Construction begins on Nigeria’s first InterContinental
Posted on: November 23rd, 2007 by Emily Welch
The InterContinental Hotel in the Nigerian capital of Lagos signifies the country’s first hotel from the company, with a price tag of $80 million, and will be the tallest hotel in all of Nigeria at a height of 100 metres.
Nigeria has seen a new interest in foreign business investment, and the hotel is a symbol of the country’s upward mobility, giving foreign business travelers a new option in quality lodgings. The hotel will occupy a space in the centre of Victoria Island.
“InterContinental Lagos is a key property for us as we expand our presence across the Middle East and Africa region,” said InterContinental Hotels chief executive officer John Barnsey, “Current plans are to almost double the number of properties in our portfolio by the end of 2010 with 11 hotels set for Africa alone.”
Lagos has seen significant development since 1950, when the city had only a population of less than 300,000. The United Nations predicted in 1999 that by 2010 the city’s population would swell to 20 million. The World Travel and Tourism Council has predicted that the city will grow at a rate of about 2% per year until 2010.
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