(TAN): IHG Hotels & Resorts and Avila have signed an agreement to open ANA Crowne Plaza Akita in December 2021, making it the first international premium hotel brand in the Japanese prefecture of Akita.
Known for its rich variety of locally grown food, sprawling rice fields, pristine forests and sake breweries, Akita has built a reputation as a green tourism and agritourism destination. Just a four-hour bullet train journey or a one-hour flight from Tokyo, it attracts international and domestic visitors from larger cities who are looking for a country escape to experience local culture, festivals and locally produced foods.
The 187-room ANA Crowne Plaza Akita will be the first international premium hotel brand in the prefecture when it opens later in the year, following a refurbishment and rebrand. It will feature four restaurants, including an all-day dining restaurant with top floor views, a gymnasium, a sauna, a Japanese style bath house. It will also boast seven banquet facilities, including the largest banquet hall in the Tohoku region with a capacity of 2,000 people.
This marks IHG’s second major signing in Japan this year, following the announcement of the Appi Kogen Resort portfolio, which will see three hotels and 1,000 rooms opening under the ANA Crowne Plaza, ANA Holiday Inn, and ANA InterContinental brands in December.
Abhijay Sandilya, IHG Hotels & Resorts VP Development – Australasia, Japan & Pacific said: “We are very excited that Akita City will be home to the world-class ANA Crowne Plaza brand for the first time. We are confident that this great hotel with its convenient location just a few steps away from JR Akita Station, along with the many prominent tourist attractions nearby, will attract both business and leisure guests from Japan and around the world, once the borders reopen.”
Avila CEO Hiroyuki Matsushita said: “The fully renovated ANA Crowne Plaza Akita will provide world-class service and hospitality to all our guests, both domestic and international.”
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ANA Crowne Plaza Akita is located just a 3-minute walk from JR Akita Station and a 35-minute drive from Akita Airport.
Crowne Plaza is one of the world’s largest upscale brands, with properties located in major urban centres, gateway cities and resort destinations all around the globe. It is already IHG’s most prevalent brand in Japan, with 19 ANA Crowne Plaza hotels operating across the country, from Kushiro in the north to Kumamoto in the south.
IHG Hotels & Resorts operates as IHGANA in Japan, a joint venture in Japan with ANA.
