Minor Hotels makes a major investment in Japan

Fast-growing hospitality group Minor Hotels International is set to enter Japan’s luxury and lifestyle hotel market with three of its brands.

Thai-based Minor, with more than 550 hotels and resorts worldwide across eight brands, has teamed up with hotel operator Royal Holdings Co in a strategic partnership. 

The joint venture will be called Royal Minor Hotels Co., Ltd and will boost Minor Hotels’ presence in the Japanese market.

The joint venture will introduce three Minor Hotels brands: Anantara, Avani, and Tivoli, news hub Travel Mole reports.

The hotels will be developed through both management agreements and lease arrangements, with a target set of 21 hotels by 2035.

MINT and Royal have previously worked together to introduce the Sizzler brand in Japan.

Royal operates 43 Richmond Hotels across Japan through its subsidiary, RNT Hotels Co.

The new business will focus on key business and leisure destinations.

“We are thrilled to expand our presence in the Japanese market, a key growth area for our company,” said Dillip Rajakarier, Group CEO of Minor International.

Air NZ and Singapore Airlines to continue successful partnership

Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines have reached agreement to continue what has been a hugely successful joint venture.

The two national flag carriers will work together until at least March 2029, Travelmole reported.

The agreement allows the airlines to continue offering more flight options and access to their combined networks.

Over the course of a 10-year partnership, Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines have grown the seat capacity between New Zealand and Singapore by nearly 50%.

This includes the addition of up to three daily flights between Auckland and Singapore, and a daily service between Christchurch and Singapore.

Air NZ Chief Transformation and Alliances Officer Mike Williams said: “The partnership gives New Zealanders access to the world beyond the Singapore gateway into destinations in Europe, India and south-east Asia.”

The airline joint venture partners will operate a total of four daily seasonal services between Auckland and Singapore from October 27, 2024, to March 29, 2025.

With a fourth daily seasonal service between Auckland and Singapore, the carriers will jointly operate 38 return flights weekly between New Zealand and Singapore during peak months.

This translates to more than 893,000 seats available every year.