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Fairfield’s “Michi-no-Eki” Portfolio Continues to Introduce New Hotels Across Four Prefectures, Inviting Travelers to Discover the Secret Gems of Rural Japan
Fairfield by Marriott, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of 30 extraordinary brands, today announced the planned openings of six new Fairfield properties in Japan. The new hotels slated to open in 2021 are: Fairfield by Marriott Mie Odai, Fairfield by Marriott Kyoto Minamiyamashiro, Fairfield by Marriott Tochigi Nikko, Fairfield by Marriott Wakayama Kushimoto, Fairfield by Marriott Wakayama Susami and Fairfield by Marriott Gifu Takayama Shokawa.
The openings continue the momentum of the innovative “Michi-no-eki” project, bringing six more Fairfield by Marriott hotels to key locations near roadside rest stations called “Michi-no-Eki”, across four prefectures in Japan. The new hotels are situated close to national parks and UNESCO World Heritage Sites, providing guests easy access to many undiscovered destinations.
“We are excited to continue the Fairfield by Marriott brand expansion in Japan this year, with the opening of six more hotels in collaboration with Sekisui House,” said Rajeev Menon, President, Asia Pacific (excluding China), Marriott International. “These new openings underscore Marriott International’s focus on growing our presence in Japan to serve travelers here. As we see the growing demand for self-drive travel, the new hotels will deliver on the brand’s principles of friendly service and warm hospitality in undiscovered destinations across Japan.”
Each one of the new hotels takes inspiration from its natural surroundings, delivering the beauty of simplicity for guests who appreciate a calming and reliable experience. Each of the hotels’ public areas serves as a flexible social space to share and connect with other travelers or simply to relax. Guests can expect a harmonious balance of functionality, comfort and enriching décor in natural materials and carefully selected amenities.
Fairfield by Marriott Mie Odai (72 rooms, opened March 9th, 2021)
Guests can immerse in the nature of Odai with activities including swimming in the crystal-clear waters of Miya River that runs through Odai, or spend the day fishing for ayu sweetfish in the river. For those who prefer the mountain, the hotel is near some of the most famous hiking trails in Japan, namely Osugidani and Mount Somon trails. The area is also known for its breathtaking sceneries including Nanatsugama Falls, which is selected as one of “Japan’s 100 Great Waterfalls". Fairfield by Marriott Mie Odai welcomes guests with comfortable spaces and warm hospitality that will recharge their senses, making this an ideal base for relaxing and discovering the area.
Fairfield by Marriott Kyoto Minamiyamashiro (50 rooms, opened March 12th, 2021)
Located 28 kilometres from Nara, Fairfield by Marriott Kyoto Minamiyamashiro allows guests to enjoy the local charms of Kyoto’s only village. At Michi-no-Eki Ocha no Kyoto Minamiyamashiro Village, guests can savour the delicious flavors of the local fresh produce including the Uji tea and log-grown shiitake mushrooms. They can take a stroll to enjoy the invigorating views of tea fields stretching out to the horizons, discover the historical temples and shrines, or admire the natural features along the Kizu River. The peaceful village can transport visitors away from the stress of urban living.
Fairfield by Marriott Tochigi Nikko (91 rooms, expected opening March 22nd, 2021)
Fairfield by Marriott Tochigi Nikko is located in Nikko, a town built around the Nikko Toshogu shrine, attracting visitors and worshippers. Culture seekers can indulge in some of Japan's best and most famous monuments, including Toshogu, Futarasan-jinja Shinto shrine and Rinno-ji Buddhist temple, which are all UNESCO World Heritage-listed. Nikko is also blessed with an abundance of natural beauty, including Kegon Falls, Lake Chuzenji and the great Mount Nantai. Travelers can marvel at the beautiful scenery of the area that changes with the seasons, and discover the traditional crafts of the Tochigi region, such as Nikko-bori woodcarving, Nikko-geta sandals and Kanuma-kumiko wood latticework.
Fairfield by Marriott Wakayama Kushimoto (90 rooms, expected opening April 14th, 2021)
Fairfield by Marriott Wakayama Kushimoto is located adjacent to Michi-no-Eki Kushimoto Hashigui-iwa, a roadside station that looks out to Hashigui-iwa Rocks, one of the famous natural wonders in Japan. Facing the Pacific Ocean on the southernmost point of Honshu, the largest island in the Japanese archipelago, Kushimoto is known for its splendid natural beauty. This popular area offers a range of activities, including swimming, scuba diving and walking along the ancient trails on the Ohechi route of the World Heritage-listed Kumano Kodo. Thanks to the Kuroshio current, the area also has an abundance of delicious seafood, including Kenken Katsuo (bonito), Japanese spiny lobster and Pacific bluefin tuna, which was successfully farmed for the first time in the world in this region.
