Ramada International enters Japanese market with two agreements

Ramada International Hotels & Resorts, a division of Marriott International has announced two separate agreements, which will bring the Ramada brand to Japan

 Ramada International enters the Japanese hospitality market with the conversion of the 184-room Holiday Inn Kansai International Airport Hotel to the Ramada Hotel Kansai International Airport Izumisano-Osaka, under a franchise agreement with the Holiday Inn Osaka New Airport Co., Ltd. It is the 151st hotel in the Ramada International portfolio.

The Ramada Hotel Kansai International Airport is located approximately 15 minutes from the airport by complimentary shuttle or by train. It has two restaurants, Kiegetsu and The Patio. Other amenities include an outdoor  swimming pool, 130-space parking lot and a gift shop. For business functions, the hotel offers a 300-square-meter boardroom and a 40-square-meter meeting room.

Additionally, Ramada International has entered into a two-year development agreement with Loon Moon Group Ltd. of Tokyo for Ramada Encore hotels in the Kanto region of Japan, including the Tokyo  metropolitan area. It is expected that nine hotels, most in Tokyo, will open by 2006. Each Ramada Encore hotel is expected to have 150 rooms and all will be built over a three-year period. Encore hotels incorporate contemporary design and are intended to appeal to young-spirited travelers of all ages in the mid-priced, limited-service tier. Loon Moon will own and operate the hotels under a franchise agreement with Ramada International.

“Japan is an important market, and we are thrilled to be entering it in such a big way. We believe we are filling a major gap with our Encore product, which will provide affordable, stylish lodging options in the Tokyo area,” said Reas Kondraschow, senior vice president and managing director,  Ramada International Hotels & Resorts.