Landtours, one of West Africa’s leading tour operators based in Ghana, has announced its acquisition of the Elmina Bay Resort in Ghana this week. This milestone marks a significant turning point for the company, which has been operating for over three decades.
In an exclusive interview with VoyagesAfriq, Mona Boyd, Chairperson of Landtours Ghana, shared insights into the acquisition’s significance and the company’s plans to use it to deliver a first-class experience for their guests and clients.
A vision for excellence
“When we learned that the resort was for sale, we saw an opportunity to fill a gap in the hotel market by offering a higher-end product, which doesn’t exist in the Central and Western regions,” Boyd explained. “We also saw an opportunity to control our supply chain and more importantly, maintain our standards of service at this destination.”
According to Boyd, the acquisition aligns seamlessly with Landtours’ overarching mission of providing world-class experiences for its clients. “When our clients travel to Kumasi and Accra, they stay in four-star hotels. However, when they visit Elmina, only two- and three-star hotels are available. The majority of our clients visit the castles and slave dungeons in Cape Coast and Elmina. With this hotel, we will be able to offer the same four-star standard experience throughout their stay in Ghana.”
Immediate changes on the horizon
Under Landtours’ ownership, Elmina Bay Resort is set to undergo a significant transformation. Boyd detailed some of the immediate changes guests can expect. “First, all of the rooms will be completely renovated to a higher standard. We plan to increase common spaces, adding two restaurants and bars, a well-fitted gym, a large conference space, and private balconies with ocean views in every room,” she revealed.
Beyond physical upgrades, Boyd emphasised the importance of service. “We plan to intensively train the staff to ensure that we provide world-class hospitality and services,” she said.
Showcasing Ghana’s cultural heritage
As a pioneer in Ghana’s tourism industry, Landtours has always prioritised showcasing the country’s rich cultural heritage. Boyd assured that this would be central to the guest experience at Elmina Bay Resort.
“We have had over 30 years of showing the best of Ghana to our clients. At the resort, we will offer customized, community-based immersive day experiences so guests can meet and get to know Ghanaians. We will also provide historical, adventure, and water sports-themed tours,” she noted.
A Hub for international and local tourists
Boyd expressed confidence that the resort would attract a diverse clientele. “We are projecting that 65% of our guests will come from the African Diaspora, Europe, North America, and Asia. We’ll work hard to fill the remaining 35% with Ghanaian and West African guests,” she said.
Commitment to sustainability and community support
Sustainability and community impact are at the heart of Landtours’ philosophy. Boyd highlighted the company’s long-standing initiatives that benefit local communities.
“You probably don’t know that Landtours already has several projects supporting local communities in five Ghanaian regions. We’ve been doing this for over 20 years,” she explained. “Our first project was in the Northern Region at Mignori Village. Since then, we’ve worked with villages in the Eastern, Ashanti, Central, and Volta regions, as well as with NGOs in Accra. We will continue this work and develop new programs to bring the benefits of tourism to local communities across Ghana.”
The resort is set to open later in August this year.