Fairfield by Marriott Wakayama Susami (90 rooms, expected opening June 9th, 2021)
Fairfield by Marriott Wakayama Susami stands next to Michi-no-Eki Susami, which looks out onto the Pacific Ocean. The destination is known for its famous local cuisine and seasonal delights such as Mehari-zushi, and Kenken Katsuo (bonito) that is in season from spring to early summer. Another attraction of the area is Esuzaki, an island joined by land to the mainland, the ancient paths of Nagaizaka on the Ohechi route of the World Heritage-listed Kumano Kodo.
Fairfield by Marriott Gifu Takayama Shokawa (64 rooms, expected opening summer 2021)
Fairfield by Marriott Gifu Takayama Shokawa is surrounded by rich natural beauty including the clear mountain streams and the famous ancient Shokawa Sakura - two cherry blossom trees that have stood on the shore of Lake Miboro for the last 500 years. The magnificent surrounding mountains provide the perfect backdrop for guests to unwind and relax at the hot spring, Ouka no Yu, next to the hotel. One should not miss the local exquisite produce, including Hida Beef, now famous nation-wide, and hand-kneaded soba noodles made from millstone-ground buckwheat grown in the hills around Hida.
“Fairfield by Marriott offers travelers access to remote destinations in Japan whilst ensuring that guests can count on The Fairfield Promise – from the hotel’s level of service to accommodations, if a guest is ever not satisfied with their stay, Fairfield will make it right,” said Masahiro Taguchi, Project Director of Fairfield by Marriott’s Michi-no-Eki portfolio. “We look forward to welcoming more travelers to discover the wonderful secrets of rural Japan, including its beautiful landscapes, local produce and cuisines, traditional crafts and historic destinations.”
Note on forward-looking statements: This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of U.S. federal securities laws, including expected hotel openings and similar statements concerning anticipated future events and expectations that are not historical facts. We caution you that these statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to numerous evolving risks and uncertainties that we may not be able to accurately predict or assess, including those we identify below and other risk factors that we identify in our U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. Risks that could affect forward-looking statements in this press release include the duration and scope of COVID-19, including the availability and distribution of effective vaccines or treatments; its short and longer-term impact on the demand for travel, transient and group business, and levels of consumer confidence; actions governments, businesses and individuals have taken or may take in response to the pandemic, including limiting or banning travel and/or in-person gatherings or imposing occupancy or other restrictions on lodging or other facilities; the impact of the pandemic and actions taken in response to the pandemic on global and regional economies, travel, and economic activity, including the duration and magnitude of COVID-19’s impact on unemployment rates and consumer discretionary spending; the ability of our owners and franchisees to successfully navigate the impacts of COVID-19; the pace of recovery when the pandemic subsides or effective treatments or vaccines become widely available; general economic uncertainty in key global markets and a worsening of global economic conditions or low levels of economic growth; the effects of steps we and our property owners and franchisees have taken and may continue to take to reduce operating costs and/or enhance certain health and cleanliness protocols at our hotels; the impacts of our employee furloughs and reduced work week schedules; our voluntary transition program and our other restructuring activities; competitive conditions in the lodging industry; relationships with customers and property owners; and the availability of capital to finance hotel growth and refurbishment. Any of these factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations we express or imply in this press release. We make these forward-looking statements as of the date of this press release, and undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
About Fairfield by Marriott
Fairfield by Marriott was founded on the principles of warm, trusted service and friendly hospitality inspired by its unique heritage as the namesake of the Marriott family retreat, the Fairfield Farm. Its contemporary, uplifting design provides an effortless experience for guests to maintain their routines while on the road. Evoking the feelings of calming simplicity, Fairfield offers thoughtfully designed guestrooms and suites that provide separate quality living, working and sleeping areas. With over 1,130 properties in 13 countries and territories, Fairfield is proud to participate in Marriott Bonvoy, the global travel program from Marriott International. The program offers members an extraordinary portfolio of global brands, exclusive experiences on Marriott Bonvoy Moments and unparalleled benefits including free nights and Elite status recognition. To enroll for free or for more information about the program, visit MarriottBonvoy.com. For more information or reservations, visit Fairfield.marriott.com.
About Marriott International
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of more than 7,600 properties under 30 leading brands spanning 133 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts all around the world. The company offers Marriott Bonvoy™, its highly-awarded travel program. For more information, please visit our website at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com. In addition, connect with us on Facebook and @MarriottIntl on Twitter and Instagram.