Ethiopian Airlines is set to unveil US $65 million Ethiopian Skylight Five Hotel at the end of this month. This is according to the Airline’s Head of Infrastructure Planning and Development, Mr. Abraham Tesfaye.
The Head of Infrastructure Planning said the hotel whose construction started in 2016, will be officially opened to the public on January 28, 2018. The hotel is located five minutes from the Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It covers 42000 square metres with a parking lot that can accommodate more than 500 cars.
“We are striving to make Addis Ababa the main gate way to Africa. The hotel will play a significant role in boosting the tourism sector and making Addis Ababa a conference hub,” said Tesfaye.
The hotel has 373 guest rooms and three restaurants – a Chinese restaurant, an Ethiopian restaurant and a European restaurant. The hotel also has three bars – lobby bar, executive (roof top) bar and Jazz club. Twenty seven of the guest rooms are spacious suites.
The hotel also encompasses a grand ballroom which has been designed to accommodate 2,000 persons convenient for conference and wedding parties. It also has five meeting rooms that can accommodate 20-30 persons, health center that provides spa, massage and gym services, an outdoor swimming pool with a pool bar and mini golf court in the premise.
Other recreational services such as a coffee shop, ticket office, and souvenir shop are also offered in the hotel. A large kitchen, laundry and cold room are ready service.
Ethiopian airlines is reported to have provided 35 per cent financing while EXIM Bank of China provided 65 per cent of the project’s financing. In addition to promoting Ethiopian tourism, this hotel will also welcome passengers during transits, stopovers or technical delays. It is expected to generate over 400 jobs.
“Ethiopian Airlines will have a sufficient number of internationally standard hotel rooms to create an environment conducive to tourists in addition to receiving passengers during transit, stopovers or technical delays,” said Tesfaye.
The airline is also preparing to launch the construction of a second 5-star hotel. The entry into service is scheduled for 2021. It will be built on an area of 22410 metres, the hotel will have 637 rooms.