Although the Ancient City of Benin these days boasts of many luxury hotel facilities, the story of how the hospitality business started and developed over the years in the city would not be complete without mentioning the significant services that Hotel Doris Dey, located on 35, Benin-Asaba Highway, Ikpoba-Hill, has rendered to both local and foreign customers who have had cause to visit the exquisite hotel.
Hotel Doris Dey, tagged by many as the “Pride of Benin” hospitality business, is still a place for customers who know the secret of what it offers. It boasts of excellent architectural arrangement and influential interior with the force to compel customers beg for more of pampering. From the entrance of the hotel, to the reception where young ladies and gentlemen are uniformly kitted to welcome customers; to the lounge and restaurant where different kinds of local, European and continental dishes prepared by internationally trained Chefs; drinks of all kinds: soft, wine and spirit; to the manner chairs at the lounge and restaurant are arranged, the serene and the warmness of the environment is a beautiful sight to behold, which leaves a lasting impression on the customer.
Though, close to the ever busy Benin-Asaba Highway, the entire environment of Hotel Doris Dey is hushed and extremely secured.
On the security, the MD says she does not joke with it. Apart from the installation of CCTV to monitor proceedings in the place, manual checking is also carried out to ensure fraudsters do not come anywhere near the hotel and its lounge.
Foreign ladies who are married to Nigerian men particularly seem to have found another home at Doris Dey. It is a place where westernisation and africanisation blend without buzzing and bigotry of any kind. The cutlery is well arranged on the dinning for those addicted to western heritage. Hotel Doris Dey lounge is not for the gyrators. It is for the mature business class, lawyers, accountants, engineers, doctors and the likes who crave quietness! And for those whose back-ache easily while on dinning, the black and red couches are there to pamper such category of customers!
It is a place where commissioners and some State House legislators resort when the need arises. Politicians and their associates also like it at Doris Dey because it’s well subsidized; conference room for meetings are both affordable and value-added. There are spacious conference halls with public address system; they seat 200 guests at a time.
Road trevellers also find it advantageous at Doris Day where memorable night can be spent at the lounge once it is too late to continue with a journey. It offers a good stopover for long distance trevellers to the Eastern and Northern states. Accommodation is in various categories depending on the deepness of customers’ pockets. From Super Exclusive suite, to double rooms of different standards and rates- stylishly decorated with an interior setting that conforms to the most acceptable of a high class hotel with humorous atmosphere for relaxed and treasured moment.
Hotel Doris Dey car park is also an added advantage. The spacious car pack can accommodate good number of cars for those who may want to throw big outdoor parties and social events at its premises.
NATHANIEL AKHIGBE
