AB
Capital has acquired two hotels in Osaka, Japan, that will be converted by Pacifica
Hotels G.K. to the City Express by Marriott brand.
OSAKA, Japan
— Marriott International has signed an agreement with Pacifica Hotels
G.K. to convert two hotels in Osaka, Japan, to its midscale City Express by
Marriott brand, marking the debut of the brand in Asia Pacific.
Following a
rebrand, the hotels, which were acquired by AB Capital in August, are expected
to reopen in 2026 as the City Express by Marriott Osaka Namba South and the City
Express by Marriott Osaka Shin-Imamiya.
The company said these openings reflect Marriott’s continued focus on expanding its midscale portfolio in Japan and across APEC (Asia Pacific excluding China).
“We are pleased to once again collaborate with Pacifica Hotels G.K. and its investor AB Capital to bring City Express by Marriott to Japan, which is also expected to mark the brand’s debut in Asia Pacific,” said Shawn Hill, chief development officer, Asia Pacific excluding China, Marriott International. “This signing reflects our continued commitment to growing strategically across the region and expanding our offerings to meet the evolving needs of today’s travelers.”
“With hotel rates rising rapidly across Japan, we see a huge opportunity to offer guests a quality stay at a reasonable price with City Express by Marriott,” said Seth Sulkin, CEO of Pacifica Hotels G.K. and its subsidiary Shin Imamiya Hospitality, the franchisee for both of these hotels. “These hotels will give travelers the opportunity to discover the vibrant area south of Namba, where we see strong potential and growing demand.”
“City Express by Marriott represents more than a traditional real estate investment; it embodies our vision for Osaka’s mid-scale hospitality market,” said Alan Kam, founder and CEO of AB Capital. “Through this agreement with Marriott, we are transforming these assets into a globally recognized brand that addresses a growing demand for accessible, high-quality accommodations.”
With hotel rates rising rapidly across Japan, we see a huge opportunity to offer guests a quality stay at a reasonable price with City Express by Marriott.
Seth Sulkin
The 100-key
City Express by Marriott Shin-Imamiya will be a nine-story standalone property
located in Haginochaya, Nishinari-ku, directly adjacent to Shin-Imamiya
Station, a major interchange served by the JR Osaka Loop Line, Nankai Main
Line, and Osaka Metro.
The 143-key
City Express by Marriott Osaka Namba South is planned as a 14-story standalone
property, located at Hanazono-kita, Nishinari-ku, adjacent to Hanazonochō
Station on the Osaka Metro Yotsubashi Line.
Both hotels
are situated within retail, residential, and commercial hubs, providing easy
access to Osaka’s top attractions. They are also connected to Kansai
International Airport via the Nankai Main Line.
City
Express expansion
Marriott
acquired the City Express brand portfolio in May 2023 for $100 million,
which added 17,000 rooms in Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Chile and
increased the company’s footprint in the CALA region by approximately 45%.
A year after
touting a “Project Mid-T by Marriott” brand expansion, it announced that Marriott was
expanding the City Express brand into the U.S. and Canada, marking the
brand’s first expansion outside of Latin America and Marriott’s entry into the
“affordable midscale transient” segment.
The company
has since expanded City Express into El Salvador and Brazil. At the time,
Marriott said the City Express by Marriott brand had a presence in five
countries with an additional six markets and over 60 projects in the pipeline.
AloJapan.com