Hotel check: Transcorp Hilton Abuja

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BACKGROUND

Hilton Worldwide currently has 34 properties across Africa, in 12 countries. Whilst 10 different brands fall under the Hilton Worldwide umbrella, it’s the Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand that leads the way in Africa, with the majority of the properties. There are two DoubleTree by Hiltons in Tanzania, whilst the premium Conrad brand is only found in Egypt and more recently, South Africa, where Hilton has taken over the Pezula Resort & Spa in Knysna. The Transcorp Hilton Abuja is a 5-star hotel owned by Transnational Hotels & Tourism Services Limited, the hospitality subsidiary of Transnational Corporation of Nigeria (Transcorp).

WHERE IS IT?

In the heart of Nigeria’s capital city and about 40 minutes from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. Government and diplomatic offices are in close proximity, as is the IBB International Golf and Country Club. For shopping and relaxation, the hotel is a short distance from a host of malls and bars.

WHAT IS IT LIKE?

It’s a rather busy place, with the large hotel building also playing host to the likes of some banks and airlines. So, there’s a constant flow of traffic in and out of the hotel. With regards the décor and layout, it’s modern and contemporary.

ROOM FACILITIES

It’s a large property with 670 rooms. The hotel has guest rooms, suites and executive rooms, with the rooms varying in size from 26 to 41m2. I stayed in one of the suites – the Executive Royal Room – and it was considerably larger than one of the rooms, at 56m2. It came with a separate seating area, which consisted of a four-seater dining and sitting area (with sofa), king-size bed, work desk, safe, 27-inch flat-screen TV (with satellite channels) and large bathroom with walk-in shower. I found my suite a great fit for the business traveller on the move, particularly if you’re someone who doesn’t fancy dining in the restaurant on your own. The complimentary Wi-Fi further emphasised this point, whilst the bottle of wine and snacks on the house went down well! The bathroom was another standout feature, with large mirrors, two basins, toiletries and loads of space.

RESTAURANTS AND BARS

You won’t want for food at the Transcorp Hilton, with seven different eating options. They cover traditional Nigerian cuisine (Bukka), sports bar fare (Capital Bar), poolside dining (Fulani Pool Bar), Asian food (Oriental Restaurant), coffee shop dining (Pastry Shop), lounge dining (Piano Lounge), and a la carte Mediterranean dining (Zuma Restaurant). So, plenty of options and no danger of being stuck with the same meal every night!

MEETING AND BUSINESS FACILITIES

The Transcorp Hilton can do big functions and events, with a capacity of 1,200 in its Congress Hall, which is backed up by a fully-equipped Business Centre and Executive Secretariat. But there are also a host of other, smaller meeting options, with 24 multi-purpose rooms, all with air-conditioning, equipment and Wi-Fi Internet access.

LEISURE FACILITIES

There’s a pool, fitness centre (open 24/7), jogging path, squash, tennis, basketball and volleyball courts. Alternatively, if you’re a night owl, the Safari night club is open from Thursday to Saturday, 12:00 until morning. Nearby attractions include Aso Rock and Millennium Park.

VERDICT

A great option for a business traveller arriving in Abuja for the first time. It’s central and impressive, with all the facilities you would want. My only concern – because of its size, it doesn’t have that intimacy that some business travellers prefer, and the large amounts of traffic going in and out of the hotel, wasn’t to my liking. Otherwise, excellent.

 
CONTACT
Address:
1 Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, +234 9 220 3000, hilton.com

Afam Anyika