Background
The Orchid hotel opened its 96 rooms to guests in Lagos in 2010, and expanded to 171 rooms within three years. It is a Nigerian hotel brand with two properties – the group opened a second Orchid Hotel in Asaba, the capital of Delta State, offering 54 rooms, with the intention of growing the hotel to 100 rooms by mid-2014.
Where Is It?
The Lekki Peninsula, located east of Victoria Island, is a rapidly growing area on the coast of Lagos. Its beaches and imposing architecture make it a tourist’s haven. The Orchid Hotel is located right at the heart of the Lekki Peninsula, about two minutes’ drive from the VGC roundabout, standing along the Lekki-Ikota expressway. If you have to catch an 18h00 flight from Murtala Muhammed International Airport, I would suggest you leave the hotel at about 14h00 to ensure the chaotic and inconsistent Lagos traffic doesn’t result in you missing your plane.
Rooms
The hotel currently has 171 rooms, divided into the following categories: Royal Orchid, Superior Orchid, Executive Suite, Diplomatic Suite, Ambassadorial and Presidential Suites. The ambience and design of all the rooms are impressive. I was accommodated in a Royal Orchid room, which I found to be more than comfortable. The room was tastefully furnished with a king-size bed and a work station, and the entertainment was courtesy of a 42-inch LCD TV screen on the wall, with selected satellite channels. The bathroom and separate toilet were clean and of a decent quality, and I was impressed with the complimentary toiletries (shampoo, body wash and lotion). I also liked the soft, fluffy bath robe and towels. I had some work to do and was eager to sample the complimentary Wi-Fi Internet. I’m happy to say that connecting was seamless and the data speed was impressive. Aside from being available in all the guest rooms, free Wi-Fi can be accessed in the hotel’s public areas too. Extra security for personal valuables was available with a digital lock safe well hidden in the wardrobe. In terms of room facilities, the only aspects that didn’t impress me much were the below-par cooling system, which was in need of an upgrade, and the room service, with staff taking about 20 minutes to deliver just a bottle of Sprite I ordered.
Restaurants & Bars
The hotel’s restaurant can accommodate over 100 guests at the same time. The restaurant serves all kinds of local and international cuisine over breakfast, lunch and dinner. The menu was quite different and I understood why after meeting the executive chef. One look at him and you could immediately tell that this was a person bursting at the seams with creativity. I ordered what I thought was a plate of simple jollof rice for breakfast, but it was so tastefully garnished that I wasn’t entirely certain that it was just the same old jollof rice! The bar offered a variety of drinks and the ambience was eclectic. Unfortunately, I tried ordering a bottle of water late into the night and I was informed that the bar had closed. I was rather disappointed.
Meeting & Conference Facilites
The Orchid Hotel has nine multi-purpose halls of different sizes. They range from a seating capacity of 20 delegates in the Jasmine Room to 1,500 delegates in the Asaba Hall. Other halls include the Rose Hall, Daffodil Hall, Foursquare Hall, Lavender Hall, Laterna Hall and The Tulip Room. Delegates get complimentary Internet access, and there’s a team of IT professionals available 24/7. There’s also a business centre offering photocopying, scanning, typing, browsing, airtime recharging, laminating and binding of documents, graphic design etc.
Leisure
The hotel has a lawn tennis court, a standard-sized swimming pool with adjacent lounge, a gym and fitness centre, and a boutique.
Verdict
Despite my service reservations, I still think it’s an excellent choice for business travellers to Lagos.
Akintunde Akingbade
Fact File
Contact
Address: Plot 3 Dream World Africana Way, Ikota-Lekki
Tel: +234 704 634 3613
Email: info@orchidhotelsgroup-ng.com
Web: www.orchidhotelsgroup-ng.com