Sunlodge Hotel celebrates 50 years in hospitality

GHANA — Sunlodge Hotel celebrated its 50th anniversary, a milestone that highlights the potential of Indigenous businesses in Ghana’s hospitality industry. 

Andrew Agyapa Mercer, the Minister for Tourism, and Akwasi Agyeman, the CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority, attended the event, who commended Sunlodge for its growth in a market dominated by international chains.

Starting as an 8-room guesthouse, Sunlodge has grown into a 50-room hotel with plans for a three-star rating. 

“Our success lies in a combination of prudent financial management and strategic reinvestment,” CEO of Sunlodge Hotel Kwame Obeng-Ansong’

This approach has enabled Sunlodge to expand without over-leveraging, demonstrating financial resilience amid Ghana’s economic challenges.

Sunlodge’s financial partnerships with banks like Cal Bank and Prudential Bank played a critical role in its growth. 

The hotel also diversified its income streams, expanding into conference hosting, catering, and wellness services, which helped maintain positive cash flow during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Human capital investment was another key to Sunlodge’s success. With an 85% staff retention rate, the hotel has created a stable, experienced workforce, significantly reducing training costs. 

Technological upgrades, including a GHC 2 million (US$ 124,600) investment in a property management system, have also increased operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.

Akwasi Agyeman announced potential tax incentives for local hotels and emphasized the importance of indigenous businesses in Ghana’s tourism strategy. He outlined a plan to boost local ownership in the hospitality sector, aiming for 60% of top-rated hotels to be locally owned by 2030.

Sunlodge’s success offers a model for other local businesses, showing that indigenous companies can thrive with financial discipline, market diversification, and investment in people. 

The hotel’s ambitious five-year plan includes expanding room capacity and conference facilities, positioning it to capitalize on Ghana’s growing business tourism sector.

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