Ghanaians urged to spur COVID-19 recovery of hospitality industry at Soprano Restaurant relaunch
The Management of the La Villa Boutique Hotel has relaunched the Soprano Restaurant with a call on Ghanaians to aid the recovery of the local hospitality industry from the effects of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) through patronage.
According to the Chairman of the Hotel, Mr Nii Amaa Ollennu, Ghana's hospitality industry is still reeling from the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic which ground operations to a halt in March and would require patronage from Ghanaians to stimulate economic recovery and secure jobs.
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Speaking to GraphicOnline on the sidelines of the relaunch last Saturday in Accra, Mr Ollenu said he was optimistic that the local community can sustain the rebirth of the hospitality industry if hotel owners pay more attention to the needs of Ghanaian residents.
He said: "Some of us, hotel owners, we have forgotten about the local community; Ghanaians and people living in Ghana. This is because it was easy to get people from abroad to fill up the hotel.
"But, we have realised that we need to work more with the local community and that is why we are not launching our rooms but launching the restaurant for the meantime. You need to be optimistic but realistic, the (Coronavirus) here are very low so there is a market because Ghanaians are still patronising hospitality services. You need to go after that market but cautiously, we didn't invest a huge amount of money, we refurbished in a very simple way".
Soprano launch
In brief comments before the Restaurant was reopened to guests including the Italian Ambassador to Ghana, Daniela d'Orlandi, Mr Ollennu said the refurbished Soprano would hold its own against the giants of the hospitality industry in Ghana.
The Team Lead and Finacial Controller of the Hotel, Mr Shivaji Amankwah disclosed that restaurant seats over 30 persons and is open to all Ghanaians.
He disclosed that as part of the relaunch, a new Chef had been recruited to prepare continental, Italian and Meditteranean dishes for guests.
"We open for breakfast around 6.30 am and close at 12pm on a weekly basis. We also do deliveries and room service to guests in the hotel".
Other guests at the launch included the President of the Ghana Olympic Committee, Ben Nunoo Mensah, Program Manager at Ministry of Business Development, Office of the President Kojo Frempong and members of the diplomatic corps.