Matt Astro’s Post

Review: Conrad Tokyo The Conrad Tokyo is a gorgeous property in the Minato City ward of Tokyo and offers excellent service with a hard product to match. Click to see our review. #ConradTokyo #Conrad #Tokyo #Hilton #HiltonHonors #FrugalFlyer #MilesandPoints #HiltonDiamond #HotelReview

I have just booked one night at Tawaraya Ryokan in Kyoto, for my upcoming trip to Japan. This famous historic inn is commonly regarded as the best ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) in Japan/the world. It was quite a stressful process, considering I had just booked what is likely to be one of the most relaxing evenings I will ever experience. There are hundreds of ryokan in Kyoto. Trying to decide on which one isn't easy. There are lots of 'best ryokans' articles on the web, but there wasn't a clear winner consistent across all articles. Tawaraya doesn't have a website. Tawaraya can't be booked on any booking websites (you have to email the ryokan and wait for them to get back to you). Tawaraya was more expensive than the rest on my shortlist (but in no way the most expensive). I eventually narrowed it down to two ryokan. The other one was cheaper. The other one was in a better location. The other one had a shiny website with amazing pictures and descriptions. The other one had more excellent reviews on TripAdvisor. So why did I choose Tawaraya? Well, no website, inconvenient to book and expensive (three things which would normally turn me off) were surprisingly reassuring in this instance. But the main two reasons. 1. The stories. Not the stories they tell me on their website, the stories their clients have written about the place: "Over 300 years old." "Run by the same family for the past 12 generations." "The fabric on the futon was some impossibly fine cotton and the shiki-buton (mattress) was much thicker than any futon I’d ever slept on." "Perfect kaiseki cuisine." "The finest accommodation on earth." It means more when someone else talks about it. 2. The experience: "Sleep like a shōgun-era samurai at Kyoto's finest ryokan." "It is likely to be one of the true highlights of your trip and the memory of a lifetime." "I have NEVER experienced hospitality at this level.' "The moment you set foot inside, you're immersed in their world, a world where tradition infuses every corner of its design and hospitality." Get these two things right. Give people an experience that they want to gush about, and people will pay handsomely to experience it! The main reason behind my stress was that I didn't want to get this wrong. I wanted this experience to be one of the lasting memories of my life. I was going to have a great night, whichever ryokan out of the final two I chose. It could have been cheaper. It could have been in a better location. It could have been easier to book. But having the perfect experience, was the deciding factor. An emotional deciding factor, not a rational one. #experience #stories #emotionaldecision #brand

Dive into luxury living with the most exclusive resort properties in Japan. Find your home in MUWA Niseko, for extraordinary dreams deserve an extraordinary experience. Click the link in our bio or head over to https://uchijapan.com to learn more. ------ 日本で最も高級なリゾート物件でラグジュアリーな生活へ飛び込みましょう。 特別な夢には特別な体験がふさわしい。 詳細はバイオのリンクをクリックするか、https://uchijapan.com。 #UCHI #FindYourHomelnJapan #RealEstate

While the weakening yen is having an effect on the purchasing power of Japanese tourists and companies overseas, it is providing some benefits at home. Naturally, a weaker yen in dollar terms means that visits to Japan are relatively less expensive compared to previously. In the hotel sector, a report has found that average room rates in Tokyo are 30-40% cheaper than their counterparts in New York and Singapore. With the average rate at the end of March 2024 at roughly $177 dollars per night, many operators are now seeing an opportunity to increase prices whilst retaining visitor numbers. Alongside this shift, new luxury additions to the Tokyo hospitality scene will include the JW Marriott Hotel Tokyo and Hilton’s Waldorf Astoria Tokyo Nihonbashi, scheduled to open in 2025 and 2026 respectively. With visitor numbers topping a record 3 million in March, the highest since records began, it is clear that Japan’s post-COVID tourism boom is in full swing. Will the affordable yen prove to be another contributing factor to this? #Tokyo #Hotels #Tourism

