Transcorp Hilton Abuja Enters Padel Arena, Targets Wellness and Sports Development

Transcorp Hilton Abuja has unveiled a new padel court as part of efforts to expand its hospitality offerings, attract more customers and promote sports development and wellness in the Federal Capital Territory.

The facility, inaugurated on Saturday, compliments the hotel’s existing recreational amenities, including tennis, volleyball, a gym and other wellness facilities.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Managing Director and CEO Transcorp Hotels PLC, Mrs Uzoamaka Oshogwe, said the decision to establish the court followed requests from guests.

According to her “We listened to our guests and we heard what they were requesting, and that was the padel court. And we sprang into action. A few months later, here we are,” she said.

Oshogwe said the initiative was part of the hotel’s strategy to improve customer experience by providing guests with business, leisure, recreation and wellness services within the same premises.
According to her, the hotel is also considering the use of the facility for tournaments and grassroots sports development, adding that Nigeria could gain international recognition through emerging sports such as padel and tennis.

The General Manager of Transcorp Hilton Abuja, Martin Zarybnicky, said the court could help identify and develop young sporting talent capable of competing at national and international levels.

“We would like to see some Nigerian champions go here with us and make us more famous,” he said.

Zarybnicky noted that the hotel had previously supported racket sports, including activities involving the national squash association and young athletes who trained at the facility before travelling abroad for competitions.
He said the hotel was willing to explore training, sponsorship and competitive opportunities for promising padel players.

The new facility has also opened the door to possible collaboration between Transcorp Hilton and the Nigeria Union of Journalists, FCT Council.

The NUJ FCT Chairman, Comrade Grace Ike, described the court as an opportunity to promote journalists’ wellness, professional networking and social interaction.

She said the demands of journalism, including deadlines, field assignments and long working hours, made physical activity and stress management essential to the wellbeing of media professionals.

The hotel’s Brand and Marketing Manager, Ifeanyi Nnadi, said the padel court was designed to serve not only as a sporting facility but also as a social and lifestyle hub.

He explained that the sport could attract families, friends, colleagues and corporate teams because of its group-oriented nature.

The Communications and Marketing Manager Transcorp Hilton Abuja, Ijeoma Osuji, added that the hotel’s workforce of more than 1,000 employees would play a key role in transforming the facility into a memorable customer experience.

She said service delivery would begin from the moment customers make enquiries, and continue through booking, participation and follow-up engagement.

The hotel also said safety arrangements had been put in place, including round-the-clock personnel and access to a medical centre located near the sporting facilities.

With the new investment, Transcorp Hilton Abuja is positioning padel as a tool for customer engagement, wellness promotion, event hosting and sports development, while seeking to establish the capital city as a destination for lifestyle and sporting activities.