Located on one of Ghana’s most beautiful beaches and warmly characterised by a distinctly West African aesthetic, the Labadi Beach Hotel caters for corporate and leisure travellers in a way that rival players in the region can only dream of. Already renowned for dining expertise and its unique spirit of Ghanaian hospitality, the Labadi Beach Hotel is looking to expand upon its impressive arsenal by opening additional conference facilities and broadening its appeal to those in the corporate world. The quality of its efforts have been recognised by Business Destinations, awarding the Labadi Beach Best Luxury Hotel, Ghana, 2014.
This five-star establishment “stands head and shoulders above the rest,” says Labadi’s General Manager Adrian Landry, due in no small part to its focus on what the discerning professional seeks when abroad. “With regards to the corporate and business traveller, it’s important to know that Labadi Beach Hotel certainly listens to the clients’ suggestions, recommendations and requests, and swiftly aligns our property and services with their needs in this way,” he adds.
Conference hub
Each of the hotel’s 164 rooms has a unique decor and the property stays true to its roots, paying homage to West African tradition and heritage. “The tropical landscaped gardens are lush, with an extensive amount of coverage, and we’re the only hotel in Accra with direct access to a serviced beach, as well as the only one with two swimming pools and a spa,” says Landry.
Each of the hotel’s 164 rooms has a unique decor and the property stays true to its roots, paying homage to West African tradition and heritage
However, what differentiates the Labadi above all else is the hotel’s impressive range of conference and corporate facilities, which, alongside other areas of the hotel, have recently been expanded upon. The entire property has been remodelled at a cost of approximately $18m, says Landry, with the most impressive addition being a large conference centre, due to open in March this year.
“I would say the conference centre is one of our key selling points,” says Landry. “It has a 600-seater capacity, divisible into four separate rooms, which is far more than our existing conference centre, which seats 120, divisible into two rooms. Throughout the building process we have consulted numerous lighting and sound experts to ensure that the facilities match international standards, and we have equipped the centre with state-of-the-art equipment throughout.
“Having that additional space will certainly broaden our appeal for those looking to hold local and international conferences in the region,” says Landry. “A lot of work has gone into this space, which will soon be named a first-class conferencing and banqueting venue. We believe this will make us the premier facility in Accra, not only in terms of catering, but in terms of service.”
While the Labadi Beach Hotel has long existed as one of the region’s premier stopovers, the hotel continues to review its guest offering in order to better services and remain the top choice for travellers in the area. Landry points out that the brand new conference facilities of this magnitude will put the hotel on the map. “It will certainly make the hotel far more relevant in terms of competition. We will be hosting both international and local conferences and we hope to be seen as a primary conference hub in West Africa. Put simply, the project looks to raise our standards above and beyond what they were previously.”
Best in the region
The Labadi has earned a number of accolades in recent years, due in no small part to its continued efforts to expand upon existing services and facilities. Only last year, says Landry, the Ghana Tourism Authority recognised the Labadi as the best five-star hotel in Ghana, and, provided the hotel continues its current form, awards look likely to keep on coming.
The hotel and its staff are acutely aware of industry standards – both domestically and internationally – and prides itself on creating the best experience for visitors. “It’s about listening to the consumer and about making sure that the management team stays up-to-date, with regards to international press, hotel developments and industry changes. As a team, we’re familiar with the industry’s subtleties and nuances in various other parts of the world so as to remain at the forefront of any changes.”
Only last year…the Ghana Tourism Authority recognised the Labadi as the best five-star hotel in Ghana
Landry says that the expertise of staff members is crucial in differentiating the Labadi’s services from those of its competitors. “Each one of our staff sees themselves not only as an ambassador for the hotel, but as an ambassador for Ghana, and in their own way endeavours to give the traveller the most positive impression possible.”
The hotel is part of Legacy Hotels & Resorts, which has proven instrumental in raising Labadi Beach Hotel’s image and competitiveness in recent years. Under Legacy’s management, the hotel has deployed sales agents around the world who are working to promote Ghana and the hotel as a dream place to stay – this tactic has attracted parties from around the world.
As well as this, says Landry: “In terms of information, systems, technologies and standards, the Legacy Hotels Group keeps us well abreast of international changes and standards. Furthermore, the fact that the hotel is associated with numerous other premier properties in Nigeria and in South Africa certainly establishes us a part of a premier network that operates across the African continent.” It can be said with some confidence that the Labadi’s comprehensive conference facilities and close ties with Legacy Hotels & Resorts sets the hotel apart from the rest.
Surrounded by the beauty of West Africa and offering an unparalleled range and quality of services, the Labadi offers luxury, tranquility and hospitality like no other hotel in the region. No matter your reason for visiting, Ghana’s premier hotel aspires to be recognised the world over as the place “where tourists and business travellers meet and play”.
