We want to set a reputation for safety in hospitality industry Jeffery Fischer- Sales and Marketing Director

Welcome Centre and Hotels, Lagos.

By Oliver Onuoha

 The Welcome Centre and Hotels, is designed to be not just a hotel but an events venue and conference centre. The gigantic edifice located on Muritala Mohammed Airport Road opened recently and now, prides itself to be one of the best hotels in the country. It’s a place to go to with that special person, have a business-oriented retreat, family holiday or need to take time off your busy schedule to relax.

 In an exclusive interview, Jeffery Fischer, Sales and Marketing Director opened up to Lagos Weekend that the Welcome Centre opened on the 1^st of October and barely three months, is getting quite busy by the day. “We don’t intend to run a nightclub here but in going forward we will have live music at our large out-door garden, people will have some small chops in a relaxed environment. There will be live shows, trade fairs and there are so many different facilities that will cater for different events like weddings or parties, it’s more than just a hotel. We want to convey a special meaning to the name, to be more than just a hotel but a place that people should always have a friendly reception when they come.”

On his opinion, about hospitality business in the country, Jeffery said “for most Nigerian businesses, reputation sometimes counts for nothing and lots of the other hotels that we have here, the only ones that are reputable are those who trade on their big brands and names. They have international names but here, we want to create not just the international but a global brand that any international firm coming to Nigeria, will recognize (Welcome Centre) as a truly active place that asserts high standards and hopefully a place where they will always want to come back to.

He reveals that there would be different source of memberships as the Welcome Centre houses a fully equipped air-conditioned gymnasium and squash court, pool and business centre.” We’ll have the tennis court, basket ball court and places people could book for night-outs. There will be membership for the health and fitness facilities and also for corporations as well, where people can have training, events and buy our products at discounted prices”. On safety measures, the sales and marketing director says “we take security very seriously; we have really reputable customers coming here and want them to feel safe as we want to set a reputation for safety in the industry. We have several features like in-door security, people can’t access the premises unless they sign in like in any other company, and we have fully equipped guards outside the front entrance gate, high-fence with barb-wires and we also have consultants who advise us on security issues.

Welcome Centre also has 80 tastefully furnished bedrooms with firm spring super-king sized mattresses, colour cable TV in rooms, in-room safes, and extra telephones in bathroom and hair dryers in toilets. There’s the Otto’s bar at the roof terrace for BBQs, private parties, karaoke as you can also catch all the sporting excitements too at the main bar. You could also enjoy our Wi-Fi connectivity and car hire service as the parking lot can accommodate 200 cars and more. The restaurant serves local and continental meals too.

Jeffery Fischer also told Lagos Weekend that the Welcome Centre aspires to be a five-star hotel not just by African standards but by international standards as they are looking for high value, high networked individuals and the biggest corporations. “We price our rooms to fit into every level, budget and taste. People who desire luxury, great location, who want to be active and want fun, those are the people want.