A new quality hotel has opened for business on the outskirts of Awka, capital of Anambra State, with a promise to take the hospitality industry in the state to the next level.

Owned by the family of former governor, Dame Virgy Etiaba, Havilla Hotel was declared open by Governor Willie Obiano amidst cheers from the guests present at the occasion.

The hotel boasts 17 rooms, a lounge, a spacious hall, restaurant, etc. The management promises the best quality service delivery as never experienced in the state.

Declaring the hotel open for business recently, Governor Obiano praised the Etiabas for taking a plunge into the hospitality industry, saying that it was part of the developmental growth his administration preaches.

He urged Anambrarians to cultivate the attitude of investing at home in order to not only help develop the state but to also create employment opportunities.

Obiano said: “I’m here to commission this edifice because this touches on one of my key points of development, one of the enablers, and that is commerce.

“Hospitality outfit is one of the activities we want to support. Most of the hotels in Anambra State need to be upgraded to a certain level and Havilla Hotel is one of them.

“We have created an enabling enbling environment for investors to come in and they are already coming in as you can see from the number of MoU I have signed in the last one and half months and you will also see another five I will sign in the next three weeks.

“This private-owned hospitality outfits is part of the activities we support and welcome here because we have created the enabling environment for investors to come in. We already have many people coming into Anambra as we speak and most of them will stay in hotels and I believe that Havilla is one the hotels that when people stay in, they will dream dreams and be able to say very good things about Ndi Anambra.”

Describing the vision of the Etiabas, the elder Etiaba, Bar. Emeka Etiaba, said that it was in their bid to contribute to what the government is doing through accelerated provision of employment that motivated their entry into the hospitality industry.

In his words, “The edifice may be small but the dream is big. Our entrance into the hospitality industry is to contribute as much as possible to what the government is doing.

“We must contribute as much as we can to the growth of the state. Governor Obiano is known to associate with anything that will make Anambra move forward and he also believes in the saying that the young shall grow from his days as a banker.

“We want when people come into Anambra, they have the sense that the service they get in big hotels in Abuja, they can get it at Havilla in Awka. It is also our intention for tourists to feel spoilt by the services offered them here.”

Also, describing the hotel as a place to be, the youngest Etiaba son, Echezona Etiaba, said: “The motivation behind this edifice is simply service to Anambra and its environs. I left my base in Port Harcourt and decided to come down to Awka to invest because this is our home.

“This is the beginning of a great package that is why we started small. We will show you sincerity of purpose and will not disappoint you.”

Felicitating with the Etiabas, the member representing Nnewi South at the State House of Assembly, Hon. Rita Maduagwu, said that Havilla stands out amongst the hotels in Anambra, adding that the uniqueness of the hotel comes from the location.

She said: “As you can see, this place is a very calm area. So, with that, you can come here and sleep with your two eyes closed. I am excited because the director of the hotel is like a brother to me and this event is timely as Mama, Dame Virgy Etiaba, former first female governor of the state, was recently given a national honour by the President.”

Other dignitaries at the event included the Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Chinwe Nwebili, member representing Orumba South at the State House of Assembly, Hon. Nicky Ugochukwu, owner of Geogold Hotel, and former Chairman of Awka South Local Government Area, Hon. Ndubisi Nwobu, amongst others.

•Photo shows Governor Obiano cutting the tape to declare open Havilla Hotel in Awka.