IHG Hotels & Resorts operates 19 hotel brands with more than 6,300 hotels in over 100 countries. In Japan, IHG Hotels & Resorts currently operates about 47 hotels under seven brands from Hokkaido to Okinawa (as of March 2024). For this interview, we asked Mr. Yuji Koyanagi, General Manager of ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel Sapporo, about the attractions of the Sapporo area.
Name: ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel Sapporo
Location: 1-2-9, Kita 3-jo Nishi 1-2-9, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
–How did you come to work at the ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel Sapporo?
While I was a university student in Sapporo, I worked part-time as a banquet server at a public hotel for four years. With that experience and the knowledge that there were many different types of jobs within hotels, I started job hunting for a hotel while my classmates were going into finance, real estate, etc. I had no other choice but to work at a hotel. 1986, I joined the then “Sapporo ANA Hotel” as a new graduate, partly because I longed for the safety and security of ANA’s crown at the city’s tallest hotel at the time. Since joining the hotel, I have experienced various sections such as front desk, food and beverage service, sales, marketing, and procurement facilities for 36 years, and I have been in my current position since January 2022. This year the hotel celebrated its 50th anniversary.
–What kind of hotel is it?
Belonging to IHG Hotels & Resorts, which operates more than 6,300 hotels worldwide, it is one of the few global brand hotels in Sapporo. There are 412 guest rooms in total. The hotel is well located, just a 7-minute walk from Sapporo Station, and is used by many guests from Japan and abroad for both business and sightseeing. There are a total of four directly managed restaurants and bars. Guests can enjoy seasonal menus including Japanese, Western, and Teppanyaki cuisine, as well as afternoon tea in the Sky Lounge.
–What is the unique experience of the ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel Sapporo?
The ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel Sapporo was rebranded to the current ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel Sapporo in 2017. The ANA Crowne Plaza brand’s “Sleep Advantage” program, which offers a choice of aromas and pillows to help you get a good night’s sleep, has been very well received by our guests.
–please let me know if you have any personal favorites tourist spots or restaurants in the vicinity of the hotel.
Odori Park, which is only an 8-minute walk from the hotel, offers a variety of events and scenery in spring, summer, fall, and winter. Sapporo’s annual “Beer Garden” in summer, “Autumn Festa” in autumn, and “Sapporo Snow Festival” in February are all held in Odori Park, which attracts many domestic and foreign visitors. The area around the hotel is also home to famous Jingisukan restaurants, soup curry restaurants, ramen noodle restaurants, and other gourmet restaurants where you can fully enjoy the delicacies of Sapporo.
–What restaurant menu do you recommend?
Afternoon tea in the Sky Lounge with a beautiful view of the city from the top floor (26th floor) and teppan-yaki with Japanese black beef and seasonal seafood are available. The Sky Lounge is the perfect place to stay for any occasion, from anniversaries to meeting friends, or even just for one person. We recommend our breakfast to all guests. You can choose from a wide variety of buffet breakfasts, or enjoy a Japanese set meal served in a relaxed Japanese modern atmosphere.
–What souvenirs do you recommend?
Hotel-made whole cakes and seasonal sweets are recommended. One is the New York Roll, a crispy croissant dough filled with overflowing special cream. It is perfect for a small souvenir. The other is the “Black Forest Tart,” which was created by our staff and won the silver prize in the gift confectionery category of the 2023 Hokkaido Confectionery Creation Contest. This luxurious sweet is filled with cherries and nuts, and we think you will feel a thrill of excitement the moment you open the box. We also recommend the Haskap Tart, which has been popular for many years.
© Source travel watch
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