HM Q&A
GLOBAL AMBITION SEIBU PRINCE HOTELS WORLDWIDE INC PRESIDENT AND CEO, YOSHIKI KANEDA, SPOKE TO RUTH HOGAN ABOUT THE COMPANY’S MISSION TO TAKE JAPANESE HOSPITALITY TO THE WORLD STAGE.
Park Regis by Prince debuted in Dubai Islands earlier this year
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eibu Prince Hotels Worldwide Inc, Japan’s largest hotel chain, is on a mission to bring “omotenashi” – Japanese service from the heart – to the rest of the world under a new global identity. Seibu Prince Hotels and Resorts unifies the group’s three hotel companies – Seibu Prince Hotels Worldwide, StayWell Holdings, and Prince Resorts Hawaii – encompassing a diverse portfolio of 25,000+ rooms across Japan and the globe, and streamlining the guest experience with one global website, integrated reservation system and loyalty program. Speaking exclusively to HM, Seibu Prince Hotels Worldwide Inc. President and CEO, Yoshiki Kaneda, said the integration strengthens domestic and international strategies and supports the company’s ambitious expansion plans. “We have over 100 years of history, with 70% of our hotels in Japan. In the next 10 years, we want to position ourselves as a leading global hotel company,” Kaneda told HM. “We have a very ambitious target to triple the number of hotels from 80 to 250 by 2035. The majority of [new hotels] will be outside Japan, and Australia is one of the key target markets. 60
HM The Business of Accommodation
Yoshiki Kaneda, Seibu Prince Hotels Worldwide Inc “Our focus will be on the luxury and upper upscale segments in key gateway cities in Australia – which is not easy, particularly in Sydney as supply is limited.” With many of the world’s most loved luxury brands originating from Asia, Kaneda believes there is an