Southern Sun extends to Nigeria
May 27, 2009
By AUDREY D’ANGELO
Southern Sun is the latest South African hotel group to open a new hotel in Lagos, the business and economic capital of Nigeria, following in the footsteps of local peers Protea and Sun International.
The hotel group has the management contract for the newly built Southern Sun Ikoyi, owned by the Beta consortium, in a suburb conveniently situated for business travellers.
Richard Weilers, the managing director of Southern Sun Offshore, said Lagos as one of Africa's fastest-growing cities was a key area of development for Southern Sun.
"Nigeria is mainly considered a business destination, and the bulk of visitors will be business travellers," added Weilers.
The group would consider opening a second hotel in Nigeria based on viability, but would complete a feasibility study before making a decision.
Southern Sun, now wholly owned by Tsogo Sun, was founded by Sol Kerzner and was formerly a division of Sun International, which is also developing a new hotel in Victoria Island, a short distance from Ikoyi.
The Ikoyi Southern Sun brings the total number of the group's hotels in other parts of Africa, the Middle East and Indian Ocean islands to nine across seven countries.
Altogether the group has 80 hotels, including those in South Africa, offering a range of brands from Southern Sun Hotels and Intercontinental Hotels to the budget Formula 1.
A spokesperson for the group said that it offered "the widest distribution of hotels in Africa in major urban centres and key leisure destinations, and was continuing its expansion throughout the continent".
In addition to standard rooms and executive suites, the new hotel in Ikoyi has meeting rooms suitable for seminars and functions, an experienced banqueting staff and a business centre.
The public rooms offered complimentary wireless fidelity-compliant internet access.
Norman Wallace, Southern Sun's chief operations director offshore, said: "We are very excited by our entry into this market."
The hotel also has a fitness centre open 24 hours a day, with a sauna and steam room.
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