Japan at the Forefront: Highlights from the 2025 Far East Asia Edition of AHICE
The Asia Hotel Industry Conference and Exhibition (AHICE) 2025 recently gathered over 300 prominent Japanese investors and hoteliers at the Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa in Tokyo. The event reinforced Japan’s position as a global hub for hospitality investment and performance.
AHICE Far East Asia showcased a carefully curated agenda featuring industry leaders, executives, advisors, and suppliers from Japan and around the world. Notable speakers included executives from esteemed companies such as Blackstone, IHG Hotels and Resorts, Marriott International, and Accor, ensuring a wealth of insights and perspectives were shared.
The event commenced with an optimistic outlook from STR, highlighting Japan’s impressive hotel performance. Regional Director Matthew Burke noted that nine of the last twelve months had seen double-digit growth in Average Daily Rates (ADR) and RevPAR, indicating robust international tourism continuing to boost both major cities and rural destinations.
“While growth metrics have seen a natural deceleration, this continues to indicate that Japan’s market is sustainable in the longer term,” Burke stated. He also discussed how recent fluctuations due to external factors have been concerning but emphasized that positive indicators have re-emerged, especially with the upcoming Expo 2025 in Osaka.
Following Burke, Shiori Sakurai, STR’s sales manager for Japan, reinforced the positive outlook through a bilingual presentation, catering to a diverse audience and delivering key insights about Japan’s hospitality potential. Blackstone’s Daisuke Kitta emphasized ongoing growth prospects, particularly its substantial investment in the Tokyo Garden Terrace Kioicho, a landmark $2.6 billion acquisition highlighting foreign investor confidence in Japan.
Further discussions saw industry veterans like Gavin Weightman from Section L and Anshul Kaul from Edition analyze how global traveler trends are driving market evolution. With technology at the forefront of enhancing guest experiences, a “pop-up” INN Tech session gained significant interest. Experts from leading tech companies highlighted innovations shaping the hospitality landscape, showcasing Japan’s readiness to embrace advancements that boost operational efficiency and guest engagement.
Sir Steve Hansen, the Rugby World Cup-winning coach, added a unique perspective through a video call, discussing leadership lessons relevant across industries. This session underlined the conference’s diversity, marrying sports leadership with hospitality insights.
Marriott’s Yuji Tanaka shared the company’s ambitious growth plans in Japan, including the introduction of the luxury JW Marriott in Takanawa and significant renovations at premier properties. His optimism reflects the anticipated rise in inbound tourism from the U.S., Australia, and Europe, complementing Japan’s holistic growth strategy.
The discussion then pivoted to a panel featuring JLL’s James Abe, who guided an insightful investor session highlighting entry points and opportunities across Japan. Keynotes from executives at Axe Management Partners and Salter Brothers pointed to a resilient market favorable for investment, buoyed by growing domestic tourism and a robust hospitality framework.
With Japan’s continuous debut of luxury and lifestyle brands amid robust hotel performance metrics, executives from leading companies emphasized optimism about leveraging technology solutions and collaboration among stakeholders as critical components for sustained growth.
As the event unfolded, industry leaders towards the latter sessions echoed similar sentiments regarding Japan’s robust hospitality landscape. The consistent theme was clear: Japan is seeing an influx of travelers, and sustained growth is expected, albeit moderated by economic parameters such as interest rates.
CEO Nami Yamamoto shared her remarkable experience as a leader in one of the world’s oldest tea companies, fueling conversations about women in leadership within the hospitality sector, further diversifying the dialogue at the conference.
The conference culminated in an extravagant gala networking event, spotlighting opportunities for collaboration and partnerships, highlighted by exquisite local cuisine and a vibrant atmosphere of connectivity among industry leaders.
The AHICE Far East Asia 2025 left participants with enriched networks and collaborative opportunities, setting the stage for the next conference in Tokyo on September 29-30, 2026. With its impactful content and dynamic interactions, this event proved to be pivotal in addressing Japan’s evolving hospitality landscape.