Shangri-La Tokyo has been opened in March, 2009, in the middle of downtown Tokyo.
As the last one to end the opening rash of 5star hotels in Tokyo.
Seven international luxury 5star hotels have been opened within 8 years.
Started from Four Seasons Tokyo at Marunouchi in '02, Grand Hyatt in '03, CONRAD in '05, Mandarin Oriental in '06, The Ritz-Carlton and The Peninsula in '07.
There was a debate about opening so many hotels in Tokyo within such a short period of time... Many people from the industry worried about too much competition in business and loosing talented staff from their hotels.
Why so many hotels have been opened recently, anyway?
After Japanese economy crashed in late 80's, the real estate price in Tokyo dropped down drastically and Japanese government has eased the regulations for mixed-use development in '02. So, it was easier for the investors and developers in Tokyo to invite those international hotel brands to open up their hotels in Tokyo and revitalize the economy.
Somehow, most of the hotels, both the old ones and the new ones, managed to keep their businesses because of the different needs in the market and growing number of foreign visitors in Tokyo. And also, they have managed to train their staff to replace those talented staff who moved to new opening hotels.
By the way, the luxury 5star hotels have been opening up in Taipei as well! Hopefully it brings the same result as in Tokyo...
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