In our exlcusive series on Hotels, we caught up with Juba Grand Hotel’s Head of marketing and sales, Ashley Das.
The crisis has adversely affected businesses, how have you managed to stay afloat?
As a landmark hospitality provider Juba Grand Hotel has been part of the Juba landscape for the past seven years our guests feel safe and treat Juba Grand as their home, many return time and time again. We continued to provide services throughout and our guests have remained loyal.
Many Hotels have slashed rates by upto 50%, have you followed suit?
Our rates have remained competitive, as with any market there will be fluctuations and particularly as more hotels open.
What customer loyalty programmes does Juba Grand have?
We have corporate agreements with our long standing customers. Customer loyalty programmes are not known to the South Sudan market but we foresee them opening up in the future.
Word is rife that Juba Grand Hotel is opening a new Hotel, how true is that?
We are currently constructing an exciting new 5 star hotel and hope to launch in the very near future. This will add to our hotel offerings and complement the Juba Grand Hotel.
There is a joke that, there are more Hotels than shops in Juba. The Hotel industry is truly competitive,how do you cope?
We are very positive about the growth of the Juba market and see huge potential into the future, if you look at how other new markets developed particularly Dubai and what can happened over a five to ten year period ! International investors are looking for new markets and see Juba and South Sudan as a very viable option.
Your gym and aerobics is a favorite in Juba, what is you secret?
It is simple – our friendly staff and warm ambience offers an exciting experience. We are the first to launch aerobics classes in Juba and everyone is excited to get involved. People are becoming more health conscious and understanding the value of exercise to both the mind and body.
What foods does your restaurant offer?
We have two restaurants; the Asmara Buffet Restaurant offering the best buffe.t in town and the Adok poolside restaurant which offers an a la carte menu. Over the weekend we offer a barbeque menu next to the poolside and on a Saturday evening our outdoor barbeque by the fountain is lengendary!
Apart from accommodation, what other services does Juba Grand offer?
We offer conferencing and banqueting services, a fully equipped gymnasium, spa and health center, barber shop and business center – every possible offering for the business traveler. We also have a small gift shop, travel desk and our front office can arrange taxi services if required.
What are the rates for your services?
Our rates vary and are based on the guests requirement, the number of nights of stay and the number of pax being offered. We endeavour to tailor our offering for individual needs.
Juba Grand is a favorite for conferences, why is that so?
We believe it is because we tailor make the conference package based on individual needs, we are flexible and can cater for large groups at sometimes short notice. Our outdoor facilities are truly the only in Juba and our kitchen can cater for continental, local and a variety of international dishes. We have a variety of conference halls which are fully equipped with all that is needed for a successful conference.
What other services are you planning to introduce?
We already offer the full complement of services and continually strive to improve and excel in areas where we see room for development.
Why should one choose Juba Grand and how do they locate and get in touch with you?
We offer the best hospitality service in Juba and we put our guests first! We are the only hotel in Juba to have a Guest Relations Officer whose primary responsibility is to ensure each of our guests have a truly wonderful experience. We are located only 3kms from the airport, visitors can visit our website on www.jubagrandhotel.com or email us on reservations@jubagrandhotel.com.
