Chairman of Avalon Intercontinental Limited, owners of the new Renaissance Ikeja Hotel and some Protea hotels in Lagos, Alhaji Tajudeen Owoyemi, has declared that The Sun Hospitality Man of the Year 2016 award would spur him to do more in the industry.

Speaking yesterday when a delegation led by the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of The Sun Publishing Limited, Mr. Eric Osagie, visited to intimate him of his award, Owoyemi said as a big player in the hospitality industry, a recognition from a reputable organisation as The Sun would serve as a springboard to contribute more to the socio-economic development of the country. The Avalon chairman said much still needed to be done in the hospitality industry, declaring that his belief in Nigeria motivated him to make investments, running into billions of naira in hotel businesses.

He revealed that it took him six years to complete the new Renaissance Ikeja Hotel, which started business recently, saying that more investments in the hospitality industry will not only create employment and contribute to economic growth, but also put Nigeria on the map.

He thanked The Sun for recognising excellence, saying that for the newspaper to spot him out, when he had shied away from limelight, showed the meticulous nature of the selection process of The Sun Awards.

Speaking earlier, Osagie stated that Owoyemi was unanimously voted winner of the Hospitality Man of the Year 2016 award by The Sun Board of Editors in recognition of the great mark he has made in the country’s hospitality industry.

He underlined Owoyemi’s innovations and commitment to the development of the nation’s hospitality industry as well as creation of employment and wealth as some of the things that singled him out for the award.

The MD noted that having built “Avalon International, an indigenous company with huge investments in the hospitality sector, from the scratch, the firm has, over the years, grown steadily into a top player in Nigeria’s hospitality industry.”

According to him,  Owoyemi’s chains of hotels have carved a niche for themselves through world-class facilities., while noting that the company boasts of eminent global hotel brands, such as Protea, located on Victoria Island and Ikeja, Lagos; Renaissance Ikeja Hotel (by Marriott International)  and Avalon Hotel, Offa, Kwara State, among others.

Osagie invited Owoyemi to personally attend The Sun awards scheduled for February 18, 2017, in Lagos.