Novotel Brand To Debut In Japan

BANGKOK— Accors best-known hotel brand, Novotel, is to make its debut in Japan in 2002 when a prominent hotel in the Osaka-Kobe district is re-branded Novotel Koshien Osaka West. The property, a contemporary, 200-room hotel, is owned by Koshien Real Estate and interests of the Hakushika Group, one of the oldest sake brewers in Japan. The Novotel will be the third Accor brand to be launched in Japan, following the debut of the 5-star Sofitel Tokyo and 2-star Formule 1 brand (two hotels slated for 2002). Novotel Koshien Osaka West will make its debut almost exactly 35 years after the first Novotel was launched in Lille, France in August, 1967. There are 350 Novotel hotels and resorts globally. The Koshien launch will follow the re-launch in 2002 of the former Nikko Hotel in Paris to Novotel Paris Eiffel Tower. The prominent 762-room hotel on the banks of the River Seine will re-launch after a multi-million dollar refurbishment and will be a flagship for the Novotel brand. The Novotel Koshien Osaka West will feature eight banqueting rooms, a variety of restaurants, and a health club.