impact in the industry. If you have all these, you will definitely stand out,” he advised.
Mr Iyida, who is the General Manager of Erico Group of Companies, frowned at some practitioners, who lie about services they render.
“Some hoteliers go as far as lying to prospective guests on services that they cannot afford to offer all in the bid to have such client or guest in the hotel.
“And when these lies are found out by the guest, it will turn up to be a general problem for hoteliers, and as such, guest will broadcast that this happens in all the hotels. This is why we ensure that we have all facilities as advertised.
“In addition to this, some hotels are not open up to innovation in the hospitality industry and this draws us back in meeting up with the 21st-century requirements for hospitality business in the world. We must all embrace it,” he said.
While commenting on Erico Bellisima Hotel, he said the facility is located in a serene environment with a lot of side attractions including executive swimming pool, exclusive VIP lounge, snooker board, 24-hour electricity supply, maximum security and a massive car park session that can take over 70 cars.
“Our peak day is Wednesday (Ladies Nite) and Saturday (Jazz Nite). There is space for parties at the swimming pool side. We have a restaurant and bar.
“The reason why you should prefer Erico Hotels to other hotels is that we’ve got a lot of side attractions as earlier mentioned and wonderful customer service.
“We also have a serene and tranquil atmosphere for relaxation. We also have rooms that are not designated for smoking while we also have designated areas for smoking,” Mr Iyida said.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced plans to introduce V-Pass, a biometric facial recognition system designed to make passenger processing faster, safer and more seamless across its domestic airports.
According to FAAN, the new technology will allow passengers to verify their identities through facial recognition after a one-time enrolment, reducing reliance on physical identification documents and shortening queues through automated electronic gates.
The authority said the system is expected to enhance airport security while improving the overall travel experience for domestic passengers.
FAAN added that V-Pass has been developed with data privacy at its core and is compliant with the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR).
The agency described the initiative as part of its commitment to delivering smarter, technology-driven airport services and said nationwide sensitisation and rollout updates would be announced in due course.
Airports in countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates already deploy facial recognition technology for processes such as check-in, security screening, immigration and boarding, so the move also aligns Nigeria’s aviation sector with a growing global trend towards contactless travel.
These systems have been adopted to improve operational efficiency, strengthen security and enhance the overall passenger experience.
For FAAN, the deployment of V-Pass forms part of its broader digital transformation agenda aimed at modernising airport operations and accommodating rising passenger traffic.
Experts say that beyond improving convenience, the authority expects the biometric platform to strengthen identity verification, reduce the risk of impersonation and support more efficient airport security, while maintaining compliance with data protection.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
About 14.12 per cent stake in Ikeja Hotel Plc has been acquired by Honeywell Group Limited, a notice on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited has revealed.
Honeywell Group took up the part of the hospitality firm through one of its affiliates known as HGL Real Estate Limited.
Ikeja Hotel, in the disclosure filed with the NGX on July 2, 2026, said the stake comprised 305,323,525 units of its equities.
“Ikeja Hotel hereby notifies the Nigerian Exchange Limited and the general public that it has received notification from HGL Real Estate Limited, an affiliate of Honeywell Group Limited, that it has acquired 305,323,525 units of Ikeja Hotel Plc’s shares, representing 14.12 per cent shareholding in the company,” the notice stated.
Ikeja Hotel is one of Nigeria’s leading hospitality investment and hotel management companies with premium hospitality assets.
It operates two leading hospitality organisations in Lagos, the Sheraton Lagos Hotel and Balmoral Convention Centre.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
About 10 hospitality establishments, including hotels and restaurants, were sealed on Wednesday by officials of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA).
The affected businesses are located in different locations in the Alimosho Local Government Area of the metropolis, Business Post learned from a statement from the agency.
It was stated that they were sealed by LASEPA for persistent violations of environmental regulations despite repeated warnings, abatement notices, and several opportunities to comply with the agency’s directives.
According to the notice, the enforcement exercise was carried out in line with the directives of the Lagos State government to ensure strict compliance with environmental laws and to safeguard public health.
The affected facilities were said to have breached various environmental regulations, including noise pollution, air pollution, unlawful discharge of untreated effluent, obstruction of official duties, among others.
LASEPA closed the premises of Granduer Meridian at Obasa Akiniyi Street, Oluwaga, Ipaja for non-compliance with the agency’s directives; Lasola (Spazio Bar), located on Ipaja Road, Fatolu Bus Stop, Ipaja, was sealed for noise pollution and non-compliance with directives; Millennium Restaurant, located at Gate Bus Stop, Ipaja, Ayobo, was shut down for non-compliance with directives; O2 Exquisite Suites & Tower on Jimoh Akinremi Street, Jimoh Bus Stop, Akowonjo, was sealed for non-compliance with directives; and Chirozz Hotel & Suites, located on Samuel Street, Akowonjo, by Vulcanizer Bus Stop, Egbeda, was closed for noise pollution and non-compliance with directives.
In addition, House 7 Hotel, located at Remi Akande Street, Egbeda, was sealed for non-compliance with LASEPA’s directives; House 48 on Isiba Oluwo Street, Egbeda, was sealed for non-compliance with directives; Exclusive Hotel, located at Ishan Kimishe, Akesan Bus Stop, was shut down by non-compliance with directives; Sabola Ventures Limited, Iocated at Km 11, LASU–Isheri Road, Igando, was shut down for operating without evidence of an Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP), and discharging untreated effluent into public drains; and City Int’l Motel, located at Chief Olu-Adegbite Street, off Oladun Street, Council Bus Stop, Idimu, was sealed for non-compliance with directives.
