UYO – The Akwa Ibom State Government has signed an agreement with American leisure and hospitality company, Starwood International, for the management of its four-point Sheraton Hotel under construction at Ikot Ekpene.
The agreement was signed by the Special Duties Commissioner, Mr Emmanuel Enoidem and Starwood’s Vice-President, Mr Hassan Ahdab on Friday in Uyo.
The new 128 standard rooms, 16 suits, two presidential suits, 12-story hotel under construction and being handled by Renaissance Construction Group, is scheduled for inauguration in March 2015.
“The signing of the agreement is another milestone for Akwa Ibom people and the building of the four-point hotel is to strengthen our hospitality industry in the state.
“The construction of the hotel is already ongoing. We are on the seventh floor now and we are expected to commission the hotel on March 31, 2015,” Enoidem said.
According to him, Ikot Ekpene’s location for the hotel stemmed from its strategic contributions as one of the oldest cities in the state.
“It is not only known as a raffia city but it is an archival centre for Akwa Ibom State.
“The project is sited at where the former Ikot Ekpene Prison was located which we had pulled down and relocated to another area.
“So, the hotel will turn the place of grief to a place of joy because this government came with a determination to turn our sorrow to an uncommon joy,” Enoidem said.
He said the government had decided to create an enabling environment for the private sector to play key role in the economy of the state.
Enoidem said the hotel would be managed by the private sector as a way of turning the state from a civil service to a private sector driven economy.
Earlier, the Vice-President of Starwood international, thanked the government for the trust in his company.
Ahdab assured that the company would continue to support the government for the development of leisure and hospitality industry.
He also lauded Gov. Godswill Akpabio for the massive transformation of the state through infrastructure development.
NAN further reports that the Le’ Meridien Hotel and Golf Resort in the state are currently managed by Starwood International. (NAN)
