President of the Ghana Hotels Association, Dr. Edward Ackah Nyamikeh Junior says a large number of hotels are yet to to recover from the shocks of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Speaking to Joy Business on the sidelines of the signing ceremony of the 5th Ghana Hotels Association Awards 2020 between the Hotels Association and Customer Service Africa, he said chunk of the hotels have not been able to meet even half of the pre-Covid-19 occupancy rate.

“We had a big boost in 2019 because of the ‘Year of Return’ and the simple assessment is that we are far from getting to the pre-Covid-19 occupancy rate, very far from there. Of course, we appreciate that we have membership all over the country…some are doing quite okay, but the majority are still struggling with occupancy. Some as low as 30%, 40%, a few are doing above 50%,  but generally we are nowhere near where we were in 2019”.

Dr. Nyamikeh Jnr. also lamented about lack of government support for the hospitality industry, thus calling for the needed support to revive the industry.

“We keep reminding government of its need to support the industry more. In 2020 in the heat of the pandemic [Covid-19], so much debt were created in the operations of the hotels…government support has not been what we would have wished for, it has not been where we want it to be.”

“I’m sure, you are aware of the challenges of the NBSSI, recently another 55 million specifically for the hotel industry has been announced. The deadline for the application ended 11th August, we are still waiting for that money”, he explained.

He mentioned that member of the Ghana Hotels Association are yet to obtain the stimulus package, saying “I can say on authority that we have not received what we think would be enough to get the business back on its feet.”

The partnership with Customer Service Africa is targeted at raising 250,000 to aid in the organization of the awards.

Executive Director of Customer Service Africa who doubles as Brand Ambassador of the Ghana Hotels Association Awards, Priscilla Wellington Asante called on industry players described the expected award as one that will boost the members of the hotels association to do more and grow their businesses.

The 5th Ghana Hotel Association Awards is set to be launched in October under the theme “Resilience and Sustainability of hotels in Ghana”.