IHG Hotels & Resorts Signs Biggest Japan Conversion Deal

The agreement marks the biggest deal IHG Hotels & Resorts has signed in Japan since it formed its joint venture with ANA in 2006.

IHG Hotels & Resorts and Iwate Hotel & Resort Co., Ltd. today announce 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.

Appi Kogen is a place where travellers can be active all year round with hot springs, skiing and snowboarding in the winter, golf in the summer, and mountain biking and walking in the spring and autumn.

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.

"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,” said Abhijay Sandilya, IHG Hotels & Resorts VP Development – Japan, Australasia & Pacific.

Apart from the three hotels,  It is also noteworthy that Harrow International School Appi, Japan is scheduled to open in the autumn of 2022 nearby the hotels, adding a new dimension to ever-developing Appi Kogen.

"It is our great pleasure to sign an agreement with IHG Hotels and Resorts, the operator of some of the world’s best-known hotel brands, to rebrand our hotels at Appi Kogen. This will further enhance our efforts towards the betterment of services and hospitality for our customers from around the globe, and will lead to a genuine global resort experience at Appi Kogen,"said Hiroshi Kurosawa, the representative director of Iwate Hotel and Resort Co., Ltd.

IHG Hotels & Resorts operates as IHGANA in Japan, a joint venture in Japan with ANA, one of Japan’s most well-known and trusted brands. IHGANA is one of the leading international operators in Japan with 37 hotels in its portfolio, and has been growing rapidly over the past few years, opening new hotels including Kimpton Shinjuku Tokyo, Hotel Indigo Hakone Gora, ANA InterContinental Beppu Resort & Spa and ANA Holiday Inn Resort Shinano-omachi Kuroyon.