More exciting news from Accor’s premium brand expansion in #Asia, with a special focus on #Japan. We’ve officially signed the Pullman Tokyo Ginza – a major milestone in the heart of Tokyo’s renowned Ginza district. Set to welcome #guests in late 2027, this signing reinforces our commitment to meet Japan’s growing demand for #premium accommodations, all while capitalizing on #Tokyo’s global appeal as a top #travel destination. Ginza’s reputation as a luxury shopping and lifestyle hub makes this location the perfect spot to attract a diverse range of guests, giving the Group more visibility in Japan’s competitive #hospitality scene. The Pullman Hotels & Resorts brand continues to play a key role in Accor’s growth strategy, solidifying our presence in Japan’s premium hospitality market. Stay tuned for more updates! Click the link below to read more. 📰 https://lnkd.in/g6vjAsSS #AccorHotels #PullmanHotels #Tokyo #JapanExpansion #LuxuryTravel

Osaka is one of the beautiful cities in Japan that attracts millions of tourists annually due to its rich culture, shopping centers, and numerous tourist attractions. An important point is choosing the best place to stay in Osaka, and by examining the best neighborhoods in Osaka together, we will choose the best place to stay in Osaka. Osaka offers various types of accommodations, including luxury hotels, furnished apartments, guesthouses, and hostels, with costs varying depending on the area you choose. You must consider factors such as location and budget to select the best place for your stay. Osaka consists of 24 wards and encompasses various neighborhoods with different amenities, each offering its own unique charm. In the following, we will delve into an analysis of the best areas in Osaka. https://lnkd.in/gNZTxVHJ

Hoshino Resorts, led by visionary CEO Yoshiharu Hoshino, is a Japanese hospitality company thriving in a global market. Their secret? Balancing tradition and innovation. Instead of simply expanding aggressively, Hoshino Resorts prioritizes quality over quantity. Their 68 properties offer exceptional experiences, each unique and focused on showcasing the best of Japanese hospitality, or "omotenashi." This culture-centric approach sets them apart, consistently earning them top spots on travel recommendation lists. Read the Skift article for a deeper dive: https://hubs.li/Q02pJndm0

Hotel as a catalyst: How do hotels become an integral part of the local community ecosystem? Moving beyond the social dynamics explored in my previous post, my journey through Tokyo's lifestyle boutique hotels revealed how these establishments deeply integrate with and serve as connectors to the local culture and economy. At each of these hotels I visited in Tokyo, I witnessed a deliberate effort by hotels to bridge guests with the surrounding community through both innovative and traditional means. Hotel Graphy enhances guest exploration by displaying a large map in the lounge area where staff pin suggestions for nearby businesses and attractions. This direct approach not only personalizes the stay but actively promotes local enterprises by urging visitors to discover the neighbourhood’s unique offerings. Taking it a step further, OMO5 introduces an interactive touch-panel map which has the latest word-of-mouth recommendations and real-time updates from shop owners. This digital engagement tool serves as more than a guide, it's a conduit for local businesses to connect with traveller’s, blending modern convenience with the warmth of local insight. Beyond guiding guests to local hotspots through interactive maps and recommendations, hotels like #Trunk, #Graphy, and #OMO5 deeply embed themselves within the local ecosystem through direct support of surrounding businesses. Trunk sources eco-friendly products from nearby vendors, Graphy serves guests with bread and biscuits from local bakeries, and OMO5 partners with a neighbourhood onigiri store and brewery to create a unique flavoured beer. These actions not only enrich the guest experience with authentic local elements but also strengthen the bond between the hotel, its guests, and the community. I was impressed at how each of these hotels, in their own way, looks beyond the confines of its physical presence to enrich and give identity to the different areas of Tokyo, encouraging guests to explore and engage with the local ecosystem. This not only enhances the guest experience but also reinforces the hotels' roles in the vitality and identity of their communities. The thoughtful initiatives of these lifestyle boutique hotels demonstrate the profound influence hotels can wield as community catalysts and supporters of local businesses. Their efforts reflect a commitment to enriching both guest experiences and the local community, proving that true hospitality extends far beyond the confines of a hotel. #TokyoHotels #CommunityEngagement #LocalEcosystem #SustainableHospitality #InnovativeTravel #GuestExperience #LocalCulture PS: What do you look for in your travel experiences? Do these ideas resonate with you, and are these the types of hotels you would want to stay in?

Hospitality requires reliability.

Did you know there are HOTELS in Japan for THIS? . #MentalHealthMatters #BreakTheStigma #EmbraceMoodVariations #SupportForCyclothymia #MindfulUnderstanding #BreakingBarriers #HealingJourney #EmbraceEmpathy #RaiseAwareness #CyclothymiaWarriors #YouAreNotAlone #EmpathyInAction #uk