After being operated as The Westin Awaji Island and managed by Yumebutai Co., Ltd. and Marriott International Inc. for 20 years, Nikko Hotels rebrands the property as a Grand Nikko and will operate under new management.
Located on the northern tip of Awaji Island, the hotel opened in March 2000 as the core facility of the Awaji Yumebutai hotel and conference center complex. It is easily accessible from Honshu via the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge, which boasts the longest central span of any suspension bridge in the world. As Japan’s first hotel to feature a resort-style conference center, it quickly became popular among guests from Japan and overseas. Over the years, it has provided a next-generation space where people, nature and culture could interact.
The rebranded Grand Nikko Awaji will offer 201 guest rooms, each with a standard area of about 42 square meters, from which guests can enjoy stunning views of Osaka Bay and the greenery of Akashi Kaikyo National Government Park. It will also feature four restaurants and a lounge, seven banqueting rooms, wedding facilities, a spa and fitness center with indoor and outdoor pools, and tennis courts. Each restaurant will serve dishes made with fresh ingredients from the seas around Awaji Island and fresh local produce. Away from the hustle and bustle of the city, guests can enjoy the resort atmosphere of Awaji Island and while away moments of peace and relaxation. The hotel will open on October 1, 2020.
Okura Nikko Hotel Management Co., Ltd. operates three hotel groups: Okura Hotels & Resorts, Nikko Hotels International and Hotel JAL City. “Grand Nikko”, the premium brand of Nikko Hotels International, aims to appeal to discerning guests’ finer senses in high quality surroundings. This brand concept aligns closely with that of Awaji Yumebutai, and this facilitated the conclusion of the new agreement.
Toshihiro Ogita, President, Okura Nikko Hotel Management Co., Ltd., commented, “We are very pleased to be welcoming our Grand Nikko brand hotel to the Kansai region, a major business and sightseeing hub. Currently, we are operating seven hotels—Kyoto Hotel Okura, Hotel Nikko Princess Kyoto, Hotel Nikko Osaka, Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport, Hotel Okura Kobe, Hotel Nikko Himeji, and Hotel Nikko Nara—in the Kansai area. I believe that the opening of the Grand Nikko Awaji will help further expand our network and enrich the portfolio of group hotels in this area.”
Okura Nikko Hotel Management Co., Ltd. operates 78 hotels in Japan and abroad, ranging from city hotels to resort hotels. The company will continue to showcase the attractions of Awaji Yumebutai and of Awaji island, one of the foremost resort areas in the Kansai region, and will promote them both in Japan and overseas through its network of properties.
Overview of Grand Nikko Awaji
Address: Yumebutai 2, Awaji city, Hyogo prefecture
Total floor space: 29,200 square meters
Layout: 10 floors
Number of guest rooms: 201
Facilities: 7 banquet halls, 4 restaurants, a lounge, a spa and fitness center with indoor and outdoor pools, wedding chapel
Access: By highway bus – about 15 minutes from JR Maiko station, about 45 minutes from JR Sannomiya station and about 60 minutes from Shin-Kobe station. By car – 90 minutes from Kansai International Airport, 60 minutes from Osaka city center, 30 minutes from Kobe city.
