Rihga Royal Hotel (Osaka) Joins ‘Vignette Collection’ with New Uniforms by Junko Koshino

On April 1, Rihga Royal Hotel (Osaka) will be the first in Japan to join IHG Hotels & Resorts’ collection brand “Vignette Collection.” The announcement was made on January 16, marking the hotel’s 90th anniversary.

The hotel will also change its name to “Rihga Royal Hotel Osaka Vignette Collection” on the same day. From June 30, 2024, reservations can be made through IHG channels, offering perks for IHG One Rewards members. The hotel, which does not have international bases, had seen organizing its reservation network as a challenge.

Rihga Royal Hotel (Osaka) opened in 1935 as the New Osaka Hotel and is known as the first hotel in Japan to introduce air conditioning. It moved to its current location in 1965, when the hotel name was publicly solicited through newspapers, with “Osaka Royal Hotel” selected from 90,000 entries. A new wing, now known as the East Wing, opened in 1973.

In January 2023, Rihga Royal Hotel entered into a capital and business alliance with BentallGreenOak, a member of the Canadian life insurance group Sun Life Financial, agreeing to transfer the trust beneficiary rights of Rihga Royal Hotel (Osaka) and other assets. BentallGreenOak Group has invested approximately 800 billion yen in real estate in Japan and plans to invest more than 300 billion yen in hotel assets. Royal Hotel is poised to sign priority operator contracts.

A significant renovation covering all guest rooms, lobby, restaurants, and lounges is underway, with a total investment of 13.5 billion yen, aiming for completion by the end of March 2024. The main lobby renovation concluded in November, preserving the design by architect Isoya Yoshida while incorporating water and river motifs from Nakanoshima. “All Day Dining REMONE” reopened after renovations on December 1, and the club lounge opened on December 17. The number of guest rooms will decrease from 1,039 to 1,001.

On January 16, the menu and service style of “All Day Dining REMONE” were revised. The breakfast buffet now includes international dishes such as Korean-style sushi rolls called “Kimbap” and Swiss-originated cereal “Bircher Muesli,” along with locally originated meat udon and kitsune udon from Osaka. Dinner features Osaka’s specialty “kushi-katsu” skewers. Vegan options are available throughout the day. Lunch & tea time is offered with two types, a lunch & sweets buffet and a sweets buffet, while dinner is a semi-buffet.

Starting February 5, the hotel will hold “Inbound Activity” programs at its cultural school “École de Royal” for guests. Participants can experience traditional crafts, Ikebana (flower arrangement), calligraphy, and more, guided by expert instructors. On April 1, the hotel will release newly designed uniforms for the accommodation department, crafted by world-renowned fashion designer Junko Koshino.

Under the brand commitments of the “Vignette Collection,” such as “Driving Positive Change” and “Memorable Rituals,” the hotel plans a program teaching table manners to children in need from the local area. Additionally, they will introduce a feature that allows guests to select music played in the lobby during check-in, utilizing a self-playing piano.

As a full-service hotel with many guest rooms and banquet halls, the hotel anticipates increased demand related to MICE events for the Osaka-Kansai Expo and heightened recognition among international visitors. With initial inquiries already underway for general banquets in connection with the Expo, the hotel expects order acceptance to intensify. The average room rate has already risen by more than 5,000 yen, with an increase of over 10,000 yen expected by the Expo’s start in April. The forecast for Royal Hotel’s foreign guest rate stands at 42.1% with an average room rate of 16,137 yen for the April-September 2024 period, exceeding pre-COVID levels.

IHG Hotels & Resorts currently operates 47 hotels in Japan, including 17 in the luxury & lifestyle categories. They plan to open 16 more, which include seven in the same category. Rihga Royal Hotel (Osaka) has a rich history, having hosted royalty and international dignitaries, establishing itself as a unique entity.