As Continental Hotels Shares Expansion Plan

The Group General Manager, Continental Hotels, Karl Hala and General Manager, Lagos Continental, Christoph Schleissing, recently unveiled projects already embarked on at the Lagos and Abuja hotels aimed at leaving enduring legacies and memories with guests and tourists, writes Charles Ajunwa

As I walked into the Lagos Continental Hotel that Morning after the usually detailed security checks through a smaller door as maintenance work was ongoing at the main entrance, guests and tourists were already checking in and out seamlessly with their luggage well arranged on the ground floor lobby. Within and outside the imposing structure on Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, there was this aura of fecundity in the air.

The Group General Manager, Continental Hotels, Karl Hala, General Manager, Lagos Continental, Christoph Schleissing and other senior staff by 11 a.m. prompt were on the third-floor venue of the meeting to welcome us. As the lift opened, we were warmly received with pleasantries exchanged before breakfast was served. 

Hala, who has lived in Nigeria for 16 years with his family, hit the ground running by unveiling the reason for the meeting. According to him, Lagos Continental Hotel and Abuja Continental both formerly Intercontinental and Sheraton respectively, epitomise the luxury and lifestyle hospitality in Nigeria. 

“Together we have 947 elegantly big-sized rooms and suites and they do offer you unparalleled comfort. You know when you come somewhere, you have a feeling, like you just mentioned, in Asmara, when you feel, ah, I have arrived! 

“That is Continental. So what they offer is this unique experience that reflects this rich culture and diversity of Nigeria. What else we have and which is extremely iconic are our convention, media and banquet facilities. Both hotels have 5,000 square metres of meeting space, and can accommodate up to 3,500 delegates. Important to note, both are top state-of-the-art, both are pillarless, both have been refurbished recently, both are the centre for best conferencing in Nigeria, whether it’s the government enhancement delegation conference, whether it’s corporate gatherings, weddings or board meetings. So we provide all of that. It’s flexible, versatile and it’s covered by the best teams in the country. 

“To further support this, we just opened the Ladi Kwali Sports Village in Abuja. And that is a place which features sports facilities from tennis courts, volleyball, squash and table tennis. And a brand new gym which just opened last month (November).together with the gym in Lagos, which will enhance both of them, absolute top of fitness anything you wish within the technology.

“So this Ladi Kwali building the sports facilities we added two paddle and two pickleball courts. So, when I was first told paddle built I said of course. So I went back and googled paddle. Paddle is the fastest growing sport in Africa and in Europe. But it has existed since the 60s in the US.

“So are pickles. Now you can see it coming all over. So we have that in our premises in Abuja. So that serves as a hub for team-bonding and the togetherness and brainstorming for smaller groups, bigger groups. You want to have your visions for the next three years to come.

“You work this and you can build in addition fun exercises. You can have this creativity and fun together. But you do the brainstorming sessions. You come up and challenge your mindset by being fit.

“So it’s physical health and health creates future success for your team and for your company. That really has fostered teamwork and collaboration amongst all bodies. Whether it’s the big companies, whether it’s Oriflame or the MVCs or governmental bodies or the UNs, whoever it is, this is the way forward. And we are triggering this success through and through this new Ladi Kwali Village. And then we have a very impressive selection of culinary options in both hotels across 12 restaurants and bars. 

“We offer the finest Nigerian and international kitchen. And now the challenge. Michelin star. Michelin star is the pinnacle of acknowledgement being the best in the restaurant business. Do you know how many Michelin star restaurants there are in Africa? All over the world, they are in their thousands, but not in Africa. All over the world they are. In their thousands, but not in Africa. So I looked around and there are between LA, London and Dubai eight Nigerian restaurants. And one of them got a Michelin star. It’s Adejoke Bakare, the first black lady in the UK to be awarded. The restaurant is called Chisuru. Challenge through the media, the Mishla guide. Africa, we are here. If you take the story, this is an interesting ending, it has to do with Yam, yeah? So the ancient lore of the humble Nigerian Yam in all different variations. And we have it all over. We created. Now, if we can have success in LA, in Dubai, and in London, therefore, why not here. Shall we take it up together? We help, we push.’ 

Talking about the festive season which he described as “festive wonderland, festive continental,” adding, “We are to celebrate. It’s a very joyous season. And I must say, I’ve come to Nigeria for the last 16 years, and it has become very joyous. Decorations are there, events are there, you feel more mellow.

Hala, who acknowledged the two hotels in Abuja and Lagos are finishing on a strong note economically in the last five months, said Abuja of course celebrates as well from gingerbread houses to amazing landscaping.

“So when you come into Abuja because of the 14 hectares, it is a festive Christmas land you’re going to be overwhelmed with. When you come through, you will celebrate between the Christmas Eve’s because here one celebrates on the 25th at lunch, correct? So where we come from, 24th in the evening, so we celebrate both of those.

“So they have wine pairings in the evenings, lavish Christmas, Santa lunches on the 25th, and then get ready for the crossovers on the 31st, where it will be between the restaurants and the pool bar. And the swimming pool has just been reopened. Brand new dialing, decking, whatsoever. Again, another brand new feature for us in Abuja.

“And then they have very exclusive staycation packages. Makes families welcome to bring their family along and enjoy the sports village, the culinaries, the swimming pool, or just a walk, I want to say in the park, but it is like a park actually. We have a coconut garden, we have a lot of greens and all this around. This is the difference between Abuja and Lagos, the tranquility of Abuja. Greens, the hills, mountains around. It’s an amazing picture. I love both. 

“We also have Santa surprises for the children, workshops, cooking, everything around Abuja will offer. So similar to Lagos Abuja, just come, see and enjoy and relax. It’s the place to be for families this Christmas and then the crossover of course will be sensational. Not just fireworks, the fireworks will be on a culinary level with the entertainers, the singing, the dancing. And then we put a bit of light into the air, crossover. 

“For the next event, March, April, before Easter, we want to talk a little bit about academies, development, and how to bring the best skill set out of our teams. Don’t forget, indirectly and directly with Continental Hotels, we have over 1,700 colleagues. So we do have a platform we want to work with and we want to develop. Because the striving talent in Nigeria is always exciting. There is an eagerness to learn, to see, to perform. Now we want to make sure we realise it to the best with all the platforms which we can offer.It means the engagement with our employees comes to the best and up to the strengthening of the leadership. But we’ll discuss this in much more detail with much more exciting news like our own Academy just before Easter. 

“Yes, come and see us, come and enjoy, because with Continental Hotels, we are moving forward. We are staying agile. We will continue to innovate responsibly. And we will maintain and continue a relentless focus delivering memorable, bespoke experiences that define the Continental experience of luxury for the business.”

The General Manager, Lagos Continental Hotel, Schleissing who arrived Lagos in August, from Kazakhstan in Central Asia, threw more light on the activities lined up for the festive period.

“We are very much on the festive season and I think you all arrived to the lobby. You saw that we made a very nice, very festive decoration in the lobby. The goal was really to build a winter wonderland. We have a real Christmas boutique. We sell specialties all over the world. Some of them, we brought them directly from Germany or Italy or the UK. And many of them, we produce in-house. So it’s real, I think it’s a must to pass by the Boutique Alhambra. On the other hand, we go on.”

On what he finds interesting about Nigeria, he said “First, is the climate and secondly, for me, most important are the people. When I look here at our people and our team, this genuine hospitality, very welcoming, we all speak the same language, makes my task to deliver exceptional hospitality, you know, easier.”