An APA Hotel pavilion opened on October 2 at Kandu Makuhari, a children’s career-experience facility located within AEON Mall Makuhari New City in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. An opening event was held on the same day.
The pavilion has an orange exterior modeled after an actual hotel, with the hotel number “55” marking APA Hotel’s 55th anniversary. Children can choose from two courses, “Front Desk” and “Bed Making,” and wear APA Hotel uniforms while experiencing a series of hotel-staff duties: practicing smiles and bows, guiding guests through “1-Second Check-In,” searching for lost items, making beds, and assisting with check-out. The experience is for children aged 3 to 15 and takes 30 minutes.
Hiroyuki Suematsu, president and representative executive officer of AEON Mall Kids Dream, commented, “At Kandu, parents do more than simply accompany their children. They can take part as guests or watch over them nearby, making it a place where families can experience time together.” He added, “We hope visitors will see the expressions on the children’s faces when they put on an APA Hotel uniform.”
Kazuyuki Motoya, president and CEO of APA Group, spoke about the company’s business in the Makuhari area. He explained that the former Makuhari Prince Hotel, now operated as APA Hotel & Resort Tokyo Bay Makuhari, had 1,001 rooms when it was acquired, but expansion of the West Wing and East Wing has brought the total to 2,007 rooms. “Through this career experience, we want people who may one day become both our customers and our staff to experience what we do,” he said.
In addition, APA Group will relocate its corporate history museum, APA Museum, from APA Hotel & Resort Joetsu Myoko in Niigata Prefecture to the 48th and 49th floors of APA Hotel & Resort Tokyo Bay Makuhari on November 16. Working with Total Media Development Institute, which created Nissin Foods’ Cup Noodles Museum, the company will turn it into an interactive museum. APA Group aims to encourage visitors to move between the museum and the career-experience facility.
A rock-paper-scissors contest hosted by APA Hotel President Fumiko Motoya was also held on stage. When the curtain opened and Motoya appeared wearing her trademark hat, she was greeted with loud cheers. The contest began with the call, “First comes Apa!” Participants competed for prizes including APA President Curry featuring Japan’s national soccer team on the packaging, as well as non-retail Umaibo puffed corn snacks.
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