The recognition by CrescentRating will further enhance Hotel Granvia Kyoto’s ability to attract the growing number of Muslim visitors to Japan
Kyoto – 5th November 2014 – Hotel Granvia Kyoto became the first hotel in Japan to obtain a Muslim-Friendly rating by CrescentRating. The 4 star hotel conveniently located within the JR Kyoto Station Building Complex was recently awarded a rating of 4 by CrescentRating, based on the services and facilities it offers its Muslim guests.
Known for its commitment for being Muslim-friendly, hotel's rooms are tastefully decorated and marked with prayer directions. Prayer mats and prayer timetables are made available on request. The hotel is also able to arrange separate prayer rooms for group reservations or events.
The hotel's traditional Japanese restaurant - Ukihashi - offers a range of Halal menus; No alcohol, pork or non-Halal seasoning products are used in the dishes and all meat products are Halal-certified. Further, all tableware and utensils at the restaurant are stored separate from the items used with non-Halal food in order to avoid contamination.
The "Halal Bento Box" and "Halal Japanese Kaiseki" are favourites amongst guests and offer a way for Muslim guests to sample authentic Japanese cuisine. In addition to the Ukihashi restaurant, Le Temps restaurant at the hotel also offers a separate Halal menu between 11:00am and 11:00p.m. This popular café restaurant also offers breakfast with clearly marked Halal items.
"We are increasingly aware of the need to cater to the requirement of the Muslim guest. This recognition from CrescentRating further strengthens our resolve to continue to explore other areas to make our Muslim guests feel at home in our Hotel. We are looking forward to welcoming Muslim travellers from all over the world to our beautiful city of Kyoto” said Shiho Ikeuchi, Overseas Marketing Director of Hotel Granvia Kyoto.
According to CrescentRating, Muslim travelers to Japan are projected to more than triple by 2020. In 2013, it estimates 300,000 Muslims tourists visited Japan. This figure could exceed 1,000,000 by 2020. More and more cities across Japan are developing services and facilities to attract this segment. As a consequence of that, Japan made the biggest improvement in CrescentRating’s 2014 Annual ranking of Muslim Friendly Holiday destination.
"With the growth of the Muslim visitor arrivals to Japan, Hotel Granvia Kyoto is ideally positioned to cater to them. With more such services and facilities becoming Muslim-friendly, we strongly believe Japan has the possibility to reach 1 million visitors even before 2020” said Fazal Bahardeen, CEO of CrescentRating.
For more information, a full list of facilities and services offered by Hotel Granvia Kyoto is available on www.crescentrating.com
Hotel Granvia Kyoto is a world-class deluxe hotel that prides itself on serving the needs of discerning visitors to the city of Kyoto, the historical and cultural heart of Japan. First opened in 1997, the Hotel Granvia Kyoto is an integral part of the Kyoto Station Complex, a strikingly beautiful architectural masterpiece. Contemporary in style, yet imbued with the traditions of service and comfort that are associated with Kyoto, the Hotel Granvia Kyoto is renowned for its impressive collection of over 1000 unique pieces of art by Kyoto artists. Hence, the hotel’s museum-like elegant ambiance. The hotel features 535 tastefully decorated rooms, 12 restaurants, 13 banquet rooms, fitness facilities, and shops. High-speed internet access is complimentary in all guest rooms. Centrally located at the Kyoto Station Complex, guests have numerous transportation options available to them within minutes of leaving their rooms, making it the city’s most convenient hotel. Guests will easily find direct transportation links to anywhere in Kyoto, as well as quick access to Japan’s vast top-flight rail network including the high-speed Shinkansen bullet train and convenient transport to Kansai International Airport.
