Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) and GI Capital Management has today announced the signing of Regent Kyoto which will open in 2024.
Regent Kyoto will continue Regent’s tradition of pioneering hotel design with bold firsts that captured imaginations and blending Eastern simplicity with Western elegance, ‘with stunning design, world-class facilities and 86 elegant rooms that blend imagination, extravagance, and calm’.
Set within a garden that was originally landscaped 100 years ago by renowned gardener, Kumakichi Kato, Regent Kyoto’s idyllic location is currently home to the famous restaurant, Tsuruya, which is recognised among Kyoto’s top dining destinations, having held a number of Michelin Stars over the years.
With more than 100 years’ history, Tsuruya is housed in sukiya-style wooden buildings, some of which were designed by celebrated architect Isoya Yoshida. It was originally developed as accommodation for the Japanese imperial family and honourable guests for their visits to Kyoto, and has welcomed some of the most important cultural and political figures in the world, including members of the Japanese Imperial family, Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Diana, George H.W. Bush and François Mitterrand, among other heads of state and dignitaries.
Regent Kyoto will be designed to incorporate Tsuruya and the gardens, and will offer everything guests would expect from an upper-luxury hotel, including a lobby lounge, fitness centre and spa, along with several restaurants in addition to Tsuruya.
Abhijay Sandilya, Vice President – Development, Australasia, Japan & Pacific, IHG, said:
With today’s signing of Regent Kyoto, I can confidently say that a legend will be born in Japan. We are so honoured that GI Capital Management has placed their trust in IHG to open Japan’s first Regent Hotel under IHG management in one of Kyoto’s most affluent areas, with the added privilege of sharing our address with Tsuruya, one of Kyoto’s most celebrated restaurants. Regent blends Eastern and Western nuances so naturally, and we know that it will resonate with travellers from Japan and around the world who are looking for extraordinary experiences, discreet luxury and exceptional service.
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Kyoto is the cultural capital of Japan and is a major tourist destination, home to several historic monuments which are listed and recognised by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites. The government of Japan plans to relocate the Agency for Cultural Affairs to Kyoto in 2021 in honour of its status as Japan’s cultural centre.
Sakae Sugahara, Director & Partner, Chief Investment Officer, GI Capital Management Ltd., said:
When we made the decision to develop a luxury hotel at one of Kyoto’s most prestigious addresses, which is home to the famous Tsuruya restaurant and gardens, we knew that that the hotel would need to be highly respectful and complementary to Kyoto’s heritage and sit a level above other luxury properties in the market. Following a long selection process, it became clear that Regent was the perfect fit: with its deep heritage and serene and imaginative design, it will bring a modern era of upper-luxury to Kyoto. We are proud to partner with IHG Hotels & Resorts to open Japan’s first Regent Hotel under IHG management, and look forward to a successful future together.
IHG states that Regent Kyoto will be in the perfect location for travellers wishing to explore everything the historic city of Kyoto has to offer, and is just a short walk from the world-famous Heian Shrine and Zenrin-Ji Temple, and Kyoto Imperial Palace.
IHG Hotels & Resorts acquired a majority stake in Regent Hotels & Resorts in 2018, and has since added 6 hotels to the pipeline, including Regent Shanghai, Regent Phu Quoc, Regent Bali, Regent Kuala Lumpur, , and Regent Hong Kong.
IHG Hotels & Resorts operates 37 hotels in Japan, and has been growing rapidly over the past few years, opening new hotels including Kimpton Shinjuku Tokyo, Holiday Inn & Suites Shin Osaka, ANA Holiday Inn Resort Shinano-omachi Kuroyon, Hotel Indigo Hakone Gora, InterContinental Yokohama Pier 8, ANA InterContinental Beppu Resort & Spa.
Meanwhile, IHG recently announced the signing of the first-voco hotel in South Korea, Atwell Suites Austin Airport, Holiday Inn & Suites Ballarat, four Indigo-branded hotels in Egypt, Holiday Inn Resort Szklarska Poreba, dual branded voco and Holiday Inn hotel in Chicago, voco The Palm in Dubai, Intercontinental Riyadh King Fahed Road, Intercontinental Resort Amma, Canj – Montenegro, three hotels in Bangkok and Pattaya and Holiday Inn Express and Suites Jalandhar. IHG’s voco-brand has also opened its first hotel in Netherlands. The company has opened its first Intercontinental-branded hotel in Baku, Azerbaijan, Australia’s first next-generation Holiday Inn in Melbourne’s West and Holiday Inn Dublin Airport.
Featured image by IHG
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