When it was built in 2011, The Royal Senchi Hotel and Resort became the first four-star resort in Ghana. Located in what was once the Kingdom of Akwamu, a region brimming with hundreds of years of fascinating history, the hotel is situated on the western bank of the Volta River, close to the east African region’s southern coast.
The hotel offers luxury hospitality at an optimum distance from the bustle of Ghana’s busiest cities, with a location that is remote and peaceful but still within easy commuting distance of the country’s main business hubs. Royal Senchi aims to offer accommodation that merges with the relaxed, natural environment in which it is situated, with architecture, colours and furnishings that all lend to the authentic look and feel of a luxury Ghanaian resort. Unique and fascinating features such as these have seen the hotel named as the Best Luxury Hotel, Ghana in the 2015 Business Destinations Travel Awards.
Royal Senchi invites its guests to embark upon a unique journey during their stay: the hotel’s stunning backdrop, which includes remarkable views of the neighbouring river and lake, river beaches and rolling green scenery, allows guests to escape to a destination where natural beauty, historical wonder and the promise of adventure all create a unique and memorable stay.
The hotel is remote and peaceful, but still within easy commuting distance of the country’s main business hubs
Industry experience
The four-star resort offers 84 luxurious rooms and suites that boast spaciousness, tasteful designs and deluxe amenities. Modern comforts and technologies including Wi-Fi, LED satellite TV and a complimentary mini bar are available in every room at The Royal Senchi. In addition, each guestroom features either a balcony or a terrace with a view of the river, and guests arriving at the hotel are warmly welcomed with a personalised check-in service, welcome fruits and drinks and a complimentary champagne breakfast. The hotel prides itself on its ability to offer the perfect setting for all events, from special occasions, honeymoons and anniversaries to short business trips and family holidays.
General Manager of the hotel, Roman Krabel, told Business Destinations, “The hotel has a very majestic feel to it – it’s indulgent. We offer a variety of fabulous complimentary amenities, including a free mini bar, free use of kayaks and pedalos, brand new in-room media systems, Wi-Fi, in-room espresso machines and much more. But the greatest service we offer is an important luxury in the hospitality field: we work to provide that home-away-from-home feeling so that when guests stay in the hotel, they are as comfortable as they are when they’re in their own homes.”
Krabel, originally from Germany, has been working in the hospitality industry for over 20 years. During that time he gained experience in hotels all over the world, before relocating to Ghana three years ago. His personal preference for smaller, more intimate hotels instinctively led him to the unique and naturally stunning Royal Senchi Hotel. He described the resort as “a large hotel with a boutique feel – it has 84 bedrooms and is one of the largest independent hotels in the Eastern Region of Ghana”. Krabel pinned the hotel’s overwhelming success and popularity – both in the local area and abroad – down to its remarkable ambiance, architecture and service.
“It’s a hidden gem”, Krabel said. “The Royal Senchi has continued to raise its standards over the last few months, and we will continue to develop the property as the years go by. However, we have retained the culture and the exceptional service, and everything else that makes The Royal Senchi truly special. Many hotels lose the old-school attention to detail, whereas my management style is to focus on luxury service standards. I like good old inn-keeping quality standards.”
Valued guests
The Royal Senchi Hotel has three exquisite dining areas for hotel guests to enjoy, including its flagship restaurant, The Senchi Restaurant, which serves an à la carte menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The restaurant, which offers a selection of international and Ghanaian dishes, prides itself on using locally sourced ingredients in its dishes. Guests can enjoy the scenic riverside view as they eat lunch, or take in the fairy tale sight of the hotel’s illuminated pool at dinner. For later in the evening, the hotel’s Palm Lounge offers a more exciting atmosphere for enjoying a drink or socialising with friends and colleagues. The bar’s traditional Ghanaian décor and wide selection of cocktails attract business and leisure guests throughout the week.
For guests visiting the resort on business, The Royal Senchi Hotel offers an extensive range of facilities and services to assist with any event: the ballroom is capable of hosting up to 200 guests, and an attractive outdoor space is also available to make any function complete. Presentation equipment, including overhead projectors and screens, is also available.
Krabel said, “We operate a hotel property as if it is family run within our team – that is what makes The Royal Senchi Hotel unique, and sets it apart from other hotels in Ghana.” Krabel’s focus on building and maintaining a strong reputation is a major driver behind the hotel’s overwhelming success over the past few years. He continued, “A hotel that is prestigious like The Royal Senchi, and has a unique aspect, is different from the traditional, contemporary hotels that have come on board recently. Similarly, the hotels that have been around for a long time already have an audience – but it’s important that you maintain consistency in standard. You must allow the tradition to continue throughout the hotel’s history, but also move forward on service levels and products.”
Success in Ghana’s blossoming hospitality industry is centred on constantly anticipating the needs of future guests, and striving to satisfy them. The Royal Senchi’s luxury amenities and services, including its outdoor swimming pool, expansive fitness centre, spa and salon, ensure that guests from every background, and visiting for any purpose, feel relaxed and entirely satisfied as a result of their stay.
“The biggest driver for me has always been lust for adventure and challenge”, said Krabel. “There is no greater way for one to learn than to throw [oneself] into new situations, with new cultures, people and tasks. This is why I decided to commence on a career in the hospitality business. In hospitality you meet new people and face new, exciting situations on a daily basis. You can be sure there is always something to learn, and adventures to challenge yourself with.”
For further information contact reservations@theroyalsenchi.com
