Choice seals Japan presence with 100th property opening
The recently opened 12-storey Comfort Hotel Chitose in Chitose City, gateway to popular tourism destination Hokkaido, is said to be a brand milestone for the Choice Hotels globally underscoring the scale of the Comfort brand in one of the group’s most established international markets.
The newest property featuring 142 guest rooms is conveniently located near JR Chitose Station and is conveniently serviced by New Chitose Airport, the second busiest airport in Japan. Growth in Chitose is underpinned by large-scale investments into next-gen semiconductor facilities and research institutions.
CEO Choice Hotels Japan, Takahiko Ito, said Comfort Hotel Chitose strengthens Choice Hotels’ presence in a key gateway destination for both domestic and international travellers seeking value midscale accommodation and reliable hospitality.
“This opening represents our growing long-term market commitment and brand maturity in Japan, while mirroring the growing presence of the Choice Hotels brands across Asia. We’ve consistently delivered on global brand standards, providing customers with a premium guest experience in each of our 99 other Choice Hotels-branded properties across Comfort and Ascend Collection, and we look forward to bringing this experience to more travellers with the signing of this hotel,” Ito said.
Key markets of growth for Choice Hotels Asia-Pac over the past year included over 85 new hotels opening in the region, largely in part to the signing of 63 new Ascend Collection properties in China under the SSAW distribution agreement and the launch of extended stay brand, Mainstay Suites, with seven locations in Australia. The Choice Hotels network also welcomed three other new Comfort hotels to Japan, as well as six new hotels in India and 12 new hotels across Australia and New Zealand.
“The past 12 months have been a strong period of growth for Choice Hotels across the Asia-Pacific region, and we are delighted to celebrate another great milestone achievement and welcome Comfort Hotel Chitose into our property portfolio, our 100th hotel in Japan,” Choice Hotels Asia-Pac CEO, Trent Fraser said.
“With tourism in Japan seeing consistently strong growth, we are proud to be servicing more domestic and international travellers with the opening of our seventh Comfort Hotel in Hokkaido.”