Investor to Revive Hotel Presidential Enugu with N4 Billion Makeover
In a bid to restore the Hotel Presidential Enugu to its former glory, the Enugu State Government has granted a concession on the Hotel to E-Hospitality Services Limited (EHSL). EHSL will undertake the project through a special purpose company – Primeview Hotels Limited. EHSL will also engage a suitable International hotel management company to operate the Hotel post renovation.
EHSL expects that with the growing FDI flowing into the Southeast zone and the commencement of direct international flights into Enugu airport and significant foreign traveller traffic, the hotel is expected to become the destination of choice in the region.
Enugu is strategically located, being approximately an hour’s drive from the state capitals of Anambra, Abia, Imo and Ebonyi and about ninety minutes from Port Harcourt. The hotel when completed will play a key role in facilitating business and socio-economic activities across the South-East and South-South zones.
EHSL has assembled a team of world class design and engineering consultants and produced a redevelopment concept for the hotel.
A contractor has also been mobilised to the site and has commenced the stripping of the hotel in preparation for the redevelopment works.
Once the pride of eastern Nigeria, the Hotel Presidential Enugu was one of the first iconic buildings built postindependence as part of the Eastern government’s industrialization plan created under the late Dr. Mike Okpara. With a unique offering of recreational and lifestyle elements, the Hotel Presidential quickly became a popular destination for Nigerians and foreign visitors.
The collapse of the pride of the East led the Government of Enugu state to concession the Hotel to capable hands to bring it back to life and upgrade it to world class standards expected to cost over N4 billion naira. The Hotel sits on prime land within the Independence Layout Enugu and is approximately 15 minutes by car from the Enugu International airport.
At the time it was open to the public, the Hotel offered 100 rooms on 4 floors with recreational facilities such as swimming pools, tennis courts and a night club considered best in class.
However, years of poor management, particularly during military rule, culminated in a complete rundown of the hotel and subsequent closure of the once iconic facility.
The proposed redevelopment involves reconfiguring and modernising the existing hotel facilities such as restaurants, conferencing facility, outdoor swimming pool, tennis courts and increasing the stock of rooms from 100 to 150 rooms. It is expected that the main contract for the redevelopment will be awarded by the end of this year and the hotel ready to be opened by 2017.