By Justina Okpanku
Abuja Continental Hotel formerly Abuja Sheraton is not new to diners with good taste. Not a few have regaled their culinary experience at its Papillon Restaurant which is easily one of the most- visited restaurants in the country.
Abuja residents who indulge in eat-out obviously find the hotel situated at Ladi Kali street in Wuse alluring. It’s for a good reason.
Stylishly decorated Papillon restaurant is quiet. The food is good.
At present, the new hotel owners and management are still wooing customers with their offerings to boost Iftar experience.
The news is, the hotel is raising the bar in it’s service delivery as Muslims prepare to celebrate the end of yet another Islamic programme.
One of the halls in the hotel was converted to a special space for Muslims to observe their prayers and have exciting culinary experience.
The hotel’s management created an exceptional buffet featuring; authentic Middle Eastern & Nigerian Halal delights, slow-roasted lamb, spiced rice and handmade samosas, falafel and warm, fluffy bread, Arabic sweets, fresh dates and saffron-infused treats, as well as refreshing hibiscus and tamaring drinks to break the fast.
With the enchanting scent of Haramain Golden Oud, guests after performing their salats in a dedicated area returned to their tables savouring the meal while experiencing the essence of Ramadan with live streaming from Mecca.
Group General Manager, Continental Hotels, Karl Hala, said the offering is part of their plans to bring back the legacy of the former hotel (Sheraton Hotel).
“We are here to better the hospitality industry and we are here to show this by example. Of course, you want to bring back the legacy of the former hotel. It is now the Abuja Continental. But to steer it in a direction of being a landmark beyond Abuja, beyond Nigeria.”
Hala disclosed that Continental Hotels investment in the hotel shows they have come to stay in Abuja so that “ Abuja can say it does have a Continental Hotel. It does have a landmark place which is comparable beyond.”
Nothing that Abuja being the capital of the country is the place to be for convention and meetings and the hotel is being positioned for that with investment in convention facilities.
“We have almost two and a half thousand square metres of convention in the Ladi kwali where we are building on because we believe we will turn this into a congress centre. Abuja is the place to meet. It doesn’t matter from which direction. We want to be there for that.
“Ladi Kwali Conference centre is like the Taj Mahal of convention centres. The lobby is shining. All the convention areas have new carpets, new lightening, everything brought in. From the air conditioning to the walls, new toilets, name it.
Karl Hala continued, “We have the space, the best of audiovisual and the meeting facilities here are of international standards.
“No matter the size of the meeting, we’re committed to sending everyone home inspired. Whether there are just a few of you getting together to collaborate, or you’re hosting a major event, we can offer you the right fit in the right place.”
Hala added “We have added three extra dimension rooms already. We converted the two casinos into meeting rooms and there was the Elephants bar before it was converted. We’re going further in tower two where there were the gallery of shops that will be turned into conference rooms as well.”
Speaking on the renovation of the three towers in the hotel, he said “ the second entrance we are building is monumental. We started it. Everybody can see we are promising and we’re actually delivering the new facades outside with the orange colour to make the hotel stand out. As you can see the entire hotel will be tiled in this colour.
“So, it’s trendy. All the open atrium will be domed in, fully ventilated. So, from Tower 1, 2, 3, you can walk, you can sit. We will delight everybody with areas where you can meet, sip a coffee and meet a friend.”
“So we are going to have more areas for our customers to meet and greet their friends and colleagues and business associates. And it’s going to be good.”
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