Ibis Ikeja: Affordable International Brand for Business Travellers

BY Demola Ojo

Ibis is an international hotel company with French origins. The first Ibis opened in Bordeaux in 1974, and within a decade the chain had expanded throughout the regions of France, particularly in the cities. The hotels are generally close to city centres, airports or railway stations, and offer low rates compared to many global hotel groups of comparable size.

The brand has hotels on all continents with over 1,000 Ibis hotels worldwide. In Lagos, there is the the Ibis Lagos Ikeja hotel on Toyin Street which is distinct from the Ibis Airport hotel at Ajao Estate.

The Ibis Lagos Ikeja offers affordable accommodation with 165 rooms. The hotel is ideal for business travellers as all guests have access to free WIFI, (this includes walk-in guests who maybe stop by for a drink), a self-service business center and four conference rooms available for professional events or meetings.

Ibis Lagos Ikeja hotel is a 10-minute drive from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport with the hotel offering guests complimentary shuttles for the commute.

The hotel offers guests access to a well-equipped fitness centre, an outdoor pool, two bars and a restaurant which offers all-you-can-eat buffet breakfast. Breakfast is especially notable as it includes an array of rare Nigerian delicacies. The yam and garden egg sauce was especially tasty, as was the Aganyin beans.

The Ibis Lagos Ikeja is a pleasant surprise when discovered. It can easily escape notice, with many businesses jostling for space and attention on both sides of the somewhat narrow street. However, the hotel is designed to maximize space with underground parking helping in no small way in keeping the entrance free of traffic.

The reception, bar and restaurant are in a straight line. However this basic design is complemented by the ingenious use of colours, with a healthy dose of red (the brand’s colour) helping to keep the mood upbeat. There is also the outdoor bar for those who would rather enjoy the cool evening breeze.

The rooms come equipped with the new Sweet Bed by ibis bedding, and offers large double bed, desk, internet, parquet flooring, LCD flat screen TV and a bathroom with shower or bathtub. Some might find the standard room a bit cramped (like I did) but it still offers value for money. The Ibis Ikeja has flexible room rates and is known to have some of the best deals for an internationally branded hotel in Lagos.