Accor launches second Novotel in Japan

Accor has announced the strategic addition of a second Novotel in Japan, with the rebranding of The Hotel Yokohama to TheYokohama Novotel. Accor is scheduled to assume management of the hotel (fondly referred to as "The  Yoko") in July and will rebrand it to a Novotel once a significant refurbishment program is completed by the owners in September.

The centrally located 166-room hotel is situated opposite Yamashita Park, facing directly onto Yokohama Harbour and the historic Port of Yokohama. Occupying a site where the former US Consulate was located, the hotel is owned by K.K.The Hotel Yokohama.

"Yokohama, as Japan's second largest city and major international port was a natural choice for our next Novotel in Japan," said Mr David Baffsky, Chairman of Accor Asia Pacific. "It is the right time to concentrate on growth in Japan. The country is an important part of Accor's expansion and visibility and our next objective will be to bring Novotel to Tokyo.

"The Yokohama Novotel will benefit significantly from Novotel's strong international brand recognition, helping to attract more overseas visitors, particularly from North Asia. From just one hotel twelve months ago, Accor now has seven hotels in Japan, with plans to announce more in the near future."

Close to the city's main business district, shopping, entertainment and nightlife, The Yokohama Novotel is perfectly positioned for both the corporate and leisure markets. It provides easy access to the ultra modern new waterfront development of Minato Mirai 21 with office, convention, museum, dining and shopping facilities including the Yokohama Art Museum,  Landmark Tower, Queens Square shopping malls, the Cosmo World amusement park, a pier and a waterfront park. The hotel is also next to bustling Chinatown.

As part of the rebranding, the hotel will undergo a renovation and refurbishment program. After refurbishment is complete in September, The Yokohama Novotel will feature an extensive range of business, leisure and function facilities including two restaurants, a street-level café, bar, beauty salon, conference facilities, undercover parking and a new chapel and wedding facilities. The Yokohama Novotel joins a network of more than 370 Novotel hotels and resorts in more than 61 countries. It will be the second Novotel in Japan, joining the Novotel Koshien Osaka West, as well as other Accor hotels - Sofitel Tokyo, Sofitel The Cypress Nagoya, Mercure Narita (opening mid-2003), Formule 1 Numazu and Formule 1 Isesaki.