Strategic Partnership Takes Minor Hotels into Japanese Luxury Market

Minor International Public Company Limited (MINT), the parent company of Minor Hotels, has announced a strategic partnership with Tokyo Stock Exchange-listed hotel and restaurant operator Royal Holdings Co., Ltd. (Royal). This partnership marks Minor Hotels’ entry into Japan’s luxury and lifestyle hotel market.

The partnership has led to the formation of Royal Minor Hotels Co., Ltd., a joint venture between Royal and Minor Hotels. The venture has plans to work alongside leading Japanese real estate developers to operate hotels under the three globally recognized Minor Hotels brands: Anantara, Avani, and Tivoli. The new hotels will be developed through management agreements and lease arrangements, aiming to open 21 hotels by 2035. The establishment of Royal Minor Hotels Co., Ltd is slated for March 2025.

This joint venture builds on a successful long-term franchise collaboration between MINT and Royal with the Sizzler brand in Japan. Royal’s local market knowledge will be combined with Minor Hotels’ international hospitality expertise due to its operation of 43 Richmond Hotels nationwide via its subsidiary, RNT HOTELS CO., Ltd. This combination aims to create a unique blend of Japanese and international luxury and lifestyle to attract domestic and international travelers.

The partnership will focus on key gateway business and leisure destinations within Japan. It plans to cater to the increasing demand for luxury and lifestyle travel by integrating Minor Hotels’ global expertise with local market insights to create appealing properties for a diverse range of travelers.

Royal’s operational support and market knowledge, coupled with Minor Hotels’ global expertise, will be leveraged for seamless execution and sustainable growth in Japan’s growing hospitality sector. The joint venture also plans to use Minor Hotels’ award-winning loyalty program, GHA DISCOVERY, to drive guest loyalty and attract new members to the expanding portfolio of hotels in Japan. The loyalty program will offer exclusive benefits and personalized experiences, adding to the appeal of the joint venture’s offerings.