Last 200 days
~Our Yokohama Royal Park Hotel ~

What kind of hotel is your favorite memory?

What would you do if you were asked such a question?

A dish from that restaurant where I celebrated my birthday with my family.
That guest room that you stretched a little to reserve for a special proposal.
That beautiful night view from the hotel room.

I'm sure each one brings to mind a scene where you spent precious time together.

Hotels are special places that give you a little something out of the ordinary in your everyday life.
Even though the days are the same as usual, the time spent there, the people you met, and the tastes you experienced will become unforgettable memories.

To bring back those memories, I decided to visit Yokohama Royal Park Hotel.

"I joined the company in April 1993, the same year that Yokohama Royal Park Hotel opened. I feel like it's fate."

Takahisa Tomoda, General Manager of the Accommodations Department at Yokohama Royal Park Hotel is the man who can instantly lighten the mood with his friendly demeanor.

As a staff member who was there when the hotel first opened, he has observed the hotel's evolution more closely than anyone else.
I remember the day when I felt an indescribable sense of elation as I watched furniture and decorations being brought into the empty guest rooms one by one, and the "hotel" taking shape in the blink of an eye.

"When Yokohama Royal Park Hotel opened, Minato Mirai was in the midst of development. There were hardly any hotels or commercial facilities, and the area was full of vacant lots."

Given that it was happening under these circumstances, the opening of Yokohama Landmark Tower attracted a great deal of attention. A spectacular ceremony was held, and many stakeholders, media, and visitors visited the hotel.

"I was first assigned to the room service department, where my job was to prepare the guest rooms to welcome our guests. On the day of the opening, the opening ceremony was being held outside, but we were busy behind the scenes. I remember always running around (laughs)."

Thirty years have passed and Minato Mirai has developed into a major tourist destination. Even now that it has become a popular tourist destination, it continues to evolve with the opening of a large arena, new hotels, and commercial facilities.

"Hospitality with the city."

In line with this concept, Yokohama Royal Park Hotel has also changed in line with the evolution of the Minato Mirai area.

"When we were younger, it wasn't so easy to just stay in a hotel, but now people of all ages stay here casually. I think that this is largely due to the influence of social media and online booking services. Looking at our customers' social media posts, we are often reminded that 'I didn't know that this kind of place could be an attractive place,' and we often get ideas for new initiatives and measures."

"Change is good." Tomoda repeats this phrase many times.
Although the temporary closure is a little sad, it is also a good opportunity for Yokohama Royal Park Hotel to be reborn. He remains positive and looks forward to seeing how the hotel will change when it reopens.
However, there is one thing that he is sad about regarding the closure.
It was a farewell to the staff who had worked together for many years.

"It will be a shame. The atmosphere among staff in Yokohama is extremely friendly, and when major international conferences, sporting events, live music events, and the like are held, each department works together to welcome guests. It is not something that can be handled by one person or one department alone; it tests the strength of the team, so I think that regular, level communication is key."

Tomoda says that ultimately, a hotel is all about its people.
The service, the cleanliness of the rooms, the taste of the food served. All of these things are embodied in the person. That is why they are polished by the person and created by the person.

"After the temporary closure was announced, we received a lot of kind words from customers and neighboring businesses. People said they were sad, wondered what would happen when we reopened, and what the staff would do while we were closed. Some even expressed concern for us staff members. Hearing such words warms my heart, and at the same time, it reminds me once again that our customers, and more than anything, our staff members, really love Yokohama Royal Park Hotel. It makes me feel a sense of responsibility to cherish the remaining 200 days and welcome our guests back."

Cherish each and every day and each and every customer.
The new Yokohama Royal Park Hotel will surely be born from there.

"I've spent more than half my life here. For me, the Yokohama Royal Park Hotel is a part of my everyday life, but for our guests it is something out of the ordinary. That's why I still feel a bit of good tension when I provide service. I want to keep this feeling forever."

As he spoke, Tomoda's smile revealed his optimistic attitude toward the future.

When you think of people working in a glamorous hotel, you probably think of bell staff and front desk staff. However, there are actually many behind-the-scenes jobs in hotels that are invisible to the naked eye.

Among the behind-the-scenes staff, there is one who has special feelings about the temporary closure: Sakiko Ikeda of the Accommodation Business Planning Division.

"The turning point for me personally was when I was transferred to my current position in the Accommodation Business Planning Division. Until then I had worked as a bell staff member and had other jobs that involved interacting with customers, but working behind the scenes gave me the opportunity to discover that I could still support the hotel from this position."

Mr. Ikeda's job mainly involves planning Accommodation Plan.
Yokohama Royal Park Hotel boasts the largest Rooms in Minato Mirai with 603 rooms, and has five room categories and a wide variety of room types, so it offers plans to meet a wide range of stay needs. In addition, it plans its plans taking into account seasonal demand and demand for sports and events unique to tourist destinations.
What kind of Accommodation Plan should we offer and when should we offer it to meet these needs? These are the questions we face in our daily work.

That's why the news of the temporary closure means a lot to me.

"To be honest, we were surprised because even our staff never thought we'd have to close. While we were anxious about what would happen, we created this closing plan because we wanted repeat customers to come back in the short time we have left, and we also wanted first-time customers to take this opportunity to come and stay at Yokohama Royal Park Hotel."

As the phrase "lifelong customer" suggests, a single experience at a hotel can be an important turning point in a person's life, and can lead to a long-lasting relationship. That's why that "first step" is so important. Ikeda's wish for that first experience to be something special was put into the closing plan.

"The Club, the sky resort floor on the 65th and 66th floors, is the highest rank within Yokohama Royal Park Hotel. By offering accommodation on this floor at a more reasonable price than usual, we hope to provide you with an extraordinary, slightly luxurious experience, and a memorable time."

