Ibom Hotels to get facelift as Eno promises massive renovation

Massive renovation of Ibom Hotels, formerly Ibom Icon Hotel, is to undergo renovation in all its departments, including an increase in bed spaces.

Commissioner of Culture and Tourism, Dr Anietie Udofia, stated this in an interview with newsmen on Friday. He added that the government intended to ensure that the renovation, when completed, would ensure that the hotel runs at par with those in Lagos and Abuja.

According to Udofia, Gov Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, would also upgrade the International Conference Centre to attract high-profile events to the state, also accommodate whatever number of people who would attend the events at a particular time.

Udofia said, “Recently, the governor has graciously approved the award of a contract at the International Conference Centre and Ibom Tropicana Hotel in Uyo. All of this is aimed at boosting the tourism sector of the state’s economy by encouraging people to come to Akwa Ibom.

“Recall, two or three weeks ago, the NBA had the intention of holding its annual conference in Akwa Ibom State. Later, they discovered that the state does not have a conference centre that can accommodate 5,000 guests, so they had to move it to another state with such a facility.

“Still on the governor’s vision to boost the economy of Akwa Ibom State through tourism, the state embarks on the construction of ARISE Park at Brooks Street, Uyo, which was a ravine and a criminal’s hideout. If you go there today, you will testify to the fact that the governor had a vision of transforming that place.

“There, we have dwarf apartments, Club House, Gym, Mini Golf Course, long Tennis, Volleyball, Handball, and Football pitches. For those who love leisure, they can leave the comfort of their houses and still have comfort there as long as they desire.”

Udofia noted that the Ministry of Culture and Tourism is a part of Eno’s dreams for Akwa Ibom people. He said the governor has assured Akwa Ibom indigenes that his administration would implement policies and drive the culture and tourism sector.

The commissioner stated that the state celebrated its first-ever World Heritage Day on April 19. He noted that the vision was to rekindle the culture of Akwa Ibom people to the fact that the state could preserve and protect what it had, with the intent to sell it to the rest of the world.

“Others believe in what they have. They polish it and make it interesting for you to buy.

“We need to market and rebrand what we have and make it interesting for people to come and have a feel of it. We have rafia in Ikot Ekpene, Itiat Ubium in Nsit Ubium, and International Worship Centre in Uyo, with a capacity to take 10,000 guests at a time. 

“The ministry is planning to produce a Digital Visitors’ Manual. It will contain the tourist sites in Akwa Ibom State, such that the visitors, at just a glance, can see what is happening in the state and visit any site alone without necessarily looking for someone to take him or her there.

“The ministry is also developing an app, a marketing strategy we call “Di Akwa Ibom” to sell Akwa Ibom and make people know what we have here that they can come and feel it.

“The governor has also approved the renovation of the Ibom Hotel, moving the electricals away from generators to gas to enjoy efficiency. It will be a total overhaul of the infrastructure – doors, chairs, beds, AC, and more; this will enable the hotel to wear a new look.

“Very soon, the governor will flag off the reconstruction work at the Ibom International Conference Centre.

“Regards the hospitality aspect, there was a law that was passed some years ago. We have the intention to represent that to empower the Hotel Management Board to do their job seamlessly concerning the collection of levies from hotel owners. Experience showed that these hotel owners have been showing resistance to pay levies, claiming that the board does not have the legal backing to do so,” Udofia said.

Concerning the hospitality school, the state government has entered engagement with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Plan to meet with Tony Blair’s Leadership Institute so that we can have the School of Hospitality Management Institute at an advanced stage.

He explained that the agreement between Akwa Ibom and UNDP is to aid collaboration for the state to establish this institute, where we could train people in hotel management and have a good management team that could make people comfortable when they lodge in hotels in Akwa Ibom.