While Mac-Folly Hospitality Limited may sound new in the ears of many, the company is a big player in the Nigerian hospitality industry today for obvious reasons.
It is surely one company that will enter the industry tomorrow based on the huge scale of its investments in the industry.
Of course, Mac-Folly, is a subsidiary of the Sifax Group, owners of Marriott Hotel Ikeja, the most contemporary hotel in Nigeria and West Africa today.
Chike Ogeah, managing director and chief executive officer, Mac-Folly Hospitality Limited, cannot overemphasize the space its company is already occupying in the hospitality industry.
Its 252-room Ikeja hotel is a witness to the above. Marriott Hotel Ikeja is truly the talk of the town, Ogeah said.
“I am happy that this is an indigenous hospitality brand that is doing well. But we aim to have a niche in hospitality development in Nigeria,” he noted.
Ogeah, who brings his years of experience across many sectors, especially aviation and government into bear in the management of Mac-Folly Hospitality Limited, insisted that things are shaping up already for the hospitality company, which draws its strength from SIFAX Group, its parent company.
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From the successful Marriott Hotel Ikeja, Mac-Folly is set to deliver yet another hotel soon in Lagos.
The above is because the company, according to him, understands what it is doing, it is serious about it, intentional about it, and then it is planning ahead.
“We have a short-term plan, which is basically this Marriott Hotel that is the talk of Lagos today. But beyond this, we have the medium-term plan, which we are already working on. We are going to build another hotel, which we are doing right now.
“Also in that medium-term plan, we are thinking of building a waterfront property in Lagos. Then we also have a medium to long term plan of developing a massive five-star brand, also of the Marriott, maybe a St. Regis,” he said.
Rather than the island, its choice of Lagos mainland for the location of its Marriot hotel is also intentional, considering the hotel’s proximity to the international airport and that SIFAX Group is a big player in the aviation cargo section.
For him, Ikeja is the gateway to Nigeria and Marriot is well-positioned in that gateway.
“So, that is why we chose a location like Ikeja GRA, with the target being the international airport. That has been wonderful, so to speak. That is the gateway”.
Beyond the gateway advantage, he explained that Marriott guests who visit Nigeria will be more than willing to take advantage of Bonvoy, the global hotel chain’s loyalty programme.
The global guest network programmes is working already for Marriott Hotel Ikeja as its 252 rooms are always fully occupied.
“As we speak now, we never have any room vacant,” Ogeah enthused.
Speaking on the quality of the hotel, the Mac-Folly MD/CEO, explained that SIFAX Group, from the beginning, was out to give guests luxury, comfort and convenience that cannot be rivaled and it did that.
According to him, the hotel was delivered in a record time of seven years, which is impossible for property of that size even in developed countries.
“We started the construction, maybe in 2015 and we delivered this hotel, seven years after,” he enthused excitedly.
Despite the speed, he noted that Marriott International was on ground from the onset to ensure quality from construction level and that is why the finished product is the most contemporary in the county today.
Again, the success so far cannot be without a skilled and passionate workforce. “The best of Marriott staff members worldwide are being sent to us here in Lagos, because of the high rating of our hotel. It is also based on Marriott’s internal way of rating their properties and ours is highly rated”.
Ogeah is also excited that the Ikeja GRA residents have found home away from home in the hotel, amid huge patronage of family offerings like the Sunday Brunch.
Yet, it has extended a hand of fellowship to the residents’ association, among some impactful community social responsibility initiatives.
For him, Mac-Folly Hospitality is already making a difference in the hospitality sector and is set to impact more in the nearest future.
