ACCOMMODATION

OPERATION
(HCM 243)

By
Emmanuel Gamor

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Introduction

As like any other service based business, the Hotel/Hospitality business is affected by the shifts

in interest of people who patronised the hospitality product. We are however going to

concentrate on the lodging or accommodation aspect of the hospitality industry. In Ghana,

accommodation operations started over six decades ago.

The earliest form of accommodation in Ghana, the then Gold Coast, were the CHALETS

owned by colonial merchants. Over the years, accommodation in the country has evolved

through the colonial era, pre-independence era, up to the era of stagnation.

The general objective of this is to help students understand the routine methods of work in the

housekeeping.

Lesson One

Accommodation Services

Introduction

This Lesson introduces the student to the concept of accommodation, its evolution in Ghana,

and the various types of accommodation. It will focus on the definition of accommodation, the

types, and the overview of the hotel industry.

Accommodation which is also referred to as lodging is one of the most important

components of the hospitality industry. There are different variety of accommodation in

relation to the level of development of infrastructure and tourism in a country, community or

society. Accommodation has been deemed as the psychological base of every traveller or

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tourist (Cooper et al., 1993). This then means that there are different demands from different

travellers or tourists for different types of accommodation ranging from hostels to resorts.

Accommodation in Ghana has developed, over the years, into a fully-fledged aspect of

the tourism and hospitality industry.

This section begins with the definition of accommodation followed by the discussion

of the evolution or the historical perspective of accommodation in Ghana. It will also look at

the types of accommodation establishments, and the different classification of accommodation

facilities.

Learning Objectives

This Lesson aims to give students insight into what accommodation is. Therefore after reading

and studying this Lesson, readers are expected to be able to:

1. Define accommodation;

2. Trace the development of visitor accommodation in Ghana

3. Understand the types of accommodation establishments

4. Describe the various ways accommodation establishments are classified

Accommodation Defined

The term accommodation has been defined in different ways. However, for the purpose of this

study, it will be defined as ‘an establishment that provide facilities and services for sleep, rest,

relaxation and entertainment for people who are temporarily away from their usual place of

residence or work, in return for a fee’ (Mensah, 2009; p9).

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 By function, accommodation is provision of clean and furnished sleeping place, food

and beverage services, business services (typing, printing, telephone service among others) to

people, mostly tourists or travellers, who are temporarily out of their usual environment.

The Historical Perspective of Accommodation in Ghana

Accommodation has existed for a long time. It began long before independence. The earliest

form of accommodation in Ghana has evolved over time into the modern accommodation

facilities in the post 2000 era. The evolution of accommodation in Ghana can be described in

eras which are:

1. Colonial era 4. Era of Stagnation

2. Pre-Independence Era 5. Era of Rejuvenation

3. Immediate Post-Independence Era

Colonial Era

The earliest form of accommodation in the then Gold Coast were the CHALETS owned by

the colonial merchants. These were:

1. Compagnie Française de l’Afrique Occidentale (CFAO)

2. United Africa Company (UAC)

These foreign companies were owning chalets that were located in the mountainous regions

(Aburi areas) and the beaches of the then Gold Coast. These chalets were those built in very

cosy environs. These facilities were guarded all year round and were used solely by expatriates

and their families.

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Pre- Independence Era

This era is noted for the beginning of the establishment of hotels in the country. Just before

independence (1957), six hotels were registered in the country. The first hotel that was

established in the country (Gold Coast) was Sea View Hotel which was located on the Accra

High Street.

Table 1: Licensed hotels in the Gold Coast, prior to independence

Hotel Location

Aams Hotel Accra-Nswam road

Ambassador Hotel Independence Avenue

Ringway Hotel Osu, Accra

Avenida Hotel Boundary road, Accra

Lisbon Hotel Airport, Accra

Sea View Hotel High street, Accra

Sources: Mensah, 2009; Handbook of Commerce and industry, Ministry of Commerce and
Industry, May 1951 and 1957

Immediate post-Independence Era

In this era, an even development of accommodation facilities across the country was started.

After independence, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah started establishing accommodation facilities across

the country. By 1962, there were a number of government owned accommodation facilities

spread across the country.

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 Table 2: State owned accommodation facilities by 1962
Name of facility Location

Ambassador Hotel Accra

Star Hotel Accra

Continental Hotel Accra

Meridian Hotel Tema

Atlantic Hotel Takoradi

Eridec Hotel Koforidua

City Hotel Kumasi

Catering Rest House Bolgatanga/Tamale

Era of Stagnation
This was the period between 1977 and 1986. This period was characterised by political

instability and security threats. In this era, the demand for hotel accommodation fell so low

such that some collapsed. This was because people were afraid for their lives and that did not

want to travel to Ghana. Resident as well were afraid to travel due to Coup d’état.

