Sheraton Lagos @40: Celebrating Decades of Hospitality, City-shaping Legacy

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For 40 unbroken years, Sheraton Lagos Hotel and Towers has continued to contribute to the growth and development of hospitality sector in Nigeria, writes Charles Ajunwa

The Moremi Hall of Sheraton Lagos Hotel and Towers in Ikeja, Lagos, was recently filled as the hotel marked its 40 years in Nigeria, celebrated together with the conference and awards organised by the Association of Nigerian Journalists and Writers of Tourism (ANJET).

Dignitaries who attended the event included former Nigerian Minister of Tourism and Culture, Ambassador Frank Ogbuewu, the immediate past Director General of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) and the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), Segun Runsewe, and Director General, National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Dr. Abisoye Fagade.

Other distinguished Nigerians were, Otunba Wanle Akinboboye, Mr. Jemi Alade, Engineer Tarzan Ganiyu Shekoni Balogun, Mr. Nkereuwem and Mrs. Abimbola Bode-Thomas, Professor of Hotel Management and Tourism, Atiba University Oyo, Prof. Wasiu Babalola, and many others.

Fagade, who was the chief host, commended Sheraton Lagos Hotel and Towers for their contributions to the growth and development of the hospitality sector in Nigeria.

NIHOTOUR boss, who joined others in cutting the hotel’s 40-year-old cake, emphasised that certification is key to tourism. On his part, Ogbuewu said, “If this country manages tourism well, we should not have a single child looking for a job. After agriculture, tourism is the biggest employer of labour, but we are still playing games, we are still telling ourselves stories.” 

Babalola, who delivered a lecture themed: ‘The Role of International Hospitality Brand in the Growth of Nigerian Tourism and Economy’, said brands like Sheraton built the foundations for today’s hospitality sector.

“In doing so, we acknowledge that while brands like Sheraton led the way, it is the people and organisations behind the scenes — the institutions and the visionaries — who turn an industry into a legacy.”

Babalola, who is Chairperson, National Technical/Mirror Committee on Tourism and Related Services Director, African Travel Commission (ATC), explained that hospitality, in its purest form, is as old as humanity itself.

According to him, early establishments like the Bristol Hotel, the Federal Palace Hotel, and later, the Eko and Sheraton Hotels, began to redefine comfort, service, and international standards in accommodation and tourism services. “Among these pioneers, one name has stood tall and enduring – Sheraton.

The Sheraton brand, born in 1937 in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA, began with a simple philosophy, to create a chain of hotels where guests could expect the same high-quality experience no matter where they were. That vision of consistency, comfort, and class spread across continents, and by the late 20th century, Sheraton had become a symbol of international hospitality excellence.

“When Sheraton Lagos Hotel and Towers opened its doors in 1985, exactly 40 years ago this year, it marked not only a new chapter in the Nigerian hospitality story but also a turning point for Lagos as an emerging global city. Strategically located in Ikeja, near the international airport, Sheraton Lagos became a gateway, the first impression of Nigeria for countless business travelers, diplomats, and tourists.

“It was more than a hotel. It was, and still is, a beacon of global standards, a training ground for professionals, and a symbol of Nigeria’s readiness to engage the world.”

He outlined Sheraton’s Lagos contributions to the Nigerian economy and standards, including pivotal roles it played in our national tourism story.

In the area of human capital and skills development, Babalola said, “One of the most significant benefits from the presence of an international brand is the development of talent. Sheraton Lagos has trained hundreds, if not thousands, of hospitality professionals, many of whom now lead hotels and institutions across Nigeria and Africa. These trained practitioners carry the ‘Sheraton standard’ into every corner of our tourism value chain.”

On benchmarking global standards, he said before the arrival of major international brands, many local hotels operated by local definitions of comfort and service.

“Sheraton Lagos introduced, from its inception, the kinds of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), quality assurance systems, hygiene regimes, guest-service protocols, and safety frameworks that are in line with global best practice. These standards have served as reference models for the broader industry in Nigeria, and indeed have fed into national standards development,” he added.

Babalola who listed economic multiplier and visibility, said the multiplier effect of Sheraton’s presence should not be underestimated. “When Sheraton Lagos attracts an international conference, foreign delegation, or business event, the local economy benefits from suppliers, catering, transport, logistics, staff employment, and ancillary services. It also places Lagos and Nigeria on the global map as a destination for business and tourism.”

Switching to institutional legacy, the guest speaker said, “Sheraton Lagos is now celebrating 40 years of service in Nigeria (1985-2025). This is not simply a milestone in years, but a testament to staying power, to resilience through economic cycles, to adapting through global pandemics and local challenges. It is this legacy that the industry must cherish and build upon.”

Moving to tourism visibility and branding, Babalola said, “For decades, Sheraton Lagos was synonymous with ‘quality stay in Nigeria’. The hotel became part of Nigeria’s brand identity, featured in travel guides, tourism campaigns, and even in the memories of international visitors who would say, ‘I stayed at the Sheraton’. This consistency of experience, of hospitality and safety, contributed immensely to Nigeria’s soft power and tourism appeal. These contributions illustrate why this gathering, and this theme, are so relevant: international hospitality brands do more than provide rooms—they shape ecosystems. And Sheraton Lagos has done exactly that.”

Speaking on the hotel’s contribution to standards development in Nigeria, he said as the Chairperson of the National Technical/Mirror Committee on Tourism and Related Services, “having been a scholar and player within the industry, I can attest that Sheraton Lagos and other international brands have played crucial roles in the development and domestication of hospitality standards in Nigeria.”

He said Sheraton’s presence elevated expectations, not only from guests but also from the entire ecosystem that supports hospitality delivery.

“Sheraton Lagos has thrived because of its unwavering commitment to people and performance. Its legacy is built on four timeless values: Service Excellence — Every guest is treated as an ambassador, Integrity and Reliability — Guests know what to expect; quality is predictable, Innovation in Experience — From culinary creativity to digital check-in solutions, and Community Engagement — Active participation in corporate social responsibility programmes, environmental sustainability, and youth empowerment.

“Even through challenging times, economic recessions, pandemics, and security fluctuations, Sheraton Lagos has remained resilient, adapting its strategies while upholding its promise of comfort and quality,” Babalola explained.

According to him, what compelled the conference and awards at Sheraton Lagos, is the synergy between brand, location and industry memory. “Sheraton Lagos celebrates 40 years. ANJET awards celebrate institutional legacies. The awardees reflect the intellectual, entrepreneurial and leadership muscle of our industry. Together, they remind us that tourism is not only about the present moment, the room booking, the conference, the tourist photo and others, but about continuity, culture, systems, standards, and enduring impact,” Babalola said.