StayWell Holdings, the Australian arm of Seibu Prince Hotels Worldwide, Inc, is thrilled to announce that its premium UK hotel, The Prince Akatoki London, has again been awarded a coveted Five Stars in the 2024 Forbes Travel Guide (“FTG”), along with recognition for a suite of other hotels in the Seibu Prince Hotels Worldwide, Inc stable.
The only global rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants, spas and ocean cruises, the Forbes Travel Guide is a world-renowned authority on excellence in hospitality. Its annual Travel Guide Star Awards results in an illustrious list that recognizes some of the finest and most unique hotels operating around the world. Awards are based on the evaluations of anonymous professional inspectors who use hundreds of exacting standards, with an emphasis on exceptional service, to help discerning travelers select the world’s best experiences. The only way to get a Five-Star, Four-Star or Recommended rating is by earning it through the Forbes independent inspection process.
2024 marks the third consecutive year that The Prince Akatoki London has been awarded a Five Star rating, and other hotels in the Seibu Prince Hotels Worldwide, Inc group were also recognized. Luxury hotel The Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho, and traditional Japanese inn TAKANAWA HANAKOHRO both also earned the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star hotel rating for the first time. Additionally, The Prince Park Tower Tokyo, The Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo and The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu were all awarded a Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotel award for the first time.
The Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho offers spectacular views of the city from approximately 180m above ground level and a design oozing nature and art seamlessly fused with state-of-the-art features. With scenic views that make it worthy of the “Gallery” in its name and elevate the space to a work of art, the hotel has 250 guest rooms designed for functionality and comfort, Japanese main dining that offers traditional cuisine adapted to contemporary tastes, All-Day Dining, two distinctive Bars, a Club Lounge, and a Spa and Fitness facility. The Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho is also a member of the Marriott International “Luxury Collection”.
TAKANAWA HANAKOHRO is a 16-room traditional Japanese inn that opened in 2016 on the premises of Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa. It is located a five-minute walk from Shinagawa Station and has a Japanese garden covering an area of 20,000 m2. The guest rooms are purely traditional Japanese-style rooms with the fragrance of tatami in the air, and they are outfitted with low beds and sofas to create a functional and serene Japanese space. The OH-SAI Lounge, exclusively for staying guests, offers a changing menu to suit the time of day: with sweets and drinks that offer a taste of Japan in the daytime, and options including kikizake (sake tastings) at night. Guests can also unwind with Japanese-themed treatments at SPA TAYUTA.
The Prince Akatoki London is a luxury brand that offers guests a high-end sanctuary to recharge and experience the best of Japanese hospitality and culture, regardless of where they find themselves in the world. The brand is inspired by Japan, with service being at the forefront of everything they can expect to experience while staying with The Prince Akatoki. The Prince Akatoki invites you to slow down, breath and re-enter the world feeling new again.
Located in Shiba Park with views of the nearby Tokyo Tower, The Prince Park Tower Tokyo offers a blend of natural and modern scenery throughout the changing seasons. It has 33 aboveground floors, 603 guest rooms, 17 banquet halls (including a main banquet hall of about 2,400 m2), a variety of restaurants, and a Spa and Fitness facility featuring natural hot springs.
The Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo is located in the Takanawa area, about a three-minute walk from Shinagawa Station. The Sakura Tower Tokyo has excellent transit access, as well as a Japanese garden covering an area of 20,000 m2. It operates under the brand of “The Prince.” Its spacious and comfortable rooms are all equipped with air bathtubs, providing a space where you can unwind while enjoying seasonal views of the Japanese garden. The Prince Sakura Tower is also part of the Autograph Collection by Marriott International.
The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu is located in the building of the former Kiyomizu Elementary School, which was loved by the community as a learning center for about 80 years before its rebirth as a high-quality heritage hotel. Under the concept of “Carving the future out of history,” this new hotel will go above and beyond the functions required of hotels to date and will carry over into a new era the decades of history and culture built up by the school and by the local community. Throughout the building, the hotel retains traces of its elementary school days, allowing guests to experience the history and culture passed down from generation to generation.
“This year’s Star Awards reflects the forecasted surge in demand for more thrilling travel experiences,” says Amanda Frasier, President of Ratings for Forbes Travel Guide. “They are delivering at the very top of their game and reimagining the future of luxury across design, dining and well-being. Our 2024 winners include more special places to visit across the Middle East and Africa, with a record number of list additions for the region. We commend all the 2024 winners for continuing to deliver a fresh new guest experience.”
