December 09, 2014 – KYOTO, Japan – Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) today announced the signing of Suiran, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Kyoto. Owned by Mori Trust Co., Ltd., the hotel marks the first Luxury Collection property in Japan. It will join a portfolio of 23 acclaimed Luxury Collection hotels in Asia Pacific, including the recently opened The Azure Qiantang, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Hangzhou; The Castle Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Dalian; and The Grand Bharat, a Luxury Collection Resort, Gurgaon, New Delhi.
“We are thrilled to welcome Suiran to The Luxury Collection portfolio – an ensemble of more than 90 of the world’s most extraordinary hotels and resorts,” said Lothar Pehl, Senior Vice President, Operations and Global Initiatives, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Asia Pacific. “With its intimate scale and idyllic setting, the hotel will further strengthen Starwood’s luxury portfolio in Japan. As part of The Luxury Collection, Suiran will effortlessly blend renowned Japanese hospitality with the brand’s captivating proposition, offering guests an authentic way to experience Kyoto.”
The signing of Suiran further enhances Starwood’s relationship with Mori Trust, which currently owns The Westin Sendai in Northern Japan. “We are very excited to debut The Luxury Collection in Japan with a property that epitomizes the scenic beauty of this country in every season,” said Miwako Date, President, Mori Trust Hotels & Resorts Co., Ltd and Executive Managing Director, Mori Trust Co., Ltd. “Suiran, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Kyoto will offer discerning travelers intimate and authentic access to a destination that for centuries has remained a cultural and spiritual nexus for so many Japanese traditions.”
Scheduled to open in March 2015, Suiran, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Kyoto is being developed as a ryokan-style accommodation, or small Japanese inn. Located in the Arashiyama district in the western part of Kyoto, the hotel occupies part of the grounds of Tenryuji Temple, a World Heritage site that since the 1960s housed ‘Rantei,’ a well-known traditional Japanese ryokan long used by the Japanese government to entertain VIPs. In addition to the newly built guestrooms and facilities, Suiran, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Kyoto, will retain elements of its esteemed past, including the preservation of two original structures: ‘Enmei-kaku’, built in 1899, and ‘Hasshoken’, constructed in 1910 – both of which are currently undergoing extensive renovations and will ultimately house a signature restaurant and cafe.
With only 39 rooms, the hotel will offer an intimate experience in Kyoto – a city steeped in tradition with numerous historic palaces, temples and shrines. Each guestroom will be designed in culturally significant hues and traditional motifs. Amenities will include a lobby lounge, signature restaurant, meeting room, fitness center and spa. In addition, the brand’s signature concierge service will serve as a portal for travelers to discover the intriguing and less explored sights of Kyoto.
Suiran is located adjacent to the Hozugawa River, Kameyama Park and the Hogonin and Tenryuji Temples. Arashiyama houses and the famed Bamboo Grove on the southern side of the river – declared a National Historic Site and Place of Scenic Beauty – are also both in close proximity to the hotel.
“Japan has a well-established hospitality industry with limited supply and few new developments at the high-end of the market,” said Rajit Sukumaran, Vice President, Acquisition & Development, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Asia Pacific. “With this distinguished new addition to our portfolio, we will continue to deliver on the Luxury Collection’s brand promise to offer guests unparalleled access to rich, indigenous experiences.”
Starwood continues to further its lead in luxury hospitality in Japan. The company operates 14 hotels across the island nation, including the 160-room St. Regis Osaka. Its seven Sheraton properties include Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay; Sheraton Miyako Hotel Tokyo; Yokohama Bay Sheraton Hotel & Towers; Sheraton Miyako Hotel Osaka; Kobe Bay Sheraton Hotel & Towers; Sheraton Hiroshima Hotel; and Sheraton Grande Ocean Resort. Its six Westin hotels include The Westin Sendai; The Westin Tokyo; The Westin Nagoya Castle; The Westin Miyako Tokyo; The Westin Osaka; The Westin Awaji Island Resort & Conference Center.
