Tourexpi
IHG accelerates growth in Japan with ANA Holiday Inn Iwate Kitakami
IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG) today
announced an agreement with Odate Royal Hotel Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary
of FET SYSTEM INC., to open ANA Holiday Inn Iwate Kitakami in Q3,
2025.
This
project marks IHG’s second collaboration with FET SYSTEM INC., following their
joint success with ANA Crowne Plaza Kumamoto New Sky.
ANA
Holiday Inn Iwate Kitakami - currently operating as Hotel City Plaza Kitakami -
will undergo an extensive renovation and conversion over the coming months. Its
114 guest rooms will be upgraded, and much-loved Holiday Inn brand hallmarks
embedded throughout, including its signature Open Lobby concept.
ANA
Holiday Inn Iwate Kitakami will join a strong portfolio of 12 Holiday Inn open
and pipeline hotels across Japan, further solidifying the brand’s presence in
the country. Additionally, it will become part of Holiday Inn’s global
footprint, which includes 1,249 open hotels and 266 pipeline properties
worldwide.
The
hotel will attract domestic and international travellers, including members of
IHG’s award-winning loyalty programme, IHG One Rewards. They will enjoy a wide
range of amenities, including a choice of restaurants, a cafe & bar,
banquet rooms and traditional Japanese baths.
Abhijay
Sandilya, Managing Director, Japan & Micronesia, IHG Hotels & Resorts
and CEO of IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan, said: “We are delighted to
strengthen our partnership with FET SYSTEM INC. through the opening of ANA
Holiday Inn Iwate Kitakami. This agreement underscores our commitment to
growing the Holiday Inn brand in Japan, where we’re quickly expanding our footprint
in many outstanding destinations.”
“This
collaboration is also another great example of how our IHG portfolio offers
great conversion opportunities to owners, who are seeking to quickly benefit
from leveraging IHG’s global scale and enterprise systems to maximise their
returns.
“We
look forward to welcoming guests to ANA Holiday Inn Iwate Kitakami later this
year, including some of the 145 million IHG One Rewards members we now have
around the world.”
Hiroshi
Nakamura, President & CEO, FET SYSTEM INC., said: “It is our great
pleasure to collaborate with IHG Hotels & Resorts and build on our previous
success together to bring the globally recognised and respected Holiday Inn
brand to Kitakami.
“The
scale and reputation of the brand made it the first and only choice for us when
setting our strategy for this hotel. With its central location and renewed
facilities, ANA Holiday Inn Iwate Kitakami will serve as the ideal hub for
travellers exploring the region, offering them a warm and welcoming experience
they can rely on.”
“Working
with IHG has once again been a pleasure. Together, we look forward to welcoming
guests at ANA Holiday Inn Iwate Kitakami – and collaborating again in the
future.”
Holiday
Inn Iwate Kitakami provides domestic and international visitors with seamless
access to the Tohoku region thanks to the hotel’s location just a seven-minute
walk from JR Kitakami Station, from where visitors can reach Tokyo in 2.5-hours
on the Shinkansen.
Also,
the hotel offers easy access to key local attractions such as the renowned
Tenshochi Park - famous for its breathtaking cherry blossoms along the Kitakami
River, and many other renowned cultural and historical sites.
IHG
currently has five hotels under three brands in Tohoku – ANA InterContinental
Appi Kogen Resort, ANA Crowne Plaza Resort Appi Kogen, ANA Holiday Inn Resort
Appi Kogen, ANA Crowne Plaza Akita and ANA Holiday Inn Sendai. It is actively
expanding its presence in the region and, once open, ANA Holiday Inn Iwate
Kitakami will become the sixth IHG hotel and the third Holiday Inn property in
Tohoku, reinforcing the company’s commitment to growth in Japan.
Image
Credit: © IHG Hotels
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