All Nippon Airways and InterContinental Hotels Group have joined forces in Japan through the formation
of a multi-brand hotel management joint venture to be named IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan which will manage the hotels under the ANA Hotels & Resorts Co. Ltd…
All Nippon Airways and InterContinental Hotels Group have joined forces in Japan through the formation
of a multi-brand hotel management joint venture to be named IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan which will manage the hotels under the ANA Hotels & Resorts Co. Ltd, (AHR) portfolio. Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels acted as the exclusive advisor to ANA on joint venture partner selection and structuring, and contract negotiation.
From 1 December 2006, ANA`s 13 owned and leased hotels including ANA Hotel Tokyo and Manza Beach Hotel and Resort
will be gradually co-branded with IHG`s brands such as InterContinental and Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn. While the flagship ANA Hotel Tokyo will adopt its new co-branded identity, ANA-InterContinental Tokyo, in April 2007, the remaining 12 hotels will unveil their new identities over the following 18 months. IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan will also oversee the existing InterContinental, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn hotels in Japan, thus creating an integrated
management platform for the combined estate of 42 hotel properties.
Mr. Scott Hetherington, Managing Director of Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels in Asia, considers it a great honour to be able to assist ANA in negotiating this strategic partnership. The new joint venture will have all the necessary weapons for strategic long-term growth of its hotel business. Apart from leveraging the strengths of well established multi-brands and expanded international sales/marketing and distribution systems, the company will also be able to draw on cutting edge employee development schemes to encourage talent retention and an enhanced frequent guest program to
improve customer experience. Financially-focused hotel owners will also be well-served by a sophisticated reporting system, said Mr. Hetherington.
Explained Mr. Tomohiko Sawayanagi, Executive Vice President of Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels, As a hotel
owner, ANA is continuously seeking to increase asset value by enhancing hotel performance and has been looking for a partner who can help bring about that enhancement. ANA has also been looking for a partner with a large-scale presence in China, where ANA focuses on as an airline company and sees potential for strategic synergy. At the same time, IHG
has been searching for a Japanese partner with whom it can build a platform for its business expansion in Japan, the world`s second largest economy. The joint venture will be a `win-win` arrangement for both parties as they will be able to build a sustainable advantage through the co-branding strategy and achieve their long-term business objectives.
Mr. Sawayanagi added, Unlike a simple hotel property sale or change of operator, a joint venture involving the
restructuring of hotel operation business between two enterprises brings with it additional challenges as it entails uniting two different cultures and systems. We admire the decision made by the two companies` top executives and wish them great success with the joint venture.
