Tokyo, Japan – IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan (IHG) today announced a groundbreaking partnership with Hotel Management International Ltd (HMI), which operates a diverse portfolio of properties across Japan. The partnership will see three hotels rebranded as ANA Crowne Plaza, expanding IHG’s presence to three new destinations.
The three Crown Palais hotels, with a total of 539 rooms, will undergo extensive renovations and be transformed into ANA Crowne Plaza Kochi, ANA Crowne Plaza Chiryu and ANA Crowne Plaza Hamamatsu. They will join an extensive network of more than 20 ANA Crowne Plaza hotels across Japan and more than 400 Crowne Plaza hotels worldwide and will open in the first half of 2026.
Crowne Plaza is one of the world’s largest premium hotel brands, with properties in major cities, airports, resorts and suburbs around the world. These three hotels will benefit from brand recognition both in Japan and globally.
Abhijay Sandilya, CEO of IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan and Managing Director of IHG Hotels & Resorts Japan & Micronesia, said: “We are delighted and honoured to partner with Hotel Management International Co Ltd for the first time and to realise our shared vision for these three properties as ANA Crowne Plaza Hotels, the largest international premium hotel brand in Japan.
“The transformation of these hotels reflects the appeal of our brands, the value of IHG’s global business, backed by our strong local team and with the support of ANA. Together with HMI, we will lead these hotels into an exciting new chapter.
“Expanding the brand presence and adding three new destinations – Kochi, Chiryu and Hamamatsu – to our extensive portfolio across the country will offer guests new experiences and options, whether they are travelling for leisure, business or a mixed trip.”
These three hotels are known for their convenient locations, excellent facilities and hospitality. Crowne Plaza’s purposeful design, which offers flexible spaces for working, meeting and relaxing, while meeting guests’ needs for productivity, relaxation or socialising, will add value to the offering and attract a larger share of domestic and international travellers.
Ryuko Hira, President of Hotel Management International Co. Ltd, said: We are delighted to partner with IHG to convert three HMI Hotel Group hotels into ANA Crowne Plaza and become part of the global IHG system.
Having operated hotels throughout Japan for more than half a century, we are confident that the strength of IHG and the ANA Crowne Plaza brand will enable us to strengthen our offering and grow our business by attracting a wider range of travelers to our hotels.
Japan’s international arrivals have reached a record high of 17.7 million visitors in the first half of 2024 and are expected to reach 35 million, a record high for the country in 2024. Tourists are also looking to explore lesser-known destinations beyond the major cities – our newly branded hotels will add value to international guests while appealing to a larger share of domestic visitors.
HMI has been introducing guests to the charm of destinations across Japan. Through our partnership with IHG, we will set new standards in hospitality and support the Japanese government’s inbound policy, which aims to “create high value” and “attract visitors to local areas.”
ANA Crowne Plaza Kochi, ANA Crowne Plaza Chiryu and ANA Crowne Plaza Hamamatsu join the 20-hotel ANA Crowne Plaza portfolio in Japan, which also includes ANA Crowne Plaza Osaka and ANA Crowne Plaza Kanazawa. These three hotels complement IHG’s growing presence in Japan, which currently has 47 hotels open and 15 in the pipeline.
IHG Hotels & Resorts has a long presence in Japan and has grown into one of the country’s largest international operators. The company operates 47 hotels and over 14,000 rooms under eight world-class brands: Six Senses, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Hotel Indigo, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Express and voco hotels. Over the next three years, IHG will launch three new brands, including Regent Hotels & Resorts, Vignette Collection and Garner Hotels.
