The opening of Villa Monticello in Accra's exclusive Airport Residential Area signals the first luxury boutique hotel in Ghana.
Villa Monticello is the brainchild of three Ghanaian entrepreneurs – a mining engineer, a certified public accountant (CPA), and an oil and gas executive – who love traveling. It was, in fact, after years of traveling the globe and experiencing everything from the seven-star luxury resorts in Dubai, trendy hotels in New York City, to old colonial hotels in Singapore, that afforded them firsthand experience to understand not only the entry level prerequisites for a hotel to be considered luxurious. Villa Monticello boasts world-class amenities, coupled with an intrinsic understanding of Ghanaian culture.
"Our vision was simple: to create a product where we would want to stay. For us this meant not only creating a beautiful hotel, but also a service portfolio that is relevant to Ghana, and an atmosphere that felt more like the elegant home of a close friend, than an impersonal hotel,” said Efua Odunton, one of three owners who conceived the hotel.
There are 14 individually-themed suites, from the majestic tones of the Kwame Nkrumah presidential suite, with commissioned photos of Ghana's first president providing a backdrop to the rich gold and wood textures of custom local pieces; to the chic, urban, ode to design of the Manhattan Suite, complete with a city skyline. In addition to the requisite comforts in each suite, such as flat screen TVs, luxurious bathrobes and cotton terry bath towels, several hand-picked favorite amenities have made their way to each guest room, such as Acqua di Parma toiletries, iPod docking stations, and Nespresso machines at presidential suites.
Villa Monticello's team is comprised of 63 staff members, of which 25 are dedicated to the 14 suites. Complimentary amenities include meeting guests at the airport with the hotel's Mitsubishi Pajero or Mercedes Benz; providing transportation within a three-mile radius; and offering private in-house meeting rooms. Personalized signature service, ranging from organizing regional private jet service, in-room massages and personal trainers, to finding Ghanaian art for a guest to take back home or creating itineraries to off-the-beaten paths, are some of the services provided by theKoncierge, Villa Monticello's onsite personalized concierge team.
Villa Monticello offers two distinct all-day dining experiences. The signature 1A restaurant on Villa Monticello's ground level offers an intimate setting, and for a more relaxed dining experience, guests can make their way to The Terrace, a glass-enclosed and air-conditioned space that overlooks Villa Monticello's poolside area. The Terrace is also home to Villa Monticello's weekly "Unplugged" nights, a relaxing evening celebrating Ghanaian culture with performances by local artists who bring to life the country's rich heritage.
The opening rates at Villa Monticello start at $295 per night in a standard suite, based on single occupancy, and include a fully-cooked breakfast; airport pickup and drop-off in an SUV; and welcome cocktails upon arrival.
For more information, visit www.villamonticello.com.
