Melco Resorts & Entertainment has revealed plans to develop two five-star non-gaming resorts in Japan, including a hot spring resort in Hakone, south of Yokohama, and a ski resort.
The resorts will be the first two projects under a JPY27 billion (US$250 million) hospitality investment fund unveiled by Melco in Tokyo on Tuesday called “Melco Creative Exchange”, aimed at supporting the revitalization of the local Japanese economy through the development and operation of “premium” hospitality, leisure and entertainment facilities.
The Hakone hot spring resort is to be designed by renowned Japanese architect Shigeru Ban – whose past projects include Christchurch Cathedral and the Japan Pavilion at the 2000 World Expo in Hannover – and will be a four-story resort facility with around 35 high-end traditional suites covering 6,500 square meters.
The ski resort will see Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka – also announced as Melco’s Japan brand ambassador on Tuesday – lead a design team as sport director where she will plan how sports, health and wellness can be combined to contribute to the experiences of guests and the community.
Both resorts will be redesigns of existing facilities.
Melco Resorts recently announced a “Yokohama First” policy in its pursuit of one of three Japan integrated resort licenses to be issued by the national government in 2020.
Commenting on the company’s new “Melco Creative Exchange” initiative, Melco Chairman and CEO Lawrence Ho said, “We have declared ‘Yokohama First’ for IR construction, but for tourism we think ‘Japan First’.”
