US hotel group Marriott International will partner with Japanese homebuilder Sekisui House to construct a series of rural, roadside hotels, serving growing numbers of tourists heading off the beaten track. The first is expected to open in Japan this year and be followed by others across Asia over the next two years. Room rates of between JPY10,000 ($88) and JPY15,000 have been mooted. More visitors are starting to do this, but most new accommodations are going up in major cities, sending Marriott and Sekisui to search for opportunity elsewhere. Last year marked the first time vacations by overseas visitors outside metropolitan areas reached 40%, according to the Japan Tourism Agency. However, there is an ongoing country-wide shortage of guest accommodation.
US hotel group Marriott International will partner with Japanese homebuilder Sekisui House to construct a series of rural, roadside hotels, serving growing numbers of tourists heading off the beaten track. The first is expected to open in Japan this year and be followed by others across Asia over the next two years. Room rates of between JPY10,000 ($88) and JPY15,000 have been mooted. Last year marked the first time vacations by overseas visitors outside metropolitan areas reached 40%, according to the Japan Tourism Agency. However, there is an ongoing country-wide shortage of guest accommodation.