After making its first foray into the department store sector last year, real estate developer Radium Life Tech Co (日勝生) is extending its reach into another new business — the hotel industry — by announcing a partnership with a renowned Japanese ryokan yesterday.
The brand new Kagaya Peitou (加賀屋北投) is a partnership between Radium Life and Kagaya Ryokan. Ryokan is a Japanese term meaning Japanese-style hotel, normally equipped with hot spring facilities.
Radium Life is pouring NT$2.4 billion (US$72.7 million) into the construction and staff training for the ryokan, which is set to hold a trial run in October and to formally open by the end of the year.
The move also marks the first overseas branch of Kagaya, which has been in operation for 100 years, the company’s statement said.
Kagaya has been voted by Japanese specialists as Japan’s top hot-spring inn for 30 consecutive years.
The main selling point of Kagaya Peitou will be its impeccable service where 40 female butlers dressed in kimonos will attend to guests’ needs and bring them their room service.
“Kagaya wanted to expand overseas and we met them by chance during their visit to Beitou hot spring. That had brought us together for the partnership,” Radium Life spokeswoman Anne Chou (周惠玉) told reporters.
The average cost per night will be around NT$16,000, inclusive of breakfast and dinner, she said.
In related news, Taiwan Sugar Corp (Taisugar, 台糖) announced on Friday that it planned to start a guesthouse business in July that will allow visitors to stay in renovated dormitories at a former factory in Hualien County.
“The factory has been vacant for many years … It has a rich history as it was built when Taiwan was a Japanese colony,” said Chiang Ming-hung (江銘宏), vice president of the Tainan-based Taisugar.
Taisugar spent NT$16 million on renovating the vacant building to create a Japanese-style ambiance, he said.
It plans to begin trial operations around the middle of next month for its own employees and will open to the public in early July.
According to the company, the 28 rooms in Guangfu Township (光復) — constructed out of cypress wood — are near several popular scenic spots.
The cost of a four-person room will be NT$5,600 and double rooms will run at NT$3,600, it said.
A 40 percent discount will be offered during weekdays, and a 30 percent discount for weekends, it added.
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