Marriott Hotels and Resorts International Incorporated announced that they have reached an agreement to enter into the hospitality industry in one of Africa’s second largest economy -Nigeria.
Lagos / NationalTurk – The agreement was championed by ex-banker, Jim Ovia who concluded plans to bring the prestigious Marriott Hotels brand to Nigeria following the multi-billion naira agreement signed by Quantum Luxury Properties Limited chaired by Ovia and the Marriott Hotels.
Mr. Ovia was the former managing director of Nigeria’s biggest bank which operates in Ghana, Gambia, Sierra Leone, South Africa and the United Kingdom said the planned five-star hotel which will be located on the Ozumba Mbadiwe waterfront Victoria Island Lagos and will comprise of 150 star rooms.
The hotel is expected to be fully completed in 2014 to facilitate the growing hospitality industry in Nigeria with international market and brand in terms of facilities.
“We are proud to have the opportunity to partner with a world-class brand like Marriott, “We identified a gap in the marketplace within the hospitality industry to support the rapidly increasing sectors, Nigeria is well known for its hospitality and Lagos as a mega-city, deserves a world class facility to complement its status.”Mr. Ovia said.
Mr. Ovia, who was recently ranked 19th, with a estimated worth of $825 million, on Forbes Africa’s 40 Richest list is believed to be working around the clock in bringing foreign investment to Nigeria so that Nigeria’s Foreign Direct Investment will increase tremendously.
The president of Africa & the Middle East of Marriott Hotels Alex Kyriakidis on his part also lauded the initiative and promised to expand the hospitality industry in Africa’s most populous nation by improving standards for both tourists and the Nigerian people.
“Marriot Hotels are world class brand and we are happy to be associated with a man like Jim Ovia who has a track record of delivery on quality, like when he was at Visafone and Zenith Bank, which Ovia successfully pioneered to enviable heights’’ Mr. Kyriakidis added.
Marriott Hotels and Resorts International Incorporated was Founded in 1971 with its headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland in the United States of America.
Marriott Hotels started operating in Africa in 1982 with the Cairo Marriott Hotel which has a regional presence consisting of nine properties in three countries offering 3,941 rooms.
Issaka Adams/ NationalTurk Africa Tourism News
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