...To get all news updates, Join our WhatsApp Group (Click Here)
Also Join our WhatsApp Channel (Click Here)
The fortunes of Sheraton Hotels will soon be revived having been majorly acquired by its new owners. In its heydays, the luxury hotel was the place to be and commanded high patronage from the elites of society.
But in the last few years, the respect that the hotel commanded has dwindled considerably. With patrons allegedly complaining about one thing or the other, the chain of hotels, two in Lagos State and one in Abuja, is allegedly, currently surviving on its past glory.
Patrons of Four Points by Sheraton, Victoria Island, Lagos, complain about the hospitality centre becoming a den for high-class sex workers. It is alleged that the once serene environment where business moguls hold and attend conferences, lunch, dinner, and leisure meetings has over time become a sanctuary for these ‘businesswomen who come to the hotel in groups at times to seek prospective customers.
They allegedly contribute to lodge in the hotel to enable them to gain access to the swimming pool and bar areas where they can easily have access to meet rich clientele who also lodge there or are there for a drink or business meeting. These ‘business women’ allegedly became quite brazen, harassing unsuspecting customers, pitching their bodies as essential commodities to be had for a fee.
Many patrons have complained about the once luxurious Lagos Sheraton Hotel. They claim that the entire building looks like it could do with a face-lift. It is shabby, they said, and the interior décor is urgently in need of an overhaul. They have also complained about the grubby furniture and the fact that the hotel’s structures no longer match the brand.
The management of the Abuja branch of the hotel has been accused of institutionalising racism and gender-insensitive policies. Perhaps all of these may have contributed to 22 Hospitality Limited acquiring a majority stake of 66 per cent of the shares of the hotel group.
Following its acquisition, five members of the board of Capital Hotel Plc, the owners of Sheraton Hotel, resigned from their positions. They are Chief Anthony Idigbe, SAN; Dr Alexander Thomopulos; Mrs Fadeke Olugbemi; Mrs Helen Da-Souza and Mr Akpofure Ibru. 22 Hospitality Limited, the new owners of Sheraton Hotels, is a subsidiary of 11 Plc, formerly Mobil Oil Nigeria.
11 Plc is ironically owned by Ramesh Kansagra one of the richest Asians in the United Kingdom. Besides being the chairman of 11 Plc, Kansagra is also the Managing Director of Solai Holdings Limited, an investment services company with net asset value in excess of £160m.
Solai Holdings is involved in oil trading, raw materials for ceramic industry, agriculture and food industries processing with various investments in Africa and the UK. Ramesh holds 135 appointments at 135 active companies. The asset value of all businesses where Ramesh holds appointments equals €144.4 million, a combined total current assets vue of €745.7 million with a total current liabilities of €697.1 million and a total current net worth of €835.4 million. Ramesh is a recipient of the honourary award, Member of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
You can get every of our news as soon as they drop on WhatsApp ...To get all news updates, Join our WhatsApp Group (Click Here)
Also Join our WhatsApp Channel (Click Here)
