(TAN): IHG Hotels & Resorts and Iwate Hotel & Resort have announced the signing of an agreement to open or refurbish three hotels in Japan’s Appi region and badge them under world-class IHG brands in December 2021.
With more than 1,000 rooms joining IHG’s Japan portfolio across the ANA InterContinental, ANA Crowne Plaza and ANA Holiday Inn brands, it marks the biggest deal IHG Hotels & Resorts has signed in Japan since it formed its joint venture with ANA in 2006. It is also the first time IHG will have three brands located on the one site.
With hot springs, skiing and snowboarding in the winter, golf in the summer, and mountain biking and walking in the spring and autumn, nature-rich Appi Kogen is a place where travellers can be active all year round, and is therefore extremely popular with Japanese holidaymakers.
[ALSO READ: Finnair signs letter of interest on electric aircraft developed by Heart Aerospace]
The arrival of three world class brands in the luxury, upscale and midscale segments will offer something for every type of traveller. Once open in December 2021, the hotel portfolio will have 18 restaurants & bars, more than 3000m2 of meeting & conference space, several retail outlets, and 10 health and recreation venues, including a 2000m2 onsen facility.
Abhijay Sandilya, IHG Hotels & Resorts VP Development – Japan, Australasia & Pacific said: “These world-class hotels in Japan’s premier four-season resort destination, Appi Kogen, will offer something for every type of traveller, including rich guest experiences and IHG’s True Hospitality for Good. I am confident that we will see strong domestic demand and, as borders reopen, from international travellers who are looking to get a real Japanese experience with the familiarity of IHG’s global brands”
