Marriott Signs Hotel in Shinagawa, Tokyo

Mori Trust Group and Marriott have signed an agreement for the US hospitality company to convert the Gotenyama Garden Hotel Laforet Tokyo (Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo) to its flagship Marriott Hotels & Resorts brand.

Currently managed by Mori Trust and operated by Mori Trust Hotels & Resorts, the Gotenyama Garden Hotel Laforet Tokyo will be rebranded as the Tokyo Marriott Hotel and is expected to reopen in December 2013.

With this alliance, the Marriott Tokyo Hotel will be the fourth Marriott-brand hotel in Japan in addition to its properties in Okinawa, Nagoya and, in 2014, Osaka.

John Marriott, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Marriott International, Inc., said, “We are delighted to be working with Mori Trust here in Japan to open this wonderful hotel as a Marriott Hotels & Resorts property later this year. At its heart, Marriott International is very much a family company with strong cultural values. We believe that these values for people and business are shared with Mori Trust, and we look forward to a very long relationship with them in Japan. I would like to thank the executives of Mori Trust for choosing Marriott International, and I am delighted to be here today to announce this landmark deal between our two organizations.”

The rebranding of Gotenyama Garden Hotel Laforet Tokyo will see almost all facilities renovated to reopen as a more modern hotel in December 2013.

The open atrium (approximately 20m high and 600㎡) contains a restaurant and lounge, as well as a bar and terrace overlooking the Gotenyama Garden.

Rooms with an average size of 38㎡ are large enough to meet international standards. The main colour of the interior uses a palette of pale rose in memory of the time when Gotenyama was known for its cherry blossoms. Tokyo Marriott Hotel will also offer unique wedding opportunities, adding a newly-built waterfront chapel that faces the lush greenery of the Gotenyama garden, making it ideal as a romantic sanctuary.

Reservations for rooms and weddings will start from March, 2013.

Miwako Date, Mori Trust Hotels & Resorts President, said, “We are delighted to build a strong relationship with Marriott International, with its leading global network. Through this agreement, we aim to further internationalize Tokyo in the Shinagawa area. Taking advantage of its strategic location of Gotenyama, Trust Hotels & Resorts will work toward creating the new Tokyo Marriott Hotel that will be loved by people around the world.”

Shinagawa is one of the main stops on Japan’s bullet train Tokaido Shinkansen, with direct service from Haneda International Airport, and also soon to be the starting station of the Linear Central Shinkansen. Areas around Shinagawa station and Tamachi Station have been designated as an International Strategic Zone by the government. Mori Trust Group believes the Shinagawa area has great potential and aims to create a centre for international business and tourism with Marriott International, a collection of hotel brands offering quality service on a global scale.