body-container-line-1

Vary Hotel Rates From Season To Season To Increase Patronage — Operators Told

By Joshua Kobby Smith
Business & Finance Vary Hotel Rates From Season To Season To Increase Patronage — Operators Told
NOV 11, 2019 LISTEN

As part of efforts at advancing tourism and increasing client patronage of hotels in the country, the Director, Project Development and Investment, Ghana Tourism Authority, Ben Anane Nsia has urged operators to consider varying their rates on different seasons.

According to him, the huge prices being charged by some hotels in Ghana has contributed to the low patronage which affects the operations.

Speaking on the theme "Reducing Hotel Rates In Ghana: the Role of Government and Hotel Players" at the 4th media launch in Accra, Mr Nsia said "Operators must play with the rates and vary them on seasonal basis. Test the market again and see whether that could increase patronage.”

He added that although there are some structural regulations that might not be implemented soon, operators must ensure that clients who patronage their services in the short term enjoy value for money.

He noted that in order to increase returns hotel operators must ensure clients get the maximum satisfaction they expected.

On how operators can reduce prices of imported contents, Mr. Nsia stressed that "If the imported content in your hotels are high, it would not help your competition to reduce price and that affects you.”

He assured the Association of the authority's effort at pushing for a reduction of the high energy rates for hotels to operate profitably.

Chairman of the Selection Committee of the Awards Scheme, Benjamin Idan noted that the awards scheme is opened to only members of the GHA who have exhibited good working standards of paying the 35 percent component of the hotel’s dues from the regional branch.

He further added that the assessment of good standing members for two to three-star categories for the awards would start from the regional branches and end with the assessment by an independent assessment team, while the four and five-star categories would be assessed directly by the independent assessment team.

Mr. Idan explained that the awards would be in 23 categories including, Front House team of the year, housekeeping team of the year, food and beverage team of the year, conference and Banqueting team of the year, green hotel of the year, most secured hotel of the year for both two and three-star category and four and five star category.

"There would also be most authentic Ghanaian hotel of the year, for all categories, budget hotel of the year, one-star hotel of the year, two-star hotel of the year, three-star hotel of the year, four-star hotel of the year and five-star hotel of the year," he mentioned.

According to him, other awards will include GHA regional branch of the year, hotelier of the year, award for outstanding contribution and life time achievement awards.

In an interview with Modern Ghana, Managing Director, iLearn Hospitality Training Centre, Jenny Adade lauded organisers of the event for sustaining it till its 4th year.

She noted that although the hotel industry has its own challenges, she is confident the awards will inspire operators and workers to do more.

"The Ghana Hotel Association is very keen at assisting hotels not increase most of their prices. The 1% levy I believe will be looked at," she stressed.

She mentioned that although the introduction of solar into Ghanaian Hotel Business is expensive, she believes it will help reduce electricity bills.

She urged the two and three-star hotels to adopt new strategies in order to compete and rub shoulders with four and five-star hotels in the country.

Joshua Kobby Smith
Joshua Kobby Smith

Journalist

body-container-line