A formidable team
The West African arm of the group, BON Hotels International West Africa, which oversees operations in Nigeria, is spearheaded by a formidable team. Founder of Protea Hotels and the doyen of African hospitality, executive chairman Otto Stehlik; Bernard Cassar, ex Africa director for Protea Hotels who pioneered the expansion of Protea Hotels in Nigeria over the past 18 years; as well as Pieter Bekker, ex Protea regional director in Nigeria, and director responsible for operations, who has lived and worked in Nigeria for over 10 years fostering relationships with hotel staff and owners.
The final board member is BON Hotels’ founder and CEO, Guy Stehlik, whose entrepreneurial nature and perceptive commercial ability has been the firm foundation of his success and for the strategic development of BON Hotels and its continued expansion throughout all of Africa.
BON Hotels is a strong contender in the African hotel management space. “With Nigeria being more than ready for tourism and economically viable - the powerhouse of Africa, she offers huge potential in the hospitality landscape,” Stehlik explains. The company offers expertise of an international standard in their approach to hotel management, property openings, new builds or the upgrade of existing properties, with the specific needs of hotel owners front of mind. BON Hotels has been embraced for its fresh perspective in the African hospitality sector.
Gregory Ozegbe, chairman of Africa Alliance Group, who is engaged in a joint venture agreement with BON Hotels on new projects, shares the vision for Africa. “It is our primary focus, and we are positioned with the support of our shareholders and strategic partners across the world, to embark on the most ambitious expansion in the history of any country in Africa, to build first class 4 and 5 star international standard hotels in thirty-seven locations in Nigeria, and in at least thirty locations in countries in Africa over the next 10 years.”
Over the past year, BON Hotels has undertaken an aggressive rebranding and refurbishment campaign of their hotels in Nigeria, with creative input from Delta Design Studio, a specialist hospitality interior design, and procurement company. The hotels will be positioned as international 4-star, boutique-style, full-service hotels, at affordable prices, offering personal, friendly and efficient service that is synonymous with BON Hotels’ operating standards.
1. BON Hotel Grand Towers
2. BON Hotel Stratton Asokoro - refurbished and rebranded
3. BON Hotel Abuja - refurbished and rebranded
4. BON Hotel Delta
5. Protea Hotel Ikeja - refurbished and operated by BON Hotels
6. Protea Hotel Victoria Island - refurbished and operated by BON Hotels
7. BON Hotel Apo
8. BON Hotel Ekiti
9. BON Hotel Owerri
Commenting on the refurbishment plan, Stehlik says, “Our strategy is to be competitive in our offering, service delivery, and price – to create a four-star standard international Nigerian hotel chain, a tourism circuit, if you will, that caters to all markets - the inter-regional businessman, the international and Nigerian local traveller, tourists and the leisure sector, with alternatives, designed to meet their requirements.”
Stehlik adds that they have rolled out the upgrades with minimum fuss - the hotels are operating as usual with all staff and general managers remaining in place. The group is also committed to training and empowerment of local Nigerians and significant social investment with their BONangels platform that is focused on supporting local communities through charity drives and events.
Industry stalwart and familiar face to the African hospitality industry, Bernard Cassar, director of BON Hotels International West Africa, says, “With many larger groups exiting their business interests in Nigeria, we believe that now is the time to support the country that has given us decades of success and we will continue to add value to the local hospitality industry, our guests, our staff, suppliers, the communities in which we serve, and of course our owners.”
With nine hotels across five cities in Nigeria and the potential of 36 states with their own cities and towns, Nigeria has endless opportunities. Together with new acquisitions in East Africa – in Uganda and Ethiopia - and continued growth prospects throughout the continent to add to their South African and Namibian portfolio, the African sky is the limit.
