The President of Hong Kong’s Artyzen Hospitality Group, Robbert van der Maas, says Japan needs to create a “new luxury” within its tourism industry if it is to attract Asia’s high rollers to the country in the coming years.
Van der Maas was speaking at a seminar titled “Inbound High-Net Worth Individuals (HNWI) and Business Opportunities: Luxury Resorts” in Tokyo on Monday, with the impending arrival of Japan’s first integrated resorts among the key topics on the agenda. The seminar was run by Goyoh, which provides lifestyle concierge services for the wealthy class.
Giving a presentation on “What does the luxury experience require and what are the emerging trends?”, he emphasized the need to create this “new luxury” which would comprise three key requirements: Cultural experience, fulfilling memories and the ability to enrich the guest as a person.
“It is a thing of the past that HNWI will be satisfied with only opulent facilities,” he said.
Nicholas Clayton, CEO of luxury hotel group Capella Hotels & Resorts which operates the Capella Singapore on Sentosa Island among other properties, said his company was also looking for more from its new developments in the Asia-Pacific region.
“We are delivering luxury hotels that make use of a locality’s historic buildings and natural surroundings,” he said, adding that in Japan Capella is “interested in Okinawa and the surrounding islands … and of course Tokyo and Kyoto.”
While Japan’s IRs are a few years away, it is essential to start preparing early for the needs of Asia’s lucrative high-roller market.
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