Background
The 4-star Best Western Plus Lagos Ikeja Hotel is owned by Suru Homes Ltd, a subsidiary of the Suru Group, which ventured into the hospitality sector after some success in building and managing luxury residences. Best Western Plus is one of three sub-brands under the Best Western umbrella – the others being Best Western and Best Western Premier.
Where Is It?
The hotel stands tall right at the start of the ever busy Allen Avenue, a very popular district in Ikeja. It is easy to find thanks to the building’s unique design, and is a short distance from both the local and international airports, which can be reached in 10 and 15 minutes respectively, if traffic is at a minimum. However, if you are in town to do business on Victoria Island, you should leave plenty of time to reach your meeting destination, as traffic from the hotel to the island is usually very heavy.
Rooms
The hotel has 112 rooms over five floors – 100 Business Plus rooms, six Business Deluxe rooms and six suites. I was accommodated in a Business Plus room and I was impressed by the architectural design that allowed lots of natural light into my room, despite the towering buildings that surround the hotel. Even more impressive was the fact that all the noise from the street just below the window was almost completely shut out with the windows closed. That had a big impact on the comfortable sleep I was able to get. My room was equipped with a queen-size bed covered in crisp, white linen, a 42-inch LCD TV with a diverse selection of satellite channels, tea and coffee-making facilities, a well-stocked refrigerator, and en-suite bathroom and toilet with a separate shower and bath. Further to that, there was complimentary Wi-Fi internet access with impressive speed, so I could get some work done from the comfort of my room. A nice extra was the complimentary daily newspaper I received in the morning. I made use of the room service and it was prompt and professional. The issue of rumpled clothing after unpacking was taken care of thanks to the pressing iron and ironing board in the room. A digital safe was also tucked away in the wardrobe. All in all, a comfortable accommodation experience.
Restaurants & Bars
The hotel has one main restaurant that can cater for 100 guests at each seating. The tastefully-designed restaurant boasts a menu of African dishes as well as an intercontinental buffet. I can recommend the salads and soups, having been impressed by their quality during my stay. If you fancy a drink after a busy day of meetings, Eddy’s Bar, which is an extension of the restaurant, offers a variety of cocktails, cold beers and a diverse selection of wines in a welcoming setting.
Business Facilities
I found a well-equipped business centre in the lobby of the hotel and although it wasn’t open 24 hours a day, it was available late into the night to take care of guests’ business needs. The hotel also has a conference room that can seat 100 delegates (cinema style) and a boardroom that allows a maximum of 12 delegates. Both the conference hall and boardroom are equipped with a projector and public address system.
Leisure Facilities
The hotel has a modern gym complete with a fitness instructor to facilitate any particular workout plan a guest may need. There’s also a standard outdoor swimming pool, should you be a swimmer or fancy relaxing there during some down time.
Verdict
I was impressed by the service, the simple-yet-efficient approach to accommodation, and of course the location. This relates specifically to those business people who have engagements in Ikeja, need to be close to the airport, or just want to avoid having to face the notorious Victoria Island traffic. An excellent option for business travellers.
Akintunde Akingbade
Contact
Address: 12 Allen Avenue, Ikeja
Tel: +234 8133146229
E: info@bestwesternlagosikeja.com
W: www.bestwesternlagosikeja.com