Background
The Victoria Crown Plaza is a luxury business hotel and conference venue and for the past five years has made its mark on the Lagos hotel industry. It underwent a complete renovation in April, but has retained its ‘Old World’ elegance and style.
What’s it Like?
Personal, discreet service is the hallmark of this hotel, and that makes for an excellent supplement to the high-quality finishes. The new, well-stocked library, with its interesting decor of traditional African weaponry and artefacts, offers a quiet area in which to relax, whilst another standout feature of the hotel is the free high-speed Internet connectivity throughout the property.
Where is it?
The Victoria Crown Plaza is in the heart of Victoria Island, the business and financial capital of Lagos. Historically, it was an exclusive residential area, but business has moved in steadily over the past 20 years and today the hotel is surrounded by financial institutions and oil and gas companies. The hotel is a five-minute drive from Chevron Nigeria and just a stone’s throw from Exxon Mobil (Mobil headquarters). It is approximately 40 kilometres from Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
Room Facilities
There are 45 en suite rooms in the following categories: Classic King, Classic Twin, Studio Suite, Deluxe Suite, Executive Suite, Penthouse Suite and Presidential Suite. All the penthouse suites have a sliding door leading to a balcony, where a view of Victoria Island can be enjoyed. I checked into a Classic King room and was impressed with its size and the comfort of the king-size bed. The en suite bathroom had all the usual amenities, including separate bath and show, and a bathrobe. In the room itself, there was a luggage stand, flat-screen TV (with selected DSTV satellite channels and in-house movie channel), comfortable chair, safe, mini-bar, electric kettle (with tea and coffee), air conditioning and reading table. Other additions include 24-hour room service and 24-hour laundry service, whilst an interesting feature in the rooms is the IPTV (Internet Protocol TV) facility, with wireless keyboard provided. Further to that, the business suites, such as the Studio, Deluxe and Executive Suites are equipped with an exercise bicycle, for those guests who prefer to exercise in their rooms. The Deluxe, Executive, Penthouse and Presidential Suites come with separate rooms and feature, among others, a complimentary Full English breakfast, newspaper delivery and shoe shine service, whilst the Penthouse Suite is fitted with a jacuzzi, and the Presidential Suite has a spa bath.
Restaurants & Bars
The Alo Alo restaurant offers both traditional and international cuisine, and there is a buffet on offer from Monday to Friday, with a special buffet – usually Indian cuisine – on Thursdays. Added to that is a Friday special. For breakfast the hotel offers traditional options, such as boiled yam topped with vegetable sauce, scrambled eggs, and yam and fried plantain served with a side order of breakfast stew. There is also an executive lounge and two well-stocked bars – one next to the restaurant and the other next to the pool outside.
Meeting & Business Facilities
The Victoria Crown Plaza has six banqueting suites and one large conferencing room. Capacities range from 12 to 400, covering conferences, training events, wedding receptions, gala dinners, cocktail parties, small private functions and formal banquets. All rooms are fully equipped with cutting-edge audio-visual equipment and the same complimentary high-speed Internet connectivity enjoyed in the rooms. Various conference packages and menu options are available, on request.
Leisure & Fitness
The hotel has a well-equipped gym, swimming pool and enticing spa, which has an extensive menu of treatments.
Verdict
It’s an excellent ‘business hotel’ and ideal for the discerning corporate traveller, who is on the lookout for extreme comfort, top-notch service, privacy, security and modern facilities in which to conduct business away from home.
Contact
Tel: +234 1 271 9800, vcphotels.com
Ekundayo Kehinde