Ahmed Raza, District Director of the Radisson Hotel Group in Nigeria and General Manager of Radisson Blu Anchorage Hotel Lagos VI, has raised concerns over the operational pressures, infrastructure deficiencies and unregulated Airbnb activities accompanying Lagos’ rapidly growing festive tourism season.
Speaking during the Naija7Wonders Zoom Conference 3.0 on the theme: “Festivals & Tourism in Nigeria: A New Pathway,” Raza said the explosive growth of “Detty December” has brought both opportunities and challenges for the hospitality industry.
According to him, hotels face enormous pressure during the festive season as guest expectations rise sharply amid high occupancy levels. He explained that staffing, security, maintenance, service recovery, food supply and response times become more critical during peak periods when hotels are operating near full capacity. “It is no longer meals; it is feasts. Families come in with very high expectations, and hotels must ensure every aspect of service delivery is right,” he said.
Raza disclosed that although his hotel recorded exceptionally high occupancy levels during the festive season, sustaining service quality required extensive operational planning and resource management. He also highlighted airport congestion as one of the first negative experiences many tourists encounter upon arriving in Lagos. “The challenges start from the airport. Long immigration lines, pickup chaos, and delays create poor first impressions for visitors,” he noted.
The hospitality executive further addressed the growing influence of Airbnb-style accommodations in Lagos, warning that many operators function without proper regulation or security oversight. According to him, several short-let operators charged excessive rates during the festive season without providing commensurate service quality. He revealed that many Airbnb facilities “fell flat” during the 2025 festive season because guest experiences did not justify the prices charged.
Raza also linked some unregulated short-let apartments to security concerns in upscale Lagos neighbourhoods such as Banana Island and Ikoyi. “A lot of apartments in Banana Island were turned into Airbnbs, and security-related incidents occurred. That is why some areas have now placed restrictions or outright bans on such operations,” he explained. He stressed that hospitality businesses must strike a balance between crowd volume and service quality, insisting that sustainable tourism growth depends more on guest satisfaction than short-term profits.
“I am not interested in simply filling hotels. I am more interested in ensuring we have the right guests and provide the right experience,” he said. Raza also cautioned against aggressive pricing wars in Lagos, noting that the city remains a value-sensitive market compared to major international gateway cities. He called for stronger destination planning, improved infrastructure, better security systems, enhanced air connectivity, and sustainable tourism strategies to ensure that Lagos maintains its momentum as a leading African tourism destination.
