There are hotels and there are hotels, but the Lagos Continental Hotels is a group of hotels that creatively marry luxury, excellence and topnotch services to deliver cutting-edge hospitality business that enraptured the guests to ask for more of the classic experience. Lagos Continental Hotels has been described as a landmark for exquisite luxuries for holding the ace in providing hospitality comforts across Africa and in Nigeria especially.
Karl Hala, General Manager, Lagos Continental Hotels, in an exclusive chat with The Industry talking about the awesomeness of the hospitality masterpiece said that “Truly, it is awesome. And then you have the people all around and that is all about our friendliness. What about fondness with the infinity pool. If you stroll by, you can see more than 30 people all at the same time seating. Indeed, it is a landmark of luxury, it is truly a feeling. And I guess that is why it is so popular.”
Karl Hala, born in 1957 in Vienna, Austria, graduated from one of the best educational institutions in Vienna, he left Austria when he was just 20 years old and have been in the hospitality industry now for 45 years
He has been in the employment of the Intercontinental Hotels Group for the past 35 years, and has been in charge of the Africa operations of the group for over 10 years up till about 2017 before he came back to Lagos in June 2021.
Karl Hala, known as African hospitality guru, said the uniqueness of Lagos Continental Hotels is not just in its home-away-from-home destination for all during the month of love but also serving as a maximum fun-filled arena anytime and any day. “It is truly a landmark of a place. I remember quite vividly, when the place was opened in 2013, I was here then. It has a design, which perforce the hospitality industry on its own and that is owing to its uniqueness – the oval shape and the height. It has a sense of arrival, which is very captivating. It’s interesting talking about the shaping, and the height and I did say, a sense of arrival that is befitting of the Lagosian lifestyle. It gives you every great feeling that is good, you smile and you feel good. Looking at it, you don’t have to watch movies to know about Lagos, you see it all through the 3D windows from the heights,” he said.
According to him, the view from the rooms is unique, “and I must tell you, nobody has got that. When you come in, you see the grandeur of the entrance of the lobby; everything there gives you signals of luxury in the waiting. Our warm and friendly people are always on ground to ensure you have a memorable experience”, he added.
Asked if the novel corona virus pandemic did not do a wanton damage on the hospitality business as it did other sectors of the economy, Karl Hala noted that “Before the pandemic we were running the business in the normal way. The experience was the same thing everywhere, not just in Lagos, that is what happened throughout the rest of Africa. You have your team base, and you have your connections. The pandemic changed that picture. It changed people’s traveling behaviour. Not just in Nigeria, but globally.”
Karl added that “This means that people no longer feel inclined to travel to attend a meeting anymore. The big difference in Nigeria is that Nigerians love to travel. And when they aren’t traveling, they are in the country, they love to visit friends, they do meetings, and they go to work. So, when the pandemic came, the travelling enthusiasm of Nigerians that used to be second to none suddenly crashed, and they just have to stay home and do their businesses in the country.”
Intercontinental Hotels actually transited to Lagos Continental Hotels without rupturing the business life of the hospitality brand, a development which Karl said “It’s simple, Intercontinental Hotel pulled out and then it was changed to Lagos Continental Hotels. That helped to keep the outfit well in the line. But we have got more popular with our guests and the name change is no longer a problem. People are now able to easily get to the Lagos Continental Hotels.”
He also noted that the transition was not in any way problematic, “It is just like you going online to do business. I must confess that you do have good press in your country. So, it is a kind of change that has been taking place all along over the years. Even with the pandemic, the damage done was quite huge, but the truth is that whoever you are, the people will still perceive you as who you are. From being Intercontinental Hotel to now Lagos Continental Hotels, whichever way, it is already an entity, it is already a brand, it is on its own. We have not seen anything to hold us back, at least, not in the last six or seven months.”
Lagos Continental Hotels certainly eye Nigerians and international visitors as its ultimate guests, because according to him, “It does not matter where you go, the people will always do business. As you know, we have different classes of meetings for different individuals, you have the corporate, and you have normal business meetings. We have family and friends come in here too for a good time, to do some relaxing, swimming, and then food. And some people just come in with friends just to reunite. So, it has always been between corporate and leisure.”
Karl said an average guest coming to the hospitality arena should expect to be given the Continental experience “From friendly and courteous staff at the entrance, to comfortable large rooms, to delicious Nigerian and continental delicacies, an infinity pool for your relaxation, the warm and relaxing environment,” among which are Sugar52, Soho, Milano Private bar, a club lounge and also Ekaabo where one can be served Nigerian and continental dishes.
Pulling a confident stunt, Karl said “Your readers can come around for a treat. We have a variety of chefs from different parts of the world. We have everything to delight our customers. They are very affordable. They are full services as you can see and so they must be affordable.”
Karl, who came to Africa in year 1985, spent some times in Kenya before he moved over to Zambia where he stayed for five years, no wonder he is tagged African hospitality guru, said “I love Africa and I enjoy the people, the culture and I enjoy the continent. Anywhere I go, I do business with the people, I see differences in all my interactions with Africans and that makes me happy.”
Karl said hospitality business as it is run in Africa is not so different from the way it is done in Europe, while some people may talk differently, but then “I will say that the African hospitality business is doing very well. I have travelled a lot around many places in Europe and to many other places but when it comes to efficiency and the level of professionalism, it is really a lot better in some places than it is in other areas and that needs to be improved upon. When it comes to educational and vocational, Africa is very far below. These are some of the things that we should be addressing. So, in terms of service delivery and the techniques, the leadership, one needs to supervise people to build confidence in them and then go out also to teach them better goals and approach.”
He reiterated that for a successful running of any hospitality business that one needs to gather the right team, tools and regularly seek advice from colleagues in similar business. “For me, the skill set is very essential. All I have to do is to work hard and give the team the right tools to perform. The people, in my opinion, come first in all work situations. When things happen that are beyond my control what I do is to approach my friends who are in the field. They provide me with better ideas for me to learn more. Therefore, I need to go into the depth to speak to people on the ground, give them what they need to perform and give you accountability based on the level of the job. So, people in my own opinion come first.
“Africa has got growth opportunities but the truth is that Africa has to market Africa. Africa is a beautiful continent. It has genuine culture and people with different traditions. All that needs to be done is to take them along, bring in the professionals that can take this to a destination globally. Africa has its own culture and high points; I believe if Africa gets together there will be a deeper continent that people will die to see, to look at its nature and wonders, the cultures, and the different drives.
“Whenever you see the ingenuity of Africa as you see in Kenya, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Nigeria and many other countries in Africa, you are tempted to visit the continent. It is a beauty totally undiscovered. But I believe with more marketing efforts and public relations drives the continent will definitely improve for the better,” he said.
