Businesses located in the lobby of the Hilton Hotel, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia are to stop services as of the 31st of December.
The Hilton administration made the decision to temporarily close business activities in the hotel lobby because of complaints from customers said Vijay Shanker, Director of Business Development for the hotel.
There are two banks, a book store, a jewelry shop and four mobile and mobile accessory shops in the lobby currently attracting crowds explained Shanker.The hotel recognizes the services offered in the lobby are important to its guests but it has no wish to seem like a shopping mall according to Shanker.
The Hilton administration has consequently decided to limit the services to one provider he said.The Hotel will allow providers to bid for a spot in the Hilton Lobby.
The Hotel has established that one of the criteria it will be seeking is o reflect Ethiopian culture and heritage said Shanker. The hotel wants its guests to feel like they are coming into an Ethiopian hotel he explained.
The Hilton plans to renovate the lobby before the new arrangement of stalls comes into effect with the aim to create a positive first impression for travelers to Ethiopia staying at the Hotel said Shanker.
The exchange bureau of Nib International Bank is one of the services given notice two months ago. The Bank plans to discuss the issue with the hotel mangament as it doesn’t feel it was adequately explained in the notice they received said Amerga Kasa President of NIB.
The Hotel denies the allegation saying that proper explanation has been offered to all business in the notice they received according to Shanker.
Source: Addis Fortune
