South-West Nigeria, comprising Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, and Ekiti States, continues to attract significant investment in the hospitality sector.
According to industry data, Nigeria ranks among the top countries in Africa for hotel development, with 48 new projects and over 7,300 rooms slated for completion in 2025.
Despite the growing supply, inflationary pressures remain a key consideration for both investors and consumers.
Lagos State recorded a headline inflation rate of 14.7% year-on-year in August 2025, the lowest in the region, while Ekiti hit 28.2%, Oyo 26.6%, Ogun 24.3%, and Osun 22.1%, according to recent reports from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the Nigerian Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS).
Within this economic context, certain hotels in the South-West stand out for their strong performance. These properties are distinguished by guest ratings, room capacity, cost per night, and strategic proximity to key commercial, cultural, and tourism landmarks. The combination of these factors has positioned some hotels as preferred choices for both leisure and business travelers, driving occupancy and brand visibility.
Let’s take a closer look at the owners behind the region’s most popular hotels and explore how their investments, strategy, and operational excellence have shaped the South-West’s hospitality landscape.
- Owner-Hamron Integrated Services
- Location-Ondo
- Hotel rating-3-star
Royal Birds Hotel & Towers, situated in the upscale Alagbaka Quarters of Akure, Ondo State, stands as one of Southwest Nigeria’s most prominent hospitality landmarks. Owned by Hamron Integrated Services Limited, a Lagos-based real estate and procurement management company, this luxury hotel represents a fusion of modern elegance and local sophistication. Commissioned under the leadership of Managing Director and CEO Hammed Adebowale Bello, Royal Birds offers guests a premium lodging experience in the heart of Akure’s administrative and commercial hub.
The hotel’s suites range from the N60,000 Ambassador Studio to the N350,000 three-bedroom Presidential Suite, each meticulously designed to balance comfort and opulence. Its strategic location gives visitors easy access to Akure’s natural attractions and business districts, making it a preferred choice for both leisure travelers and corporate guests.
Bello, an economics graduate of Covenant University and seasoned entrepreneur, founded Hamron Integrated Services in 2017, expanding it into real estate, power equipment, and insurance procurement.
- Owner-Hon. Lasun Sulaimon Yusuf
- Location- Osun
- Hotel rating- 4-star
Yusuf Sulaimon Lasun, a seasoned Nigerian politician and engineer, is the proprietor of LAIM Hotel Osogbo, a luxury hospitality property that officially opened in July 2021 in Osun State’s capital.
The hotel, designed to cater to both business and leisure travelers, features 11 premium ‘Wumi Suites’ with living rooms, royal bedrooms, ensuite bathrooms, mini freezers, Wi-Fi, personal safes, luxury spas, and balconies overlooking the swimming pool and city. An additional 86 Diplomatic Rooms are outfitted with modern amenities, including selfie mirrors with lights, hairdryers, and shaving kits, positioning the property among the most upscale accommodations in the region.
Lasun pursued his early education in Osun State before earning a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Ibadan. He subsequently obtained a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and is a chartered engineer.
Lasun’s political trajectory includes his tenure as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives from 2015 to 2019, representing the Irepodun/Olurunda/Osogbo/Orolu Federal Constituency. He has held leadership positions within the Unity Party of Nigeria, the Alliance for Democracy, and the All Progressives Congress, before joining the Peoples Democratic Party.
- Owner: Otunba Gbenga Daniel
- Location – Abeokuta, Ogun
- Hotel rating- 4-star
Otunba Gbenga Daniel, one of Nigeria’s foremost politicians and entrepreneurs, is the owner of Conference Hotel & Suites, a 5-star luxury hotel located in Abeokuta, Ogun State. The hotel was commissioned in 2019 by Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, following its closure for several years under the administration of former Governor Ibikunle Amosun.
Conference Hotel & Suites offers a range of well-appointed rooms and suites, world-class dining, a fitness centre, and modern conference facilities. Room rates start at N120,000 per night for a Deluxe Room and go up to N460,000 per night for the Presidential Suite.
Otunba Gbenga Daniel attended Baptist Boys’ High School, Abeokuta, before earning a degree in Engineering from the University of Lagos. He began his professional career in the private sector before founding Kresta Laurel Limited in 1990, an electro-mechanical engineering company specializing in elevators, cranes, and industrial systems.
Daniel served as Governor of Ogun State from 2003 to 2011, during which he implemented Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiatives that attracted investments to the state. He is currently the Senator representing Ogun East, a position he assumed in 2023. His ownership of the Conference Hotels chain, which includes branches in Ijebu-Ode, Sagamu, Abeokuta, and Isheri in Lagos.
- Owner-Femi Babalola
- Location- Ibadan
- Hotel rating- 4-star
Jogor Hotel was founded by Engr. Olufemi Babalola, who serves as the CEO and Chairman of the JOGOR Group of Companies. A prominent figure in Ibadan, Nigeria, Engr. Babalola has made his mark in both the real estate and hospitality sectors.
The original JOGOR Centre, an indoor event centre, was established in 2005, laying the foundation for his ventures in hospitality. The hotel itself celebrated its second anniversary in late 2025, indicating it officially opened around late 2023.
