Marlene Rodriquez (not her real name) is an American tourist. She returns to the Coconut Grove Beach Resort after twenty (20) years and reminisce: “I think I saw the potential in this facility then, that it would one day equal any of the biggest and finest hospitality industries in the World.”

She might have had the strongest of convictions about the beautiful landmarks that formed the foundation of the Hotel in 1994; yet she was cautiously optimistic in her dream about the facility. This is because her optimism may have been somehow blighted by the oft-repeated misrepresentation that “nothing good can come out of a continent as underdeveloped as Africa.”

So Marlene adopted the “Wait and See attitude.” Her only prayer was that nature would smile on her to live that long to see whether Coconut Grove Beach Resort will realise her dream or will be just one of the also-run facilities; a trait that many Westerners often associate Africa with.

Marlene was 45 on her first visit to the Resort. Marlene was battling an imagination strewn in part by the possibility of lack of commercial drive (patronage) and the creativity and industry required to nurture Coconut Grove Beach Resort into a World Class Hotel. She returns to the Resort at 65, walking slower, yet full of appreciation that owners of the facility have proved very industrious and entrepreneurial in their drive to sustain and build the Beach Resort into a model hotel worthy of every bit of superlatives it now enjoys.

“I can retire quietly to my native America and possibly to my Maker because Coconut Grove Beach Resort has lived my dream and indeed made nonsense of any doubt I had some 20 years ago about the capabilities of the owners of the Hotel to grow it into a First Class hospitality industry,” she heartily tells Resort staff.

And that credit goes to Dr. Papa Kwesi & Mrs. Yvonne Nduom, the executive owners of the Resort. Twenty years on, the Nduoms have dispelled any doubts Marlene, during her first visit, might have had about the Hotel’s future.

Marlene is overawed by the level of improvement at the Hotel. Coconut Grove Beach Resort has seen massive facelift in-between her visits. There have been additions and upgrades to its structures via the number of spacious family suites and the panache of its room services. Also available at the Resort is a state-of-the-art conference facilities for business meetings, event organisation and entertainment. It has beach front reverie, classy pool side, live combo band, etc. The Resort's Restaurant serves a blend of continental and local cuisine, including the best fresh seafood pizza in the sub-Region.

Awards

In 1998, just after four years of operation, Coconut Grove Beach Resort was adjudged the Ghana Tourist Board's Hotel of the Year 3-Star Category; an award it retained in 1999, and; followed it up with the CIMG Hospitality Facility of the Year in 2000. That same year (2000,) the Beach Resort won the ECOBANK Ghana Limited Hospitality Facility of the Year, and in 2001 won yet again Ghana Tourist Board Hotel of the Year 3-Star Category.

Coconut Grove Hotels

From its humble beginnings, Coconut Grove Beach Resort has grown into a chain of Five World Class Hotels, the Coconut Grove Hotels, operating in three regions. These are:

1. Central Region

• Coconut Grove Beach Resort, Elmina

• Coconut Grove Village; Elmina, and

• The Bridge House, Elmina.

2. Ashanti Region

• The Miners Lodge, Obuasi

3. Greater Accra

• Coconut Grove Regency Hotel

The Bridge House

The Bridge House is located directly opposite the historic Elmina Castle along the picturesque fishing bay of Benya Lagoon. The building has a rich history as one of the oldest buildings in Elmina left behind by the Portuguese explorers who first settled at Elmina. It has been developed by operators of Coconut Grove Hotels to meet hospitality-industry international standards. The Bridge House has 10 plush rooms.

The Miners Lodge

The Miners Lodge is located at Obuasi and is five-minute drive from the historic Obuasi mining township. It is the best hotel in Obuasi and rated among the best in Ashanti Region.

The Miners Lodge has 24 plush rooms and a Conference Hall. It serves as the most-preferred abode of many expatriates that work at Obuasi Anglogold Ashanti and other gold mines close to Obuasi.

Coconut Grove Regency Hotel

Coconut Grove Regency Hotel is located in the Business District of Accra. It's surrounded by many important landmarks. It is a whisker away from the World Bank office in Accra; the Danish, Canadian, German, Netherlands, British diplomatic missions in Ghana and few minutes drive from the US Embassy.

It has 35 plushy-furnished rooms comprising Suites to Standard Rooms as well as 9 world-class Conference Halls. It is right behind the Headquarters of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) at North Ridge and is connected by traffic-free routes to the National Theatre, Accra International Conference Centre and the public service Ministries.

A member of GN Conglomerates

Coconut Grove Hotels is one of kernels that make up Groupe Nduom (GN,) a family business holding of Ghanaian origin. Business entities in GN include establishments that offer services in Investment Advisory & Management, Financial & Banking Services; Technology, Management Consulting, Stone & Quarry, Cross-Border Trade, Media and Sports.