Starwood to open 45 more hotels in Nigeria

Starwood Hotels, owners of Sheraton Hotels and Towers, has announced plans to open 45 new hotels in Nigeria within the next six years in collaboration with local partners.

Mr. Barry Curran, Area Manager of the Starwood Hotels, who resumed three weeks ago in Nigeria having worked 15 years in Egypt, said, “the expansion which have occurred in the last five years have been very beneficial for our associates in Nigeria. Almost without exception, this has provided promotion opportunities for people who have worked in our old properties.

On infrastructure and regenerating the hotel, Curran agreed that Sheraton Lagos needed renovation which he said will begin in June as a three-phased project with two floors.

Curran who chose to come to Nigeria a country he considers extremely exciting and in exciting time considering that it’s been recognised as the largest economy in Africa as per GDP said it was an easy choice to make having had the opportunity to meet with the Nigerian team over the last five years at different Starwood conferences.

“I was quite impressed by the quality of professionalism of the Nigerian team I’d interacted with which made my decision to come to Nigeria very easy.

With very little inbound tourism into Nigeria and with most businesses being government to government or corporate companies, Curran said he saw opportunities to grow tourism in Nigeria if key issues like security and visa processes were addressed. “People want to feel safe when they travel and also countries that are seriously into tourism, visa processes are very easy or visitors can get visas on arrival. This is something that needs to be looked at if Nigeria will move in the tourism industry. Visa applications need to be easier.”