CEO Abhijay Sandilya & President Ryuko Hira

 
 
28 August, 2024 – Tokyo, Japan: IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan (IHG) has announced a major partnership with Hotel Management International, Ltd. (HMI). As part of this deal, three of HMI’s hotels will be rebranded as ANA Crowne Plaza, marking IHG’s expansion into three new locations in Japan.
 
 
The three new hotels that will be established as a result of this rebrand are as follows.
・ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel Kochi
(Kochi City, Kochi Prefecture, currently “The Crown Palais New Hankyu Kochi”)
・ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel Chiryu
(Chiryu City, Aichi Prefecture, currently "Hotel Crown Palais Chiryu")
・ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel Hamamatsu
(Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, currently “Hotel Crown Palais Hamamatsu”)

 
 

From left to right: Mr. Kitajima, Director of the Hamamatsu City Industry Department; Mr. Sandilya, CEO and Managing Director of IHG Hotels & Resorts, Japan & Micronesia;
Mr. Hira, President of HMI Hotel Group; Mr. Naoki, Representative Director of ANA Holdings; Mr. Mizutani, Deputy Mayor of Chiryu

 
With a total of 539 rooms, the three existing Crown Palais hotels will undergo extensive renovations as they begin the transformation into the ANA Crowne Plaza brand. With more than 20 ANA Crowne Plaza hotels across Japan and over 400 worldwide, these three hotels will be joining an extensive and influential network in the market. The opening of the rebranding hotels are expected to take place in the first half of 2026.

As one of the world’s largest premium hotel brands, Crowne Plaza’s influence in the industry ranges from suburban retreats, airport hotels, to luxury resorts across the globe. This rebrand will serve as a monumental step in promoting the brand’s awareness in Japan and its visitors.
 
 

Comments from Ryuko Hira, President of Hotel Management International

“We are delighted to be partnering with IHG to convert three HMI Hotel Group hotels to ANA Crowne Plaza and to be a part of the global IHG portfolio.

“With over fifty years of hotel operations across Japan, our longstanding expertise combined with the strength of IHG and the ANA Crowne Plaza brand positions us perfectly for growth. We are confident that this powerful partnership will not only enhance our service offerings but also attract a broader spectrum of travelers to our hotels, driving both expansion and success for our business.

"Japan's international arrivals have reached a record high, with 17.7 million visitors in the first half of 2024 and projections of 35 million for the entire year. This surge is driven by tourists' growing interest in exploring beyond major cities and discovering lesser-known destinations. With this rebrand, we aim to offer increased value to international guests while also capturing a larger share of domestic travelers.

"HMI has long showcased the charm of many destinations across Japan to our guests. Through our partnership with IHG, we are committed to setting new standards of excellence in hospitality. We aim to support the Japanese Government's inbound tourism policy by 'creating high value' and 'attracting visitors to local areas,' enhancing the travel experience and benefiting our local communities alike."

ANA Crowne Plaza Kochi, ANA Crowne Plaza Chiryu and ANA Crowne Plaza Hamamatsu join a 20-strong ANA Crowne Plaza portfolio in Japan that includes ANA Crowne Plaza Osaka and ANA Crowne Plaza Kanazawa. These three hotels add to IHG’s growing presence in Japan, which currently sits at 47 open hotels with 16 in the pipeline.

IHG Hotels & Resorts has had a long presence in Japan and has grown to become one of the largest international operators in thr country, with 47 hotels and over 14,000 rooms across eight world-class brands: Six Senses, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Hotel Indigo, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Express and voco Hotels. In the next three years, IHG will debut three new brands in the market including Regent Hotels & Resorts, Vignette Collection and Garner Hotels.

Comments from Abhijay Sandilya, CEO of IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan and Managing Director of IHG Hotels & Resorts, Japan & Micronesia

“We’re excited and honoured to work in partnership with Hotel Management International Co Ltd for the first time and bring our collective vision for these three properties to life as ANA Crowne Plaza hotels, the largest premium hotel brand in Japan.

“Converting these properties reflects the attractiveness of our brands, the value of IHG’s global enterprise backed by our strong in-market team. Together in partnership with HMI we will lead these hotels into an exciting next chapter.
“Expanding the brand’s presence and adding three new destinations – Kochi, Chiryu and Hamamatsu to our extensive portfolio across the country offers guests new experiences and options whether they are travelling for leisure, business or blended travel.”

These three hotels are well known for their convenient locations, excellent facilities and hospitality. The addition of Crowne Plaza’s purposeful design that offers flexible spaces to work, meet and relax, while meeting the needs of guests seeking productivity, relaxation or connections will elevate services and capture a greater share of business from both domestic and international travellers.

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