BCCJ ACUMEN July 2013 | Page 13

MEDIA

Shukan Toyo Keizai ’ s 25 May issue featured a comprehensive review of Japan ’ s air and hotel industries .

Of particular interest are the top five performers among the nation ’ s major hotels in each of four categories ( the latest data is from FY2011 ).

Food and beverage sales ( in millions of yen )

5,818 5,700 4,954 4,525

4,028

Banquet sales ( in millions of yen )

11,613 8,403 6,965

5,852 5,143

Imperial ( Tokyo )

Rhiga Royal ( Osaka )

Hotel Okura ( Tokyo )

Imperial ( Osaka )

Hotel Nikko ( Tokyo )

The Comfort Hotel ’ s “ sheep room ” has bedding and lighting aimed at enhancing sleep .

Since opening in 1999 , the Comfort Hotel chain has adopted a similar tack . It offers a “ hitsuji ( sheep ) room ” in some of its hotels with bedding and lighting that is aimed at enhancing sleep .

The hotels also feature choice pillows in all guest rooms . The oversized pillows have different padding in the centre and at the ends , to provide support for different sleeping positions . They have made such a favourable impression on guests that the hotel chain has sold more than 10,000 of them , at ¥ 7,800 each . ( No mention is made of how many have been purloined ).

Price per room ( in yen )

55,256 55,000 55,000 45,435 45,000

Allamanda Shigira Bayside Suite ( Okinawa )

Tokyo Disney Sea MiraCosta

Room occupancy rate (%)

Tokyo Disneyland Hotel

Mandarin Oriental ( Tokyo )

Disney Ambassador ( Urayasu )

96.4 95.9 94.0

93.3 93.1

Harumi Grand ( Tokyo )

Dai-Ichi ( Osaka )

Daiwa Roynet ( Sendai )

New Otani Inn ( Yokohama )

Trusty Abeno ( Osaka )

At the other end of the hospitality spectrum , Japan ’ s business hotels have been appealing to travellers by emphasising kaimin ( a good nights ’ sleep ), reported travel writer Noriko Shioda .

One such example is Hankyu-Hanshin-Daiichi Hotel Group ’ s Remm chain . In addition to a bed , each guest room is equipped with an electric massage chair , a special rain-type showerhead , and a choice of three varieties of pillow .

The rooms are also available for daytime naps at the rate of ¥ 8,000 for six hours .

Since its opening in 2007 , the Remm Hibiya Hotel has maintained an occupancy rate of over 80 %. “ Many of our guests are repeat customers who are seeking that ‘ plus alpha ’ element from their accommodation and are willing to pay extra out of their own pockets , on top of their per diem budget ”, said staff member Eri Nozawa . The firm also operates branches in Akihabara and has one branch in Osaka .

According to the Nikkei Marketing Journal , an internet survey of 1,000 Japanese adults by Macromill , Inc . found that 60.3 % of respondents expected purchases of clothes to stay about the same , 20.1 % said they would increase outlays this year , while 14.4 % said outlays were likely to decline .

The main reason for increased outlays , stated by 54.8 %, was “ I held back too long on purchases ”, followed by “ My income will probably increase ” ( 23.9 %), and “ I need more gear for travel or leisure ” ( 17.4 %).

The top item most likely to be purchased for males and females alike was T-shirts , with 45.4 % and 50.6 %, respectively . After that , the items deviate , with males naming functional underwear , jeans , dress shirts and trousers to complete the top five , while women named dresses , functional underwear , blouses and skirts .

Nearly half ( 45.6 %) the respondents said their outlays would range between ¥ 10,000 and ¥ 30,000 , and another 29.8 % said they expected to spend less than ¥ 10,000 .

Another item on the same page gave the results of a survey , by household goods maker Lion Corporation , of 400 adults aged 20 – 60 . The poll asked if they habitually washed newly purchased clothes and other items before wearing them . Some 62.4 % said they did , of whom 26.4 % said they always did so , and 36 % who said they did on some occasions .

Items most likely to be washed before being worn included towels , T-shirts and cutsew garments . The main reasons stated for washing included , “ They were touched by other people ” ( 37.3 %), “ the odour bothers me ” ( 35.8 %); and “ I want to wash out residual chemicals ” ( 33.6 %).

The largest segment who said they don ’ t wash new things ( 47.0 %) were males aged 40 – 50 .

JULY 2013 | BCCJ ACUMEN | 13