In another positive development for the hotel industry in The Gambia, Ngala Lodge, one of the renowned hotels, has won the Trip Advisor Travellers' Choice Award 2013. They were voted as one of the top five hotels for romance in all of Africa.

This was revealed on Thursday during a press briefing organised by Ngala Lodge in collaboration with the Gambia Tourism Board (GTBoard) at the Lodge's relaxation bar.

Speaking at a press briefing, Aja Fatou Mass Jobe-Njie, the minister of Tourism and Culture expressed her Ministry's delight at this award and congratulated the staff and management of Ngala Lodge for a job well done. According to her, both the staff and management of the Lodge are very particular about their services. "Good service delivery is becoming the order of the day in the industry. It is not just the good structures or the rooms but the people also," she pointed out.

This latest award, the minister noted, is a plus for Ngala Lodge since they won the Best Hotel in Africa a couple of months back. Technically, she revealed, The Gambia is the third in terms of romantic hotels in Africa, hence the number two and three hotels before Ngala Lodge are also from the same country.

Minister Jobe-Njie took the opportunity to applaud them for producing a video on green season, noting that the management is not just selling the image ofNgala Lodge but the whole country. "The Gambia is more beautiful during the green season than in the winter season," she indicated.

The Tourism and Culture minister finally called on all other hotels to emulate Ngala Lodge.

Reacting to the award, Peter Engels, the proprietor of Ngala Lodge, said their ability lies in bringing together what people like and appreciate at the right time. He commended his staff for their efforts; saying that they made it together. He reminded that they were recently awarded Gambia Hotel of Excellence and so this latest one, TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Award 2013, is another great boost.