Marriott swoops to sign up Japanese hotels

If you've booked into an independent hotel in Japan for the summer season you might just find yourself staying in a Marriott.

Marriott International has just signed a re-branding deal with Japan’s HMI Hotel Group to convert seven existing HMI properties in five major Japan cities.

The deal will see the hotels rebranded to Marriott Hotels and Courtyard by Marriott properties, Travel Mole reports.

The Marriott Hotels properties rebranded are:

Grand Hotel Hamamastu to Hamamastu Marriott in Naka-ku, Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture

Hotel Heian no Mori Kyoto to Kyoto Marriott in Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture

Hotel Crown Palais Kobe to Kobe Marriott in Chuo-ku, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture

Rizzan Seapark Hotel Tancha Bay to Okinawa Marriott Rizzan Resort & Spa in Onna Village, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa Prefecture

The properties planned for Courtyard by Marriott are:

Hotel Pearl City Kobe to Courtyard by Marriott Kobe in Chuo-ku, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture

Hotel Crown Palais Kokura to Courtyard by Marriott Kokura in Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka Prefecture

Hotel Crown Palais Kitakyushu to Courtyard by Marriott Kitakyushu in Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture

“We are very pleased to welcome these properties to the fast-expanding portfolio of Marriott International properties across Japan,” said Rajeev Menon, president, Asia Pacific excluding China, for Marriott International.

“Conversion continues to drive a robust growth for the company on a global scale.”

The Japanese hotels are located in several of the country’s most popular travel destinations.

Two new hotel choices on offer in Melbourne

The tourism industry is back in a big way in Melbourne with two international hotel brands unveiling new properties this week. 

The newcomers are Courtyard by Marriott Melbourne Flagstaff Gardens (above) and the suburban inner-north Novotel Melbourne Preston (below). 

They open in time for the start of the AFL season and ahead of the Formula One Grand Prix.

Courtyard by Marriott, part of the Marriott International hotel portfolio, welcomed the arrival of its first Melbourne property, located in Batman Street and adjacent to the picturesque Flagstaff Gardens. 

The 150-room hotel is a short distance from some of Melbourne's premier sporting venues (including Marvel Stadium), Queen Victoria Market and green spaces. 

“We are thrilled to be bringing the Courtyard by Marriott brand to Melbourne – with the inclusion of this location, we are on track to offering 10 operational hotels in the Melbourne market ” said Marriott area vice president for Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Sean Hunt. 

Opening rates from $205. For more information see www.courtyardmelbourneflagstaffgardens.com

In Preston, meanwhile, 9km from the city centre the former Mantra Bell City has undergone a multi-million dollar revamp to emerge as a Novotel. 

The hotel features 383 guest rooms, suites and fully self-contained studio apartments and is surrounded by vintage shops, cafés, bars and a diverse range of restaurants.

GCP Hospitality CEO and co-founder Christophe Vielle said: "The opening of Novotel Melbourne Preston is a crucial milestone for GCP Hospitality as it demonstrates our dedication to expanding our hotel portfolio in Australia. 

"Combining comfort, convenience and boasting a great location within easy reach of Melbourne's CBD and top attractions, Novotel Melbourne Preston is poised to be an exciting destination for business travellers and tourists alike."

The hotel will be home to a new on-site restaurant, The Stampton, when it opens next month.

Entry rates start from $180 per room per night, including car parking, a bottle of wine and market platter on arrival. To book, visit all.com

Perth's Murdoch precinct to gain an international hotel

The fast-expanding Murdoch Health and Knowledge precinct in Perth will be home to a new-build Courtyard by Marriott hotel.

Marriott International has signed an agreement with local developers Hesperia to introduce the Courtyard by Marriott brand to one of Western Australia’s fastest growing commercial and residential catchments.

"We are thrilled to be working with Hesperia to bring the Courtyard by Marriott brand to Perth," said Richard Crawford, vice president for hotel development, Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific.

"Murdoch is a large-scale health and knowledge precinct and the signing of Courtyard by Marriott Perth, Murdoch further underscores Marriott International's continued effort in expanding into urban growth corridors outside of Australia's capital cities."

Located 10 minutes from Perth CBD and 25 minutes from Perth Airport, Courtyard by Marriott Perth Murdoch will offer proximity to existing institutional and corporate demand generators including Western Australia's largest tertiary hospitals, Murdoch University, the South Metro TAFE Campus and one of Perth's fastest growing districts.

"With two Courtyard by Marriott hotels already open in Australia, and five more in our pipeline, it is very satisfying to see the Courtyard brand gaining such momentum here," Crawford said.

Hesperia director Kyle Jeavons said the hotel will be a perfect alignment with the precinct.

"The Courtyard by Marriott will deliver an inviting experience that is suitable for the precinct and the broad range of users it will attract," Jeavons said. 

"When selecting the right mix of partners for a complex mixed-use project such as this, it is essential to align with groups that share our philosophy in customer service and hospitality and we're pleased to be bringing the Courtyard by Marriott brand to Perth."

The hotel is slated to feature 150 guest rooms, feature an all-day dining restaurant with a semi-open kitchen concept, a café and bar. Additional plans call for a well-equipped fitness centre and one meeting room, which will be equipped with state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment and wireless internet.

Marriott International currently operates 35 hotels across Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific, with 26 hotels in Australia, and several expected to open by the end of 2021, including Melbourne Marriott Hotel Docklands and The Tasman, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Hobart.