Starwood to launch St. Regis Hotel Brand in Osaka

Starwood Hotels & Resorts has entered into an operating lease agreement with Sekisui House to lease a 159-room new-build St Regis Hotel, located at the intersection of Midosuji Avenue and Honmachi street, in the central business district of Osaka City, Japan. Midosuji is a 4 kilometer long avenue running through central Osaka from north to south, and is a wide boulevard lined with major public institutions, offices and exclusive luxury brand shops.

"We are thrilled with the landmark entry of St. Regis brand into Japan! The Osaka hotel market has not seen entry of internationally branded hotels over the last five years or so and St. Regis Hotel, Osaka will be the first significant opening in the city. Its strategic location on the Midosuji Avenue, which is for Osaka what the Champs Elysees is for Paris, combined with the uncompromising, bespoke service of the St. Regis brand, will make this property an extremely attractive choice for the most discerning travelers," said Lothar Pehl, Regional Vice President for Starwood Hotels & Resorts in Japan, Korea and Guam.

As Japan's second most important city with a population of 10 million and with an average Gross Domestic Product larger than that of South Korea, the Greater Osaka region is one of Japan's most prominent economic and commercial centers. Osaka, historically the commercial center of Japan, is emerging as Japan's gateway to Asia. Osaka is also traditionally known as the gourmet food capital of Japan, with its diverse and refined culinary offerings and cultures.

Facilities at the St. Regis Hotel, Osaka will be situated between 11th and 27th floors of a mixed-use building and will include 2 specialty restaurants, a bar, a Remède Spa, over 4,500 square feet of function space, including a wedding chapel and a stunning roof-top garden facing the 12th floor hotel lobby. The Osaka City Government issued a special permit to Sekisui House that allows the mixed-use building to be built as a 140-meter tall landmark. The St. Regis Hotel, Osaka is scheduled to open in 2010.

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