FIRS Shuts Bolingo Hotels Among Others Over Huge Tax Debits

Bolingo Hotel and Towers, a luxurious and 5 star quality hotel located in the central districts of Abuja was sealed on Wednesday by Federal Inland Revenue Services Team ( FIRS) in Abuja over a huge tax debt of N 24,422,572.84 which was accumulated from 2002.

According to reports by Premium times ng, Others that were sealed are The Nigerian German Chemical Limited located at Oba Akran Avenue, over a tax debt in excess of N 146.6 Million.

Allied Atlantic Distilleries Limited located at Sango Ota, which owes over N 45 Million.

Trident Marketing Limited at Ajao Road Ikeja, owing N 90.8 Million.

Image Credit: NTA.ng

5 Top Restaurants in Ikeja GRA, Ikeja, lagos

Any time you find yourself passing through Ikeja Gra with a stomach growling for food. You can stop by and check out the following restaurants.

1. Jevnik Restaurant

This restaurant from my own opinion is  'Home food away from home' It's a local food joint which is very decent with properly cooked meals. For every kind of local food you are searching for, they've got it. It's got a cozy environment with very large space to sit and eat, good packing space, also large enough to accommodate a good number of cars. It's got a conference room as well. Really nice place to eat. Its situated at 21 Isaac John street, Ikeja GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.

2. Yellow Chilli Restaurant & Bar

Restaurant with very good ambiance, great food, you have to be there on time so that you can book for your meal on time. Apparently, it's one of the best restaurants in GRA with corteous staff. I have been there a couple of times and never being disappointed by the taste of their meal. No wonder it's one of the best five.

3. The Orchid Bistro

One thing I like about them is their tasty meals and quick response to online reviews and submissions. They obviously mean business. Good anbience for eating, meeting space and small get together. The staffs are always smiling like they are being tickled. Haha. Lovely place to be. They are located at 58 Isaac John Street, Ikeja GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.

4. Domino's Pizza

We all know what Domino Plaza is into all over the world... Pizzas. Heyyy. Great place to be when you are craving for pizza, chicken and other side effects. They do delivery too and very efficient with it. They definitely won't keep you hungry. They are located at 14C Joel Ogunaike Street, Ikeja GRA.

5. The Place Restaurant & Bar

They have all sorts of local dishes like Asun which is my favourite, delicacies like snacks, a large sitting area with good ambiance. It's the place to hang out with a few friends at night, it's an appropriate place for a social gathering like birthday parties. They are located at 45, Isaac John, Ikeja GRA. Ikeja, Lagos.

Image Credit: Jevinik Restaurant, Yellow Chili, The Place, Domino's Pizza, The Orchid Bistro

5 Things Your Competitors Can Teach You About Your Hotel Business

Business strategies is all you need for your business when its newly opened. Does it start from the day it is opened? NO. Business strategy starts at the point of creating a business analysis, at the point when you start to make a business plan. Foundation of your hotel business is paramount; competition is fierce out there, A number of good hotels out there to satisfy customers by all means possible keep springing up over there.

As a company you wouldn't like to be left behind, struggling, picking up the crumbs left by your competitors. The hotel business is a strategic one. WHY. It's lucrative, it's interesting, It's social impact is high, the benefits are high when the business is well grounded. There are a couple of things to keep in mind while creating your business plan, "Don't run from your competitors, keep a very close eye on them, familiarize with them, keep them very close to you."

There are 5 things your competitors can teach you about your hotel business

1. Websites
 Check your competitor's websites, what makes them sell more, why do they have so much traffic to their site for online bookings and so on. Check the layout of their site, do they have a blog for customer interaction, how do they run it. How did they lay their gallery, compare them to your site picture quality, you will definitely see one of the reasons why they sell more.

2. Social Media

We are at the peak of technology where social media is used for every business, it strikes me when some hotel business don't understand how the social media works. Check your competitors activities on social media, hoe do people respond to them, how do they make use of it to advertise their business without spending a penny. learn how to drive traffic to your hotel business through social media, communicate with people around the world through it, post everyday on this platform by instructing a trained personnel to run it effectively, train your staff on how to share posts made on your hotel with friends on their social media. Is your hotel business on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, tumblr, Pinterest, Quora, Flipboard? Check what your competitors are doing with them and how they are getting more guests than you are.

