KUMASI GETS MODERN HOTEL (PAGE 30)

A New 50-bedroom hotel - NODA Hotel - was inaugurated at Fumesua in Kumasi at the weekend to boost the hospitality industry in the metropolis which is now growing at a fast rate.
Other facilities in the hotel, which has a policy of always striving to remain a step ahead in the hospitality industry, include deluxe double, twin and executive suites as well as four conference rooms.
Inaugurating the hotel, the Executive Director of the Ghana Tourist Board, Mr Martin Mireku, commended the management of NODA for their entrepreneurial spirit, and ingenuity, and urged them to maintain the hotel.
He said in the hospitality sector, accommodation played a key role, because it had direct correlation with the number of tourists who flocked into the country at a particular point in time.
He said in the revised strategic plan of the tourism sector between 2003 and 2007, it was envisaged that one million tourists would tour the country during that period.
Mr Mireku added that since tourists needed a decent, and safe accommodation anytime they were in the country, it was important for investors to direct their attention to the development of infrastructure to enhance the accelerated development of the tourism industry.
He gave the assurance that a lot of incentives were being provided “to stimulate investment in the hotel sub-sector, especially hotels with 50 or more room capacity”.
Mr Mireku mentioned tax holidays, duty exemptions on items imported for hotels and enhanced tax incentives for investments in the rural areas as some of the incentives being provided to entice investors into the sector.
He said since the industry was a service provider where customers expected value for their money, it was important for management to always employ well-trained and motivated staff capable of delivering the requisite services that met international standards.
“Management should also make continuous training of staff the hallmark of the industry. They should take advantage of the numerous training programmes the Ghana Tourist Board (GTB) and other allied organisations organised to upgrade the skills and capabilities of their staff,” Mr Mireku said.
He advised the management of the hotel to develop a maintenance culture to ensure that the hotel met the expectations of its clients all the time.
Inadequate maintenance by some managers had ruined many hotels and deprived them of the requisite revenue, he said, stressing that “a well-planned maintenance regime with proper replacement of equipment will ensure quality delivery of service and revenue generation”.
In his address, the Managing Director of the hotel, Mr Bernard Acheampong, commended GTB for its tremendous support and encouragement that made it possible for them to develop the hotel.
He said with the quality delivery of service as their hallmark, management would continue to institute the necessary measures to maintain standards and deliver excellent services to win the confidence of its customers.