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Growing Demand Speeds Up Hospitality Sector of Japan

Japan has always been a popular tourist destination, but as it will be the host country for Olympics 2020, the demand is growing faster than usual. Most international and local chains prepare for the serious influx of tourists. To name a few, Marriott will open a hotel in Tokyo already this year, Park Hyatt branded hotels in Kyoto and Niseko are scheduled to open in 2019, and right before the games the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Niseko and another Marriott hotel in Nara will greet their first guests.

Last month, it was also announced that Marriott will add hotels in Toranomon and Ginza, Tokyo, in 2020. Both the hotels will operate under the Marriott Edition brand. According to Ritz-Carlton, they are interested in operating properties not only in large cities like Tokyo and Osaka, but also plan to open resort hotels in Niseko, Nikko, and Okinawa. There are also emerging resort destinations in the country, such as Hakuba, Hakone, and Karuizawa, and, according to hoteliers, they have a strong potential to become popular luxury resorts.

The country’s government tries to motivate hospitality companies to open more hotels in rural areas. For example, last year Aman introduced its Amanemu hotel in Ise Shima National Park in the prefecture of Mie. A recent lift of the casino ban may also help Japan to maintain its tourism once the Olympic Games are over. It’s not yet known whether the government permits to open casino resorts in rural areas only. Such hotel complexes could be major economy boosters for towns away from major gateway cities.

While international investors consider Japan a great asset, Japanese hotel companies may look to overseas markets. Just like Japanese cuisine has become popular around the world, Japanese hotels may grow recognition abroad because of their dedication and focus on guest satisfaction. There are already some successful examples, such as Nobu hotels that combine hospitality and gastronomy. Currently, Nobu hotels operate in the U.S., U.K., Spain, Saudi Arabia, Canada, and many other countries. Hoshino Resorts are also making first steps on the international scene with a resort hotel in Bali and the soon-to-open Hawaii hotel.

At the same time, when it comes to Tokyo hotels, there is a definite trend of the traditional Japanese aesthetics. Ryokan style luxury hotels with signature design have become increasingly popular. These properties attract both local and international visitors and, in future, the concept might spread overseas as well.

30.08.2017

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