Undoubtedly, I had a great time on Tuesday, November 23, 2021, when I attended an exclusive cocktail evening with William McIntyre, the Regional Director for Africa at Radisson Hotel Group.
The cocktail which was essentially a networking event to shed light on the plans of the Radisson Group for the expansion of its brands in Africa with Nigeria being key to the realization of this objective was held at the Radisson Blu Hotel located on Isaac John Street, GRA Ikeja, Lagos Nigeria.
Welcoming guests to the event, Mr. McIntyre expressed joy to be with his esteemed personalities and in the beautiful country of Nigeria, especially after the difficulties created by COVID-19 pandemic which amongst many things, restricted travels.
He said Nigeria as the largest economy on the African continent remained a key market for Radisson Hotel Group as it expands its reach across West African Sub-region and Africa as a continent.
He said that since opening its first hotel in Nigeria – the Radisson Blu Anchorage Hotel, Lagos V.I., in 2011, the portfolio of the Brand had grown to nine property developments in the country.
Five of these are open and operating in Lagos and Abeokuta, spread across its award-winning upper upscale brand – Radisson Blu, the upscale Radisson brand and the upper-midscale brand – Park Inn by Radisson, while the remaining four of these properties which are currently under development in Abuja and Lagos are: The Radisson Collection Hotel Ikoyi Lagos, The Radisson Collection Hotel Emerald Grand Hotel & Spa, The Radisson Blu Hotel Abuja City Centre and The Radisson Hotel Abuja Gudu, all of which are scheduled to open by 2025.
According to him, the Radisson development team’s robust strategy for the country has its objective in Nigeria as increasing the Group’s portfolio by 50% by 2025 with the prime focus of the expansion being the capital city of Abuja, followed by Lagos and Port Harcourt.
He stated that the Group foresees the development of each of its six brands in Nigeria which include its newest, the Radisson Individuals brand as efforts to support potential conversions that will drive the ambitious expansion plans and success of its hotels in Nigeria, even through difficult periods, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, where its hotels operating in Nigeria have continued to be leaders in the market, not only in the country but also on the continent.
He sees it as a feat which has been made possible mainly because of the wonderful partners working in synergy with the Group’s own passionate and dedicated team.
seized the opportunity to thank the Group’s partners for their continued trust and its own team members for their relentless hard work and dedication, saying that the industry will not be what it is without them.
Rounding off the evening’s event, he thanked Christopher and his team for “welcoming them so warmly and hosting them so graciously” at the wonderful and ever-alluring Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja Lagos.
