Japan's APA Hotel Group Opens in Woodbridge, NJ

WOODBRIDGE, NJ—APA Group, owner of Japan's largest hospitality organization has formed a joint venture partnership with NJ-based Friendwell Group of Companies to introduce and develop the APA brand in the US.

The new APA Hotel Franchise, based in Delaware, opened its first US-based property – the 200-room APA Hotel Woodbridge at Metropark last month, to be followed by additional properties throughout the country.

APA Hotel Woodbridge (formerly the Hilton Woodbridge Hotel), which is owned by Friendwell Group of Companies, will remain open for both leisure and business travelers during a multi-phased renovation and redesign of all guest rooms, suites, and all public areas, including the large lobby, 30,000 square feet of conference facilities, a new signature Japanese restaurant, and a full service bar.  The public areas are slated to be completed by summer 2016, and all guest rooms will be renovated by spring 2017.

"APA set the trend in Asia and Japan for the creation of new urban style hotels with core values steeped in high quality, high functionality and environment-friendly amenities," says Toshio Motoya, founder of APA Group and APA Hotel. Our amenities that are usually found in five-star hotels offer excellent value at APA Hotel's three- and four–star properties."

APA stands for "Always Pleasant Amenity." APA Hotel Franchise combines APA Hotel's 30-year success in Japan with 347 properties to date and Friendwell Group's growth in diversified real estate investments and hotel management. A Taiwanese company, Friendwell now owns and manages retail space, office buildings and 3,000-plus hotel room in its fast-growing U.S. portfolio, spread across such three- and four-star brands as Hilton, IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. 

"While the APA organization will introduce its Japanese culture and high-level service to the U.S. market, Friendwell's diverse group of US hotels have achieved great success in blending Asian and American cultural touchpoints, which creates a perfect synergy for our new U.S. partnership — APA Hotel Franchise," says Tsun-Jen Cheng, chairman of Friendwell Group of Companies.