Travel/Tourism
Interswitch Showcases Payment Innovations at Hotel Managers Conference
Leading African technology company focused on creating solutions that enable individuals and communities prosper, Interswitch, has reaffirmed its commitment to transforming the continent’s hospitality sector through technology during its participation as an exhibitor at the Hotel Managers Conference Africa (HMC) 2025, held on June 28–29 at the Lagos Continental Hotel.
The two-day conference brought together stakeholders across the hospitality industry to explore new pathways for sustainable growth through technology, strategic partnerships, and global best practices. Interswitch’s participation spotlighted its comprehensive portfolio of payment solutions tailored to the evolving needs of hospitality businesses.
The company showcased its Interswitch Smart POS, a high-speed, multifunctional terminal with innovative features relevant in the hospitality sector. In addition to Verve Cards, it boasts of international card acceptance from Visa; Mastercard; American Express; China UnionPay; Discover; Diners Club and Japan Credit Bureau. It also offers USD settlement for foreign transactions, allowing hotels to cater to international guests with ease.
Additionally, the Smart POS includes a card-not-present feature, enabling secure remote payments for use cases such as pre-arrival deposits and incidental charges.
Also featured was the Interswitch Payment Gateway, which enables hotels to accept online bookings securely and process payments from major international card schemes such as American Express, Mastercard, and Visa cards. The gateway is designed for effortless integration with existing systems and provides USD settlement capabilities for international transactions, helping hospitality operators serve a broader customer base without complexity.
Interswitch also demonstrated its trusted bulk disbursement platform that simplifies payments to vendors, staff, and service providers, ensuring timely and efficient transactions with minimal manual input.
The Interswitch booth attracted significant interest from key decision-makers and hospitality business owners, many of whom expressed interest in adopting the company’s integrated solutions to streamline their operational efficiency and elevate guest experience.
Commenting on the engagement, Osasere Atohengbe, Vice President, Sales and Account Management, Interswitch, stated, “Our participation at HMC 2025 reinforces our mission to be a technology partner for hospitality businesses. We’re not just providing tools, we’re enabling transformation, and it was rewarding to connect directly with operators who are ready to take the next leap.”
With thousands of businesses across sectors relying on Interswitch’s trusted infrastructure, including industry leaders like Eko Hotels, Marriot Hotel, and The George Hotel, the company continues to lead innovation in digital payment solutions tailored for African markets.
Its engagement at Hotel Managers Conference 2025 represents another key step in strengthening ties with the hospitality sector, while advancing its broader mission of inclusive growth through strategic partnerships and merchant-focused solutions.
Travel/Tourism
Honeywell Group Acquires 14.12% Stake in Ikeja Hotel
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.
Travel/Tourism
Lagos Shuts Down 10 Hotels, Restaurants for Environmental Violations
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.
Travel/Tourism
Emirates Deploys Boeing 777-300ERSF
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Emirates has become the first airline cargo carrier to deploy the Boeing 777-300ERSF passenger-to-freighter converted aircraft.
The aircraft (A6-EBK) will enter commercial service with a flight from Hong Kong to Dubai carrying over 100 tonnes of cargo, a statement from the airline operator stated.
The converted Emirates Boeing 777-300ERSF offers 100 tonnes of payload capacity and 811 m³ of cargo volume, representing a 25 per cent increase in cargo volume over the Boeing 777-F production freighter.
At 47 pallet positions, the converted aircraft also accommodates 10 additional pallet positions when compared with the Boeing 777-F production freighter, making it ideal for transporting volumetric cargo such as e-commerce goods, which currently constitute around 20 per cent of global air cargo tonnage with further growth projected in the next few years.
The converted Boeing 777-300ERSF is the sixth new freighter, following five Boeing 777-F production freighters, to join Emirates SkyCargo’s fleet since March 2026.
As part of its ambitious expansion strategy, Emirates SkyCargo will also be taking delivery of five additional Boeing 777-F aircraft as well as one additional converted Boeing 777-300ERSF by December 2026.
Emirates SkyCargo will also be introducing three additional converted Boeing 777-ERSFs into its fleet in 2027.
“The induction of the first converted Emirates Boeing 777-300ERSF into operational service represents the next step in the expansion of our fleet and operational agility.
“We are optimising our fleet assets by converting older Boeing 777-300ER passenger aircraft to meet the growing demand for air cargo capacity to transport goods rapidly across the world,” Emirates SkyCargo’s Divisional Senior Vice President, Badr Abbas, commented.
“Combined with our growing fleet of Boeing 777-F production freighters, we have already been able to scale our global freighter network from just over 40 destinations in February this year to 62 destinations currently and growing.
“We are providing our global customers with scalable cargo capacity and ultimate flexibility and connectivity when moving cargo to and through our hub in Dubai,” Abbas added.



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