… Uzodimma, Hilton Group director inspect on going renovation work
Baring any unforeseen circumstances, the keys to the completely rebuilt and furnished Imo Concorde Hotel, Owerri to international standard, will be handed over to the global chain hotel manager, Hilton Group to manage as the latter and the Imo State government have entered into a pact for that purpose.
Hilton Group Senior Director Development for Europe, Middle East and Africa, Ms. Nida Sozugecer was in Owerri, the Imo State capital on Friday, November 22, to sign the necessary documents contained in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Imo State government for the handover of the management of Concorde Hotel to her team.
Governor Hope Uzodimma signed for the Imo State government in the presence of the Deputy Governor, Lady Chinyere Ekomaru, the Secretary to the Government of Imo State, Chief Cosmas Iwu, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Barr. Nnamdi Anyaehie, the Commissioner for Tourism, Barr. Jerry Egemba, the Commissioner for Information, Public Orientation and Strategy, Hon. Declan Emelumba, the Principal Secretary to the Governor, Dr. Mrs. Irene Chima and other top government officials.
Earlier before the dotted lines in the MOU were signed off by both parties, Ms Sozugecer and the Governor, accompanied by other government officials, had inspected the ongoing renovation work at the Concorde Hotel Owerri built in 1979.
The contractors, Roycon Engineering, took them round the edifice and entertained queries from the Hilton Group representative on everything they are doing.
At the Governor’s Conference Room in Government House where the MOU was signed, Uzodimma regretted that the Concorde Hotel was criminally ran down by successive governments in Imo State, a situation that necessitated the complete rebuilding of the edifice.
Governor Uzodimma who said the project will cost about N19 billion noted that 30 per cent down payment had already been made and that by next week, another 30 per cent payment would be effected.
Though he said the original projection was for the hotel to be fully rebuilt in 12 months, the Governor hinted that the contractors have promised to hands off from the project in nine months.
Governor Uzodimma who said he was proud to sign the MOU on behalf of the government, because he wants to nurture the project to fruition, added that he will be prepared to take full responsibility for what he signed.
He thanked Sozugecer for taking the pains to personally visit Imo State for the signing of the MOU and expressed gratitude to the Hilton Group for considering Imo State as one of their business destinations.
The Governor further expressed confidence that the coming of Hilton Group to Imo, and in competition with Marriott, will boost economic activities in the State, help create employment opportunities and enhance tourism potential which Imo is already a pace setter in the country.
Governor Uzodimma is optimistic that the coming of the Hilton Group and Marriott will fill the gap created by the absence of hotels of global standards in Imo for which most oil companies doing business in the State in particular, and Nigeria in general, complain are not always available for their use.
Earlier in her brief remarks at the inspection of the ongoing renovation work and during the MOU signing, Sozugecer said that the Hilton Group is excited to be in Owerri, Imo State and could not wait to reap from the benefits which doing business in this part of the country portends.