Era of Rejuvenation
From 1987, the hotels in Ghana started growing again. There was peace in Ghana.

Accommodation in Ghana became fully-fledged and very competitive and as such

realised a phenomenal growth.

Unfortunately, the government drew away from the management in State owned

hotels. Hotels were placed on divestiture (sold) and the Ghana Investment Promotion

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Centre (GIPC) Act came to liberalise foreign investment. The liberalisation saw to the

birth of multinational hotels such as Novotel in the country.

Types of Accommodation Establishments

There are several types of accommodation facilities round the world. Some are

historically based whiles others are not. For our purpose, we will that a brief look at a

few of the main types of accommodation facilities.

Inn

This type of accommodation is one of the initial accommodation facilities in the world. It is

small, with rural setting and was popular during the Middle Ages/Dark Ages (AD 400-AD

500). It is a small rural lodging establishment that provides not only shelter, but food and

sometimes entertainment for travellers and the local people. In modern days, the Inns are more

like a bar or restaurant that has a sleeping place for a few people.

Spa

Named after a town in Belgium, this type of accommodation, originally, refers to an

accommodation facility that is cantered on a mineral spring that is thought of as having the

ability to heal. It can also be used to refer to a room in a hotel or in a resort that offer massage,

health and fitness, saunas/hot/steam bath.

Hostel

This is a relatively cheap accommodation facility that caters mostly for students. It also caters

for youngsters in transit. It provides little or no service for the guest and usually have common

kitchen where guests prepare their own food.

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Hotel

This accommodation type provides a variety of services to the guest including housekeeping,

room services, food and beverage service among others. This facility provides sleeping places,

meeting and conference room facilities, health facilities, and so on. Under hotels, there are,

major types which include: downtown hotels, boutique hotels/luxury/design hotels, convention

hotels, casino hotels and residential hotels.

Classification of Accommodation

There has been an attempt to classify accommodation facilities. Each country or region try to

classify accommodation into different categories. Ghana Tourist Board classifies

accommodation based on the Legislative Instrument LI 1205 and the New ECOWAS

Harmonized Standards for Accommodation and Catering Establishments. The LI classify

accommodation into e main Categories. Category A, B and C

Category A: Hotels, Inns and Motels

Category B: Catering houses, guest houses, lodgings

Category C: Rest houses

Hotels specifically have other classifications. Hotels in Ghana are classified into different

categories based on the services they provide and the facilities they have functioning and

available. They are grouped into stars and other ratings. They are as follows:

5-Star hotel – These are the luxury hotels

4-Star hotel – They are the 1st class hotels

3-Star hotel - 2nd class hotels

2-Star hotel - 3rd class hotels

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1-Star hotel - 4th class hotels

Guest houses, and Budget hotels

Criteria for rating hotels in Ghana

The classification of hotels in Ghana is based on the quality. Though accommodation can be
classified in different ways, Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) uses the quality of services
provided by hotels, the personnel working in the hotel, and the various facilities available in
the hotel.

Table 3: Ghana’s Hotel Star Rating

Star rating Criteria

5-Star Providing luxurious accommodation and marked superiority in the extent

(*****) and quality of facilities, amenities and guest services (Mini bar in rooms,
24hr laundry services, several bars, restaurant and lounges, health club,
shopping arcade, among others).

4-Star (****) Provide superior quality furnishing and a complete range of facilities,
amenities and guest services (All rooms with bath, direct dial phone, radio,
TV, individual control heating and air conditioning, full room service, some
shops and sporting facilities).

3-Star (***) Provide better quality furnishing and a more extensive range of facilities,
amenities, and guest services (Private bath/shower, lounge, bar, restaurant,
staff assistance throughout the day).

2-Star (**) Provides more furnishing and some facilities, amenities and guest service
(Breakfast/dinning, room, TV lounge, etc).

1-Star (*) Provides basic furnishing and very limited or no facilities, amenities and
guest services (Hot and cold water in room, central heating, etc).

Source: Ghana Tourism Authority

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Self-Assessment

1. Define the term accommodation.

2. With reference to the major changes, trace the development of visitor accommodation

in Ghana.

3. What are the types of accommodation establishments you can think of?

4. Describe the various ways accommodation establishments are classified

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Mensah, I. (2009). Management of hospitality services. Accra: Woeli Publishing Services.

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