Located in the heart of Ibadan, Oyo State, Jogor Hotel has quickly become a premier destination for both business and leisure travelers. The property features 101 rooms across multiple categories and three meeting rooms, combining contemporary African comfort with modern luxury. Amenities include fully air-conditioned rooms with orthopedic and spring mattresses, smart TVs with satellite channels, complimentary breakfast, 24-hour room service and electricity, daily housekeeping, a business centre, and laundry services. Room rates start at N130,000 per night and can go as high as N500,000 per night
Babalola earned a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Ibadan. After completing his National Youth Service in Ibadan, he worked with a consulting engineering firm and later founded Pentagon Concepts in 1991.
- Owner-Dr Stanley Ifeanyi Uzochukwu
- Location-Lagos
- Hotel rating-5-star
The Delborough Lagos is the flagship hospitality venture of Dr Stanley Ifeanyi Uzochukwu, a Nigerian entrepreneur and founder of the Stanel Group.
He is credited with turning the hotel, located at Plot 1502 Bishop Aboyade Cole Close, Victoria Island, Lagos, into a premier luxury destination, backed by a governing board of high‑profile traditional monarchs, legal luminaries and business leaders.
Under Uzochukwu’s leadership, the hotel has rapidly gained acclaim for its elevated standards and international appeal.
Opened in late 2023, The Delborough Lagos is a five‑storey, 5‑star boutique luxury hotel designed to “export African hospitality to the world.”
Within its first year, the hotel reportedly hosted more than 16 Presidents and numerous global dignitaries, underscoring its ambition and capacity.
The Delborough Lagos has since received notable industry recognition, winning titles including “Best New Luxury African Hospitality Brand” and “Best Luxury Lifestyle Boutique Hotel Nigeria & Africa” at the Seven Stars Luxury Hospitality Awards 2025.
- Owner-. Gilbert and Ronald Chagoury
- Location-Lagos
- Hotel rating- 5-star
Eko Hotels & Suites, established in 1977 as Eko Holiday Inn, is one of Nigeria’s most iconic and expansive hospitality landmarks. Located on Victoria Island, Lagos, the hotel was designed by renowned architect Oluwole Olumuyiwa.
It is owned by the Chagoury Group, a Nigerian-Lebanese conglomerate led by brothers Gilbert and Ronald Chagoury, whose diverse business empire spans construction, manufacturing, real estate, healthcare, and hospitality.
The hotel features 824 elegantly furnished rooms spread across four properties: Signature, Eko Suites, Eko Hotel, and Eko Gardens, offering guests city or sea views. Room rates range from N240,000 to N1.1 million per night, based on the hotel’s booking packages.
- Owners- Ikeja Hotel
- Location-Lagos
- Hotel rating –5-star
Ikeja Hotel Plc has steadily grown its footprint in Nigeria’s hospitality sector through the strategic development and acquisition of hotel and tourism properties.
As a key player in the industry, the company owns landmark hospitality assets, including Sheraton Lagos Hotel, Sheraton Abuja Hotel, and holds a significant stake in the Federal Palace Hotel & Casino.
Chief Anthony Idigbe, SAN, is the current Chairman of Ikeja Hotel Plc, the company that owns and operates the Sheraton Lagos Hotel. He succeeded Mr. Goodie Minabo Ibru, according to reports from Proshare.
The board of Ikeja Hotel Plc also includes Mr. Toke Alex Ibru, Mr. Ufuoma Ibru, Mr. Alexander Thomopulos, Mr. Kunle Aluko, Alhaji Abatcha Bulama, and Dr. Waheed Olagunju, as noted in the company’s official filings.
While these hotels are operated under global brands such as Marriott International, the physical assets are owned or significantly controlled by Ikeja Hotel Plc, a publicly listed company on the Nigerian Exchange.
- Owner-Taiwo Afolabi: Founder, CEO SIFAX Group
- Location-Lagos
- Hotel rating- 5-star
The Lagos Marriott Hotel Ikeja is owned by Mac-Folly Hospitality Limited, a subsidiary of Nigeria’s SIFAX Group, and is managed by Marriott International.
Dr. Taiwo Olayinka Afolabi is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of SIFAX Group, a Nigerian conglomerate with operations spanning maritime, aviation, logistics, oil and gas, and hospitality.
He established the company in 1988, guiding its transformation from a modest freight business into one of West Africa’s most prominent integrated service providers.
Located in the heart of Ikeja GRA on a 7,000-square-meter site, the 251-room, seven-story hotel was completed in May 2021, following a groundbreaking ceremony in 2014. Designed by G1 Architecture and constructed by Dori Construction and Engineering, the hotel blends contemporary design with global luxury standards.
Room rates range from approximately N583,635 ($378) for standard rooms to N3.9 million ($2,539) for the Presidential Suite. The hotel offers a full suite of amenities, including a grand ballroom for up to 1,000 guests, executive lounges, and a business center with boardrooms and meeting spaces.
- Owner-Alhaji Tajudeen Owoyemi: Founder, Chairman, Avalon Intercontinental Nigeria Ltd
- Location-Lagos
- Hotel rating- 5-star
The Radisson Blu Hotel, Lagos Ikeja is a stylish, modern hotel owned by Avalon Intercontinental Nigeria Limited and managed by the Radisson Hotel Group. Conveniently located just 5km from Murtala Muhammed International Airport, the hotel features 155 contemporary guestrooms, including 17 loft-style suites, designed for both business and leisure travelers.
Alhaji Tajudeen Owoyemi is the founder and chairman of Avalon Intercontinental Nigeria Limited, a leading hospitality group in Nigeria. Under his leadership, the company has developed and managed prominent hotels. It opened in October 2016, was rebranded to Radisson Blu as of January 1st, 2018.
By Deborah Dan-Awoh
