IHG to open Regent Hotel in Kyoto

IHG has signed a Regent Hotel in Kyoto.

Set within an 100-year old garden that was landscaped by renowned gardener, Kumakichi Kato, the 86-room Regent Kyoto’s location is currently home to the famous restaurant, Tsuruya, which is recognized among Kyoto’s top dining destinations, having held a number of Michelin Stars over the years.

With more than 100 years’ history, Tsuruya is housed in a sukiya-style wooden building that was designed by celebrated architect Isoya Yoshida. It was originally developed as accommodation for the Japanese imperial family and honorable guests for their visits to Kyoto, and has welcomed some of the most important cultural and political figures in the world, including members of the Japanese imperial family, Queen Elizabeth II, George Bush and François Mitterrand, among other heads of state and dignitaries.

Regent Kyoto will be designed to incorporate Tsuruya and the gardens, and will offer everything guests would expect from an upper-luxury hotel, including a lobby lounge, fitness center and spa, along with several restaurants in addition to Tsuruya.

The Regent Kyoto is scheduled to open in 2024.

Sakae Sugahara, director & partner, chief investment officer, GI Capital Management, said, “When we made the decision to develop a luxury hotel at one of Kyoto’s most prestigious addresses, which is home to the famous Tsuruya restaurant and gardens, we knew that that the hotel would need to be highly respectful and complementary to Kyoto’s heritage and sit a level above other luxury properties in the market. Following a long selection process, it became clear that Regent was the perfect fit: with its deep heritage and serene and imaginative design, it will bring a modern era of upper-luxury to Kyoto. We are proud to partner with IHG Hotels & Resorts to open Japan’s first Regent Hotel under IHG management, and look forward to a successful future together.”

The highly respected Regent Hotels & Resorts brand was founded by hotelier Robert H Burns in 1970 and acquired by IHG and Formosa in 2018. Since then, IHG has added six hotels to the pipeline, including Regent Shanghai, Regent Phu Quoc, Regent Bali, Regent Kuala Lumpur and Regent Hong Kong.

© Travel News Asia