Bennett Oghifo

The renowned Festival Hotel Conference Centre & Spa in Lagos is now being managed by Premium Swiss Hospitality PSH, a highly reputable company with head office in Zurich, Switzerland. This followed a Management Agreement signed by both companies- the Chief Executive Officer of UPDC Plc., Mr. Odunayo Ojo and President/Founder, Premium Swiss Hospitality, PSH, Mr. Shousha Moshen, on Wednesday June 21, 2023 at the Festival Hotel.

Festival Hotel is owned by UPDC Plc., a bluechip real estate company with specialty in asset development for sale through direct investments and joint ventures. 

The company also has a strong presence in facilities management- provision of building and operation maintenance for commercial and residential properties across several states in Nigeria -and hospitality, having 95% stake in UPDC Hotels Limited which owns Festival Hotel, a 471 room hotel with 9 conference rooms and a banquet hall.

Premium Swiss Hospitality PSH, according to the President/Founder Premium Swiss Hospitality PSH, Mr. Shousha Moshen, who signed the Management Agreement. “We are Swiss rooted, with huge cultural diversity.”

Moshen said the company was established in 2015, and boasts a specialized team in the hospitality industry, with experience spanning across 25 years. They have regional offices in Cairo, Egypt – Middle East & North Africa; Lagos, Nigeria – West Africa; and Nairobi, Kenya – East Africa.

He said, “It’s an honour for us to manage the second largest hotel in Lagos and the fourth largest hotel in Nigeria. We are very proud to do that as Premium Swiss Hospitality PSH, Zurich, Switzerland. 

He stated that they have a strong presence in Africa and in Nigeria and that their expertise would increase the quality and standards of hotels in Nigeria. 

He recalled the rich history of Festival Hotel, which dates back to 1977, adding that they are proud to be part of nice story of the hotel and their partnership with UPDC Plc., “one of the biggest companies in Nigeria,” saying that with their know-how, they would move the hotel forward and elevate its standards.

Premium Swiss Hospitality, he said has a huge portfolio of 60 hotels and that they have two in Lagos, Festival Hotel and Champion Hotel that would be opened on July 1, 2023, among others.

He said they are in the market with an international team.
“Teamwork undoubtedly improves workplace culture. The effect of having a great team is the only reason we are where we are today. 

“We aim to achieve continuous improvement in the quality of our service. Premium Swiss Hospitality is a true epitome of quality.”

The Chief Executive Officer of UPDC Plc., Mr. Odunayo Ojo said the signing of the Management Agreement was historic for UPDC Hotels, and its offshoot, Festival Hotel, as well as for UPDC Plc., the parent company, “because it marks the beginning of a new era in the history of this hotel; a new dawn has come to this hotel.”

The hotel, he recalled, has gone through many transitions. “UPDC acquired this hotel in 2001 as Durbar Hotel, which was one of the historic hotels in the country and over the years, UPDC has tried to bring the hotel to life under different administrations and different companies, but today, we are celebrating the official signing of a Management Agreement with Premium Swiss Hospitality, Zurich Switzerland. This is an association we are very proud of, an association that we believe will take this hotel to its next level.

Mr. Ojo also introduced the hotel’s new manager, Mr. Yemi Dada, adding that the hotel has received new investment from its shareholders that would boost its rebirth after the downtime caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on businesses.

“We are celebrating the rebirth of this hotel, giving that since the pandemic when the hotel was shut down, we have been repositioning this hotel, reoperationalising this hotel for better performance. The idea is that the hotel has now received some new investment from its shareholders. We have brand new infrastructure installed, from power to water to ambience to the upgrade of the rooms. The hotel is poised for a new beginning and that is one of the things we’re celebrating today. We want to tell the whole world that the Festival Hotel is open for business and this is not business as usual. This hotel can compete with any other local or international hotel anywhere we can find around here.”

The Premium Swiss Hospitality, Zurich Switzerland team at the signing ceremony also included the Regional Director for Africa, Mr. Samuel Okeniyan, the Financial Controller, Mr.Korede Balogun, and the Legal Adviser, Nigeria, Mr. Chuks Nwokeji.