Yokohama Royal Park Hotel is a full-service hotel, and the views from its high floors are an unparalleled attraction, making it a popular choice for special occasions such as anniversaries, for example, proposals, weddings, and subsequent anniversaries.
To be honest, Ms. Ikeda herself is one of those who have reached a turning point in her life at the Yokohama Royal Park Hotel. It was here that she first started her life as a working professional, where she held her wedding and where she continues to work even now, after having a child and moving on to a new stage in her life.

"This hotel is truly irreplaceable to me. When I took my maternity leave, I did consider quitting, but I still wanted to come back and continue working here, and I think that's because I love this hotel and the people."

Ikeda's words made it clear that he had a lot of love for the hotel.

I would love to stay at Yokohama Royal Park Hotel which is a symbol of Minato Mirai, but is there any way to experience its charm without staying there?

"The Landmark Spa on the 49th floor is open to anyone, even if they're not staying at the hotel. It has a 20-meter-long swimming pool, gym, sauna, and spa, and on a nice day you can even see Mt. Fuji from the pool. There are also plenty of other dining options, including restaurants and bars."

What is your top recommendation? I asked.

"It's a cake from Delica & Lounge Coffret. I always buy cakes from Coffret for special occasions like my children's birthdays. The hotel's original cream is not too sweet and is really delicious. My children sometimes request that I get a cake from Coffret for any special occasions."

Whether you stay the night or not, you can experience the charm of the hotel, which is another charm of Yokohama Royal Park Hotel.

Mr. Ikeda smiled and said that he hoped that in the little time he has left, this hotel could become a "cherished place" for as many people as possible.

"I'm the type of person who likes to get close to people. So I want to talk to customers as much as possible and make them feel close to me. I've been working face-to-face with customers for 23 years since I joined the company, so I think this job suits me."

Befitting his title of concierge, the ever-smiling Kasugai creates an atmosphere of comfort and just the right distance that makes you naturally open up to him.

Kasugai's work is diverse, including checking in and checking out guests staying on the club floors (65th and 66th floors), managing and preparing reservations, and providing hall service in the club lounge.

"Guests staying on the club floor can take the elevator directly to the concierge desk and complete check-in and other procedures while sitting down. They can also use the club lounge, which is open from 7am to 9pm, and enjoy the view of Yokohama from here."

In the morning, you can enjoy a buffet-style breakfast of omelets prepared right in front of you by the chef, salads made with vegetables from Kanagawa Prefecture, and freshly baked bread. At tea time, you can enjoy sweets recommended by the concierge along with drinks such as Coffee and Black Tea. In the afternoon, you can enjoy the hotel's original sandwiches and mini cakes, and in the evening, you can enjoy alcohol with hors d'oeuvres and cheese, making it a place you can spend the whole day.

The concierge also provides hospitality in the food served at the lounge. Each season has a different theme, and the staff themselves select the sweets.

"We stock standard souvenir items with an awareness of Yokohama. We are always checking out local shops and what is currently popular in Yokohama. Even when we go out on our own, we sometimes find ourselves looking at things from the perspective of whether we could offer them. It may be an occupational hazard (laughs)."

Kasugai says that the interesting thing about working as a concierge is that you get more and more involved as you gain experience. By working there for several years, you can gain a deeper understanding of the job and the customers. And of course, you will have more and more important stories to share with customers.

"We have a guest who has been staying at the hotel for decades. She used to stay with her mother, but she passed away a few years ago. Some time later, she made a reservation to stay with us on her birthday. It was her first stay since her mother passed away, so we discussed what we could do for her, and decided to hold a birthday celebration."

The staff will prepare a handmade birthday card, and a custom cake made just for the customer will also be provided.
On the day, a surprise celebration was set up in the guest room, and all the staff gathered around the guest and sang a birthday song.

"I didn't want them to feel lonely, so I suggested that the staff eat the cake together. I felt relieved when I saw the smile on the customer's face as she cried and said 'Thank you'."

Since then, the customer has made a reservation every year for his birthday.

"I think our job is to understand what kind of feelings our customers have when they come to the hotel. We have repeat guests, of course, but also first-time guests, and perhaps those who have made a reservation for a special occasion. I think that being able to understand the feelings behind each reservation will lead to better service."

When asked how he would recommend spending the time in the 200 days remaining until the temporary closure, Kasugai added, "I would recommend staying on the club floor, and staying for more than two nights if possible."

"A day goes by surprisingly quickly. If you stay an extra night, you can visit the Landmark Spa, enjoy a leisurely tea time, or simply gaze at the view from the lounge. I think you'll be able to enjoy yourself with a little more leisurely time."

Mr. Kasugai looks forward to the day when people can once again interact with each other in the lounge. He says that when it reopens, he wants to tell customers "welcome back."
Before the closure, why not head over to the club floor for a special experience?
If possible, stay for two nights and enjoy the ever-changing scenery of Yokohama.

Finding your favorite hotel means
It feels like creating a second home for myself.

When you return there, someone will welcome you back and say, "Welcome home."
And the time you spend there is also a time to rediscover your true self.
Even when you're not staying overnight, it gives you the peace of mind of knowing you have a place to return to.

It would be great if Yokohama Royal Park Hotel could become such a place, such a memorable hotel.

"Make memories again at this hotel"

What kind of appearance will they have and what kind of hospitality will they provide to welcome us after they reopen?
Be sure to visit Yokohama Royal Park Hotel with your heart full of anticipation while you still have a short time left. You will surely be greeted with warm hospitality.

• This article and images are current as of September 2024.