3. Learn From Competitors Mistakes

There will always be a loophole somewhere. What are the mistakes your competitors are making, why do they loose a few guests. Once you find out what it is, improve on it and implement it into your facility. You already have other tools in place such as the functional website and social media to get your business out there and the big name you have created for yourself. Be a better contributor to your community with your hotel business, when people here about your good image, they help you advertise your business with word of mouth.

4. Search Engines

What keywords do you type to see your competitors at the top of the google page, type a keyword to search for your own hotel, if it's not at the top or among those at the top, then it's time for you to work on the SEO. Run adverts on the google ad sense, use google business to optimize your business,  send your hotel details to online hotel booking platforms which your competitors are obviously doing. Update your local pages to drive your hotel business worldwide.

5. Optimise Response Rate

Their are lots of customers out there searching for hotels to book into or make use of their services, most times they do random visits to the hotel or calls to their phone desk, they would rather call back the hotel that responded to them faster and in a very polite way. Customers like to be identified with, they love to be well attended to. How does your staff respond to customer enquiries and how fast, so that they won't end up in your competitors hotel. How fast do your competitors respond to online hotel reviews compared to your hotel. How fast do you respond to customer emails and submissions, online bookings, phone call reservation follow up. Don't make them change their minds or loose interest in your hotel because your competitor is on the look out for them.

Image Credit: Pixabay

Thoughts on Hotels

I always wish the hotels were like they are in the movies and TV shows, where if you are in Paris, right outside your window is the Eiffel Tower. In Egypt, the pyramids are right there. In the movies, every hotel has a monument right outside your window. My hotel rooms overlook the garbage dumpster in the back alley - Gilbert Gottfried.

I always worked in institutions , I  never had a restaurant of my own before, but I have opened over 30 hotels, restaurants and casinos. I understand what it takes to keep them running- Robert Irvine.

All good hotels tend to lead people to do things they wouldn't necessarily do at home - Andre Balazs.

I had a very difficult relationship with my Mother. She used to wake me up in the middle of the night if I wasn't sleeping straight and was messing up the sheets. Now when I stay in hotels I sleep so straight they don't even think I've used the bed - Mabrina Abramovic.

Africa is really a place for the wealthy traveler. It's got some nice hotels, but they are very expensive hotels. It doesn't really cater to the back packer to the overland traveler- Paul Theroux

Image Credit: Pixbay.com

Hilton Hotel, Lagos Signs Agreement on 350-Room Hotel at Lagos Airport

The Hilton Worldwide has recently decided and announced to erect a 350 guest room and suite hotel at the Muritala Mohammed Lagos Airport, Nigeria.

This latest development which was signed at AHIF 2016 in Rwanda is set to open in 2023 and join Hilton's growing African Portfolio of more than 80 properties trading or in the development pipeline, which will see Hilton more than double it's presence across Africa in the next three to five years, said the hotel group in a statement yesterday.

According to Patrick Fitzgibbon, Senior Vice President, Development, EMEA, Hilton Worldwide, he said, "With a population of more than 16million, Lagos is the seventh-fastest growing city in the world and the second largest in Africa, with much of the nation's wealth and economic activities concentrated here."

He also said, " Strong growth is forecast for both domestic and international travelers using Muritala Muhammed International  Airport, so this exemplary new hotel will be well placed to meet traveler's needs, offering an unparalleled level of design, comfort and service."

The hotel will be situated within close proximity to Ikeja, the capital of Lagos State, as well as the passenger terminus at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, which services travelers flying to hundreds of destinations around the world.

Hilton Lagos Airport will comprise of 350 guestrooms, of which 72 are suites, an executive floor and multiple food and beverage outlets, including a restaurant serving an international cuisine; a specialty restaurant ; a fashionable rooftop cocktail bar; and a hip night club.

An elevated pool deck, with lavish gardens and a striking horizon pool overhanging the side of the property will provide breathtaking views of the surroundings and a unique leisure experience of the airport property. The hotel will also feature a spa and fitness centre.

According to reports by Thisday, this signing is in addition to the recent signing of Legend Hotel Lagos Airport, Curio Collection by Hilton, also with QUITS, with an additional 76 guest rooms to be added, bringing the room count up to 130 keys.

They are the two most recently signed at Lagos Airport at the same time. Report says that The Curio Hotel, due to open in 2017, will be the first within the airport environment.

Image Credit: The News Nigeria.com