By Melvin Tejan Mansaray, Abuja Nigeria
The Management of Top Rank Hotels Galaxy situated on Plot 245, Pow Mafemi, Off Solomon Lar Way, Utako Abuja, Nigeria on Friday 15th May, 2026 hosted a farewell dinner for its guests from the ECOWAS Parliament that have spent the last two weeks at the hotel.
Emeka Martin, General Manager Top Rank Hotels Galaxy said that the dinner is a Management culture to show appreciation to the guests for their patronizing and to create unforgettable memories.
He explained that the Hotel is moving from a Three to a Four Star status having about One Hundred and Fifty (150) Rooms and One Hundred and Twenty (120) staff.
“Our rooms are tastefully furnished. We don’t play with security especially when it comes to foreigners. We have all the gadgets and equipment – luggage scanner, CCTV and armed Police everywhere. We make sure that our guests are secured. The only thing that we want our guests to think about is to get peaceful rest and think about their next day’s job” Emeka explained.
He added that Internet service is always available with a twenty-four hours electricity no matter how much it cost.
“Last month we paid fifteen million to NEPA, now we are paying twenty-two million,” Emeka disclosed, adding that inflation has ballooned and it is seriously affecting the cost of operations.
On the secret behind the hotel’s exceptional staff-costumer relations, Emeka said:
“My staff are highly motivated. I make sure that I provide them with service charge, transportation, and I pay them well and on time.”
He explained that the Hotel promotes its staff from within its ranks, and they must have proven themselves trustworthy.
“Here we don’t bring people from outside. If you want to be a manager, you have to grow through the ranks and once that is done with a proven track record, we promote them.”
Emeka said that the Hotel is a chain across Nigeria, stating that, ” we have about fifteen (15) branches.
In Abuja alone, we have about ten (10) branches, we also have branches in Bayelsa, Enogu, Onesha, Lagos and Asaba.”
Explaining why the Management of the Hotel deemed it necessary to stage a farewell dinner for the ECOWAS Parliament Guests, Emeka said:
“The ethos behind the dinner is to appreciate the guests of the ECOWAS Parliament. They have been using this place since 2018 and they have not thought about moving. They are now part of this hotel. Every staff member knows almost all of their names, the ECOWAS Parliament Guests also know almost every staff. It will not look nice that when they are leaving we don’t get a feedback from them.
One of the reasons for the dinner is a sort of way to get their feedback on how we make them happy with improved service delivery so that by the next time they come, we can serve them better. It’s through these interactions that the Management can find out the areas that it needs to improve on. As seen by yourself, most of the guests spoke their minds freely during the dinner – that we must continue to improve in one or two areas.”
A grey area expressed by representatives of the guests was that of the discovery of rate changes, which they said although it is understandable as a result of the economic situation globally, the Management should have given them prior notice of the rate changes.
Towards this end, Emeka apologized and craved their forbearance with the announcement that shook the dinner tables and guests, with thunderous applause.
“I want to apologise to our ECOWAS guests for not giving you prior notice on the price shifts. I’m promising them that yes, there is a new rate now and we don’t normally change their rates no matter the inflation in this country. They are already our regular costumers, for over six years we made no increment. This new rate will remain for the next three years, nobody will be talking about increasing their rates again in this place, no matter what, because there is what we call ECOWAS Parliament rate. No matter what our other costumers pay, we still have a special rate for the ECOWAS guests and that is the commitment that I have given to them tonight.”
At the dinner, sumptuous food was served with a cocktail of drinks that can only be prepared by the Hotel’s excellent team of Chefs and Bartenders.
In response, Hon. Veronica Kadie Sesay, MP appreciated the Management for their thoughtfulness and gratitude, describing herself as one of the oldest ECOWAS guests that has been coming since 2018.
She appealed for more varieties of breakfast items and special preferential treatment.
“Your services are improving anytime I come to stay here. Whenever I notice issues, I will call them out to the staff because I am one of your marketers who encourage my colleagues to always come and Lodge at Top Rank Hotels Galaxy. In some ways, this is the only place that I feel comfortable whenever I’m in Nigeria, in spite of the fact that I have my relatives and friends here who always ask me to go and stay with them. Instinctively, this is a small ECOWAS Parliament wherein people from different countries and linguistic backgrounds come, stay and interact peacefully with each others without any fear but quality treatment.
The only thing, please notice us early the next time you’re changing your rates. I can understand the global economic situation. I also operate a motel in my country,” Hon. Veronica.
Music and fun chats climaxed the occasion as the ECOWAS guests were bade safe journey to their countries of origin by the Hotel’s Management and Staff.
Nigeria’s hotel and hospitality sector is Africa’s third-largest, trailing only Egypt and Morocco in hotel room development pipelines across Africa.
The sector is driven by corporate travel in major hubs like Lagos and Abuja.
The traveling and tourism industry contributes over 10% to Nigeria’s GDP, providing massive employment opportunities for hospitality professionals.
Local chains like Top Rank Hotels Galaxy and others are expanding aggressively to cater for domestic tourism, midscale corporate travelers, and the growing middle-class population.
