Obiano advises Hotel Owners to Upgrade or face being sealed off

New International Hotel and Conference Centre, Onitsha. One of the 4 State-of-the-Art Hotels being built by the State Government

The Anambra State Government has given directives that hotels that are not upgraded and does not conform to standards in the state will be sealed off by November 2014.

Chief Willie Obiano, the governor said this at a meeting with the Association of Hotel Proprietors in the State. He noted that with improved security in the state, there will be an inflow of people from different parts of the world for businesses hence the need to upgrade their services.

Among other things he noted that all the hotels should...

1. Install CCTV cameras at strategic places like the reception and parking lots.

2. Conduct a mandatory HIV/AIDS screening test on all the staff.

3. Take the hygiene of the rooms seriously and ensure neat and conducive environment.

4. Pay all the revenues through a streamlined source (possibly the bank) to be guided by the Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Ifeatu Onejeme; and Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Tony Onyima.

Obiano also noted that the government will organize training for the hotel staff and enjoined all the hotels to prepare for the Christmas Season.

He also noted that the Anambra State Tourism and Hospitality Bill is currently before the State  House of Assembly which when passed into law will regulate the management of all the hotels in the state; and that there will be a directory such that people can book for rooms online.

Report by Chioma Nwezi