IHG Hotels & Resorts operates 19 hotel brands with more than 6,500 hotels in more than 100 countries. In Japan, IHG Hotels & Resorts currently operates about 47 hotels under eight brands from Hokkaido to Okinawa (as of September 2024). For this interview, we asked Eriko Yokoyama, general manager of ANA InterContinental Ishigaki Resort, about the attractions around the hotel.
Facility name: ANA InterContinental Ishigaki Resort
Location: 354-1 Maesato, Ishigaki City, Okinawa
–How did you come to work at ANA Intercontinental Ishigaki Resort?
I was looking for a new challenge, and I was approached by IHG Hotels & Resorts. As I experienced the unique culture and natural environment of the island and learned more about the IHG hotel brand, I felt it was the right place for a new challenge. As the resort’s first female General Manager, I am passionate about the SDGs and promoting an inclusive culture.
–What kind of hotel is it?
Located in one of the best locations in Ishigaki Island, Japan’s southernmost Yaeyama Islands, the resort is surrounded by magnificent nature and is a true Japanese sanctuary with lush green trees and crystal clear waters close at hand. We offer a warm and heartfelt hospitality to each and every one of our guests, providing an experience that will exceed your expectations.
–What is the unique experience of the ANA InterContinental Ishigaki Resort?
In addition to a variety of marine activities such as snorkeling and diving at Maesato Beach with its shallow, clear waters, we also offer a variety of field activities such as helicopter cruising, island yoga, golf, and tennis. Optional tours outside the hotel, such as a deep-sea tour of Yaeyama and visits to nearby islands, are also popular.
–please let me know if you have any personal favorites tourist spots or restaurants in the vicinity of the hotel.
Sightseeing to Taketomi Island is recommended in touring the remote islands of the Yaeyama Archipelago. The village is designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings, and the streets with white sand pathways, red-tiled roofs, and stone walls made of coral stones are truly the original landscape of Okinawa. You can experience firsthand the wonderful culture of Japan.
–What restaurant menu do you recommend?
Ishigaki beef loin cutlet sandwich” is the signature menu item served at “Tropics Lounge & Bar” which reopened on November 1. It can be enjoyed at the “Ishigaki Beef Bar” where a whole head of Ishigaki beef is served in a variety of cooking methods.
In addition, we also offer original cocktails made with unique spirits from the Yaeyama Islands and Okinawa’s main island. We offer a dreamlike place where you can tour the remote islands at the bar.
–What souvenirs do you recommend?
Original products at the cafe & deli “Palette Lounge & Terrace” were developed in collaboration with local companies. In particular, the rare salt “nigari 8-year pearl salt (tamajio)” made exclusively for the ANA InterContinental Ishigaki Resort by the “Ishigaki salt” studio, a local company dedicated to salt production, is a popular souvenir that makes it easy to enjoy the taste of Ishigaki Island at home.
© Source travel watch
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