HOTEL OKURA COMPANY

Who are they? This Japanese hotel group began life managing the Hotel Okura Tokyo, which opened in 1962. In 1978, the company established Okura Hotels & Resorts, a collection of seven upscale hotels, which it has since grown to 25 properties across the world. In 2010, it acquired the two hotel chains operated by JAL Hotels Company – adding 40 Nikko Hotels International properties to its upscale portfolio and 12 mid-range establishments in the Hotel JAL City chain.

Where are they? There are 25 properties under the Okura Hotels & Resorts chain, although some do not have“Okura”in their names. There are 16 located in Japan, two in South Korea, and one each in Bangkok, Macau, Shanghai and Taipei. Then there are two in North America and one in Amsterdam. Of the Nikko Hotels, 21 are in Japan, 10 are in China, two are in Vietnam, and there is one each in San Francisco, Düsseldorf, Bali, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Palau and Guam. The 12 Hotel JAL City properties are located in Japan, with three in Tokyo and others in various cities such as Sendai,Yokohama and Hiroshima.

What are they like? The Okura hotels combine the type of luxury found in most international five-star hotel chains with some distinctly Japanese design touches and services.

The flagship Hotel Okura Tokyo is located in the city’s Roppongi district, home to various multinational firms and embassies. Its 796 rooms and suites are generally large and combine Western-

style luxury with elements of Japanese design. The hotel has an impressive eight restaurants, three bars and a Japanese tea ceremony room, along with a spa and fitness center with indoor pool, and two shopping arcades.

Are they for business travelers? The group’s Okura and Nikko hotels are located in prominent business cities and tend to be in – or close to – central business districts. They all offer wellequipped business centers. The rooms in the Okura hotels all offer broadband Internet access.

Is there a loyalty program? Okura Hotels & Resorts offers membership of the Okura Club International program, while JAL Hotels offers membership of the My JALHotels program. The two programs are reciprocal.

Visit okuru.com.