Background
A popular conference venue and one of only two 5-star hotels in Accra, Labadi Beach Hotel is a Legacy Hotels & Resorts property. Legacy is a South African-based group of four and 5-star hotels, resorts and lodges, with properties in South Africa, Namibia, Ghana, Gabon and Nigeria.
Where Is It?
Situated in tropical gardens adjacent to Labadi Beach, the hotel is approximately seven kilometres from both Kotoka International Airport and the Accra CBD. The drive from the airport can take as little as 15 minutes or much longer, depending on traffic.
Rooms
The hotel has 164 rooms, made up of Super Double, Super Twin, Luxury Double and wheelchair-accessible rooms, as well as Superior and Executive suites and two Presidential suites. All the rooms and suites have individually-controlled air-conditioning, a flat-screen TV with 15 satellite channels, mini-bar, tea and coffee-making facilities, direct-dial telephones, a hairdryer, razor point, in-room safes and a balcony. I was accommodated in a Superior Double room that was large in size with an equally-comfortable en-suite bathroom. Tiled floors made for a cool reception after a long day in the Accra humidity, and I was appreciative of the golf cart transport from reception. The wing of the hotel I stayed in had its own security access, adding another layer for those travellers who are more security conscious. The room itself was comfortable, with a king-size bed, work desk and sitting area consisting of a couple of chairs and a coffee table. Most importantly, the complimentary Wi-Fi was quick and easy to use, whilst the bathroom featured a nice, big rain shower and a deep bath, along with a single basin, toilet and closest space. All in all, a very functional room for a corporate traveller on the move.
Restaurants & Bars
The Akwaaba Restaurant is open all day and serves a full English breakfast as well as an extensive buffet for both lunch and dinner. I enjoyed my breakfast of scrambled eggs and bacon, although there was an offering more extensive than my simple selection – plenty of hot and cold options, yoghurt, cereal, fruit, juice, water, tea and coffee. I found the room a little dark, but the air-con was welcome. For dinner I opted for the seafood cocktail starter, which had a delicious sauce, whilst my main course was the fish that was done in a tasty mushroom sauce. I threw in a couple of slices of gammon from the carvery and was overall very happy with my selection. There were plenty of desserts on offer, but I didn’t partake. Overlooking the swimming pool, the Terrace Bar is a casual, al Fresco venue ideal for a lunch time break or sundowner, and it is open between 10h00 and 22h30. The Cocktail Bar and Lounge in the lobby area is a popular spot for business meetings and seemed busy and buzzing with people throughout my stay. It’s open 24 hours a day and everything from tea, coffee and cold drinks to a midnight snack are available.
Meeting & Conference Facilites
The feature of Labadi’s conferencing facilities is the recently-opened Omanye Conference Centre, which can accommodate 600 delegates and has really beefed up what the hotel has to offer. The facility is fully air-conditioned, has state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment, and can be converted into four break-away rooms, with a foyer and bar. The facility is ideally-suited to business meetings, conferences, presentations, fashion shows, cocktail parties, dinners, and wedding receptions.
Leisure
The hotel has recently refurbished its gym and constructed an additional pool and luxury spa that overlooks Labadi Beach, which guests have private access to. There’s also a volleyball court and two tennis courts. Otherwise, the main pool is the centrepiece and the prime place in which to relax, should you have some leisure time available.
Verdict
A great corporate travel option, with an excellent location next to the beach, great food offering and overall comfortable surrounds, along with a now even more impressive conferencing offering.
Dylan Rogers
Contact
Address: No. 1 La Bypass, Accra
Tel: +233 30 2772501
Email: labadi@legacyhotels.com
Web: www.legacyhotels.co.za