Starwood to Manage Japanese Golf Resort Complex

WHITE PLAINS-The owner of the famed Phoenix Seagaia golf resort on the southern island of Kyushu, Japan has tabbed Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., as the major lodging and attractions operator and manager of the 750-acre complex.

The owner of the property–Ripplewood Holdings–reviewed several major global hotel/resort companies before selecting Starwood, company officials say.

The Phoenix Seagaia resort is situated amidst a pine forest that extends over seven miles along the Pacific Ocean coast just outside the city of Miyazaki.

The complex features two Sheraton hotels: the Sheraton Grande Ocean Resort, a 45-story, 753-room facility and the Sheraton Phoenix Golf Resort, a 296-room facility. In total, the two hotels as well as other facilities, that include cottages and condominiums, total 1,100 rooms. The grounds also contain a 5,000 seat international convention center; and four golf courses totaling 99 championship holes, tennis courts, bowling, “Ocean Dome” the world’s largest indoor water park, as well as retail facilities.

Commenting on its deal with Starwood, Michael F. Glennie, president and chief executive officer of Phoenix Resort Companies, says, “We firmly believe our relationship with Starwood Hotels & Resorts, one of the largest hotel companies in the world with outstanding experience in operating large resort and convention properties, will reposition the Phoenix Seagaia resort as one of the most successful international golf resorts in Japan and Asia Pacific.”

Miguel Ko, president, Asia Pacific for Starwood Hotels, adds, “We are very pleased to grow our resort collection with such a premier complex like the Phoenix Seagaia Resort. We are certainly proud to have been selected to manage the largest integrated golf and resort complex in Japan and to be working in partnership with Ripplewood. We strongly believe that the combination of the excellent physical product and Starwood’s vast experience with large resort operations, coupled with our international sales and marketing network, will enable the Sheraton resorts and leisure operations in the complex to command a dominant position in the market.”