How Casual Is Casual Friday?

Inspired by its term and the style of dressing that developed as a result hereof. The term casual Friday was coined in North America decades ago and allowed employees one day per week (Friday) the opportunity to dress down from their usual business and established office dress code.
Casual Friday (also known as Dress-down Friday or simply Casual day) is a Western trend which has spread to other parts of the world, wherein some offices may celebrate a semi-reprieve from the constrictions of a formal dress code. Whereas, during the rest of the week, business shirts, suits, ties, trousers, and dress shoes would be the norm, on Casual Friday workers might be allowed to wear more casual dress. Some companies might allow jeans, casual blouses or T-shirts, hoodies, track jackets, and sneakers/running shoes or even stocking feet, but others require business casual or smart casual dress. Some offices allow a themed dress down day. On this day, even managers in such workplaces are allowed to dress down.

“Casual Friday” can mean different things to different companies, but no matter what the company, it doesn’t mean you should show up at the office in your gym clothes. While wearing stretchy leggings with a jog bra underneath a T-shirt or bike pants and a tank top might be comfortable, it will never allow you to project a leadership image.
Just because it’s “Casual Friday”, it doesn’t mean it’s OK to wear shorts and flip flops to work.

Tips for keeping Casual Fridays from going too far:
Tip #1: Define a policy. HR or management should define and communicate the appropriate/inappropriate attire for casual Fridays and the consequences for not following the policy.
Tip #2: Meet with employees. Managers should discuss the policy with employees, answer their questions, provide examples of what is considered acceptable work clothing, and ensure everyone understands what will happen if they don’t comply (such as being sent home to change their clothes).
Tip #3: Be a role model. If you’re in a management position, dress a step above the casual Friday policy, even during summer months. If jeans are acceptable on Fridays, choose dark colored jeans that are styled to look like trousers. Women can pair these with a colorful blouse and standout necklace with heels, while men can wear a button-down shirt or even a company logo golf shirt with their jeans or khakis. The idea is to look casual, yet polished.
Tip #4: Stand out from the crowd. It’s time to step up casual Fridays, especially if you want to climb the career ladder and advance into higher-level jobs. Even when you’re given the option to dress casually for work, take it up a notch from your weekend wear. In this tight job market, everything you can do to make yourself stand out will help.

5 Healthy Must-Have Dishes To Order When Lodging In A Hotel

Have you heard of yummy and healthy? You know to get this two in one sitting isn’t so easy. And it might be a bit difficult to know what to go for when you are eating out say in a restaurant or hotel.

Here is a list of healthy and tasty food to go for when next you stay in a hotel and make your tummy smile for a good choice.

 

THE DELECTABLE TASTE OF NKWOBI

 

Nkwobi is a classic and very popular delicacy originating from the South-Eastern region in Nigeria. Made with cowleg cooked and smothered in thick sauce, it is one of the many culinary delights that form a lasting experience

 

RICE AND MIXED VEGETABLE SAUCE

This vegetable sauce is surely a healthier and richer alternative to the everyday tomato based stew. It is loaded with vitamins and nutrients and contains most of the common vegetables you can get around you.

So, if you are yearning for a change from the regular, this sauce is what you need. Ingredients include Chicken, Fresh Tomatoes, Carrots, Onions, Cabbage, Irish Potatoes etc.

MEXICAN SWEET POTATO SKINS

These Mexican Sweet Potato Skins are just so delicious, not to mention pretty healthy as well. There is just a little cheese on top and the rest of dinner is vegetables.  When you are eating these, you are not thinking health, you are just thinking cheesy mexican goodness

STINKY BEANS AND SHRIMP.

Stinky beans and shrimp is a southern dish. Stinky bean trees grow wild in southern part of Thailand. The long coast lines of both the Andaman Sea and Gulf of Thailand provide fresh seafood.

MEET THE TASTY GREEK YOGURT PARFAITS

Grano, which means “grain” in Italian, are the polished whole berries from durum semolina wheat. Look for them in health-food stores standard hotels. If you can’t find grano, try wheat berries, barley, or brown rice instead. If your mornings are time-crunched enough, pack this parfait in a plastic container in the fridge the night before.

   

TRAFFIC HACKS IN LAGOS

 TRAFFIC HACKS IN LAGOS 

          Everyone who has ever lived in Lagos knows how hectic the traffic could be, the hustle and bustle for a better route. Several cancelled meetings, several lost appointments not because you didn’t leave for destination early enough but just because its Lagos traffic…

The thing about these traffics is that the cause can’t be exactly explained, cause when you get the supposed end of the traffic, most often than not it’s ‘nothing’ that caused the “traffic’’.

Which to be honest can test the patience of the fairest heart.

However these post is about traffic hacks which could help in determining and knowing if it’s necessary and smart to take another route, there would be a list of some of the sites and apps which could come in handy in determining how long a traffic jam could take, because when in your car you never really know how long the traffic is, if it ends at the next junction or more kilometers than you could imagine, you could navigate your way through to get to our hotel and enjoy a meal in our beautiful restaurant or a cup of coffee in the lounge whilst you have your meetings/get-together.

Tsaboin Traffic Talk: www.tsaboin.com

This site has regular updates every minute whereby information from subscribed broadcasters is uploaded on, concerning what areas to be avoided. The site also has various cameras which are just a click away from seeing what is happening on the road. This link can be logged via a laptop, Android, Apple gadgets and Blackberry.

Enownow: www.traffic/eNowNow.com

This site gives you regular updates via SMS and emails allowing you pick and streamline the particular area you want to get the traffic alerts from. By subscribing with your phone number or email you could get reports on the go. You can also log onto their site and check reports on other locations.

Traffic Chief Ng: www.trafficchiefng.com

The site gives you by the minute updates on traffic report to ensure you are getting the recent post and not an out-dated post. There are several pictures which are uploaded with dates and time to ensure this; also for convenience there are colour coded traffic symbols/icons which helps determine and differentiate the cause of traffic on the Google map. The site can be logged into through a phone and laptop.

Traffikator: www.traffikator.com

This site is solely for blackberry users only. According to them the app has not been placed on the android OS or that of Apple products…yet. However the apps is just as useful as the above listed in knowing what routes to take and which to avoid.

Taking a few minutes before leaving to a destination to check one of these links would prove to be useful, hence less complains about traffic and also knowing your way around Lagos, also some of these can be downloaded as apps on your various gadgets.

Remember with love from The Westwood Hotel Ikoyi, stay safe and don’t drink and drive. Have a pleasant stay with us.

5 Amazing places to visit in Ikoyi

Developed as a residential cantonment for the expatriate British community during the colonial government in Nigeria, Ikoyi is situated on the eastern half of Lagos Island and joined to each other by a landfill.

Ikoyi housed colonial residences built between 1900 and 1950 as well as the former headquarters of the federal government of Nigeria and other buildings owned by the government.

One of the main attractions in Ikoyi is Awolowo Road, which is a high street lined with upscale shops and boutiques.

Ikoyi offers a mix of excellent and top quality hotels and several large luxury apartments, estates, and upscale office developments.

Ikoyi’s proximity to Victoria Island and Lagos Island has contributed immensely towards the area’s tourism and hospitality businesses.

FREEDOM PARK LAGOS

Tourists who feel they would enjoy learning about the history of Lagos should make time for a trip to Freedom Park. Located on Lagos Island, just a short distance away from the rich cultural splendour of Oba’s Palace, Freedom Park is one of the premier highlights of the Nigerian capital.

Freedom Park is just 5minites away from the conveniently situated Westwood Hotel Ikoyi, Lagos Whether guests of this superior hotel have travelled to Nigeria for business or leisure they will find that the short trip to the attraction is more than worthwhile.
Freedom Park hosts a great range of events and visitors may find any number of exciting activities during a visit. From African drumming displays to traditional dancing, Nigerian culture is brought to life in the broad spaces that make up the park.

Lagos Yacht Club

The Lagos Yacht Club, located at Magazine point, near the Army Mess Office on the beautiful Island of Lagos in Nigeria, was founded in the year 1932. The Club is located right across the bridge leading to Victoria Island which is just 5 minutes away from the Westwood Hotel Ikoyi Magazine Point was an ideal location for a sailing club not only because of its picturesque scenery but also for its convenient location.

The Ikoyi Club Golf

The Ikoyi Club Golf was formed in 1938 by the merger of the European Club and Lagos Golf Club, Ikoyi Club remains one of the largest and most prestigious members only clubs in Lagos, spanning 456 acres of land and housing extensive facilities for its 10,000 plus members.

The Ikoyi Club Golf course is a par 71 course made up of 18 holes, totaling 5838 meters in length. Each hole is portrayed by unique features such as sand traps, fairway bunkers, water and huge trees.

The club is 3 minutes away from The Westwood hotel Ikoyi and the course opens between 6:40 hours to 19:30 hours.

Non-Busy Times:Weekend 15:00 hours to 19:30 hours
Weekdays ^:40 hours to 12:00 hours and 15:00 hours to 19:30 hours.

Lawn Tennis Club, Ikoyi

Mr. Chang Chinese Cuisine

For a traditional Chinese experience, step into Mr. Chang’s world of Chinese cuisine at 126, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi. They offer popular Chinese dishes in a typical Chinese setting. Mr. Chang’s Chinese Cuisine is just 3minutes away from The Westwood hotel Ikoyi.

The Westwood Hotel Ikoyi

Westwood Hotel Ikoyi is conveniently situated in the business district of Ikoyi overlooking the business the Cowrie Creek section of Lagos Lagoon. The hotel has its own Jetty accessible by boat to and from Victoria Island and Lekki. Nearby leisure activities includes Jankara Market, Tarkwa Bay, golf and a host of nightclubs. The airport is easily accessible via the Third Mainland Bridge.

HOTEL FACILITIES:

Accommodation: 52 tastefully decorated bedrooms comprising:

18 Standard Rooms, 18 Deluxe, 16 Suites.

30-seater restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner

Cocktail bar: Open 24/7 for light meals and full bar service

Down terrace-: where  guests can relax and have light meals with full bar service

Guest Lounge: A popular meeting place for hotel residents to relax.

Four Conference halls with different capacity

Other hotel facilities: Free Wi-Fi connectivity access throughout the hotel, car rental desk, travel agent desk, currency exchange, secure and free parking, business centre, valet and laundry service. Conveniently situated to the Ikoyi business district.

LEISURE FACILITIES

Swimming pool on the premises

Fitness centre on the premises

Business Centre on the premises

Golf- Ikoyi golf club (5mins drive) and Ikeja golf club (30 mins drive)

Beaches – Eleko beach (50mins drive) and Tarkwa bay, available by boat only using the Westwood hotel Ikoyi Jetty whenever.