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Communicate local nature, art and food culture
Vessel Hotels' new brand "REF by VESSEL HOTELS" opens for the first time
Interior with art and furniture related to Kumamoto and breakfast where you can taste the whole Kumamoto

Vessel Hotel Development Co., Ltd., which operates hotels nationwide under the concept of "Loving you, your family, and the city," will be opening the fourth new brand of Vessel Hotels Vessel Hotels, "REF Kumamoto by VESSEL HOTELS" (Manager: Masao Tajima), on Saturday, December 21, 2019, in the Shinshigai area of Chuo Ward, Kumamoto City.

"REF" is an acronym for Regional, Experience, and Flexible, and is a new hotel brand that offers guests the essential value of travel by unearthing the unique characteristics of the region, such as the nature, art, crafts, and food culture of the area. Three hotels are scheduled to open in the summer of 2020: "REF Kyoto Hachijoguchi by VESSEL HOTELS" and "REF Omiya by VESSEL HOTELS" in September of the same year.

The concept of REF Kumamoto by VESSEL HOTELS will have its grand opening in Kumamoto, a region rich in water resources, is "THE BATH." It features public bath with an open-air bath overlooking a Japanese garden. In addition, under the theme of "Breakfast in Kumamoto, the Land of Fire and Water," the hotel offers a diverse breakfast menu that allows you to enjoy the flavors unique to Kumamoto, such as dagojiru (miso soup with dumplings) and tai-pien (taipei yen). In addition, the hotel has a selection of items that allow you to feel the charm of the land, such as works by artists with ties to Kumamoto, original carpets created in the image of the stone walls of Kumamoto Castle, and furniture made from wood produced in Kumamoto Prefecture. Next year, art workshops are also planned to be held where you can experience making Higo temari (traditional Japanese ceremonial balls) and bamboo brooms.

Whether you are traveling with family or friends or on business, be sure to come and experience all that Kumamoto has to offer at REF Kumamoto by VESSEL HOTELS.

■ "Kumamoto breakfast, a country of fire and water"

Enjoy the breakfast that feels like Kumamoto from the ingredients of the mountains and the sea where the sun of the country of rich water and fire brought up on Mt. Aso grows. A fire and water corner was set up based on the concept of a country of fire and a country of water, using burger from Kumamoto Prefecture, hamburgers that you can select and make your own ingredients, and Amakusa with seven wheels. We also have a menu that you can experience yourself on the spot, such as dried fish. Containers and trays are made of “Bamboo”, “Igusa”, “Washi”, etc. as materials that make Kumamoto imaginable, so you can enjoy the uniqueness of Kumamoto throughout the space.

[Menu example]
Rice koji from Kumamoto Prefecture and rice porridge of Kumamoto local chicken and Amakusa Daio, dashi soup, Amakusa paste, mustard lotus root, Takana rice, hot spring egg using Higo town red egg, local sweets Ikinari dumpling, Aso Milk and drinking yogurt from Abe Farm, tea from the Tenno Tea Garden (sencha, houjicha, black tea), etc.
[Business hours] From 6:00 to 9:30 (close at 10:00)
[Breakfast] Adults ¥ 1,200 (tax included) / 12 years and under free

*Vessel Hotels"Joyful Breakfast Project"

Vessel Hotels has been renewing the breakfast menu of existing hotels, including newly opened hotels, since 2018. The concept of each hotel is based on the theme of "feeling breakfast and feeling the locality" and "feeling the four seasons of Japan". We offer a variety of Japanese and Western menus, focusing on local cuisine and local ingredients. To date, the renewal of 12 existing hotels, including Ishigaki Island, Kumamoto and Kyoto, has been completed.

Five hotels will be renewed by May 2020.

URL: https://www.vessel-hotel.jp/breakfast/

■ Art collection coloring REF Kumamoto

By incorporating local culture, we propose a new hotel with a design that blends into the city. Artworks created for the hotel, including artworks by Kumamoto City-born artists Toshinobu Takamitsu and Taro Takamitsu, will be exhibited in the hotel and guest rooms.

■ Room information

On the 3rd to 12th floor, there are 229 rooms of 6 types ranging from 13.8m3 to 30.9m2. All our non-smoking rooms let you feel at home and feel at home while staying at the hotel.

Room rate without meals (rate per room per night / tax included)

■ Facility information

Kumamoto is a city of water, blessed with abundant nature and water resources. The concept of "REF Kumamoto by VESSEL HOTELS", which will open in the center of the city in the most bustling new town area, is "THE BATH". public bath with an open-air bath overlooking the Japanese garden offers a variety of baths, including a tub bath and a wooden bath, and there are two "Premium Rooms" with open-air baths. You can relax and enjoy your time soaking in the hot water.

■ Services unique to REF Kumamoto

Lev city
We will sell special products of Kumamoto at the hotel lounge. You can buy souvenirs in the hotel with special products available only in distant Aso and Amakusa (about once a month, scheduled to be held in the lounge Sunday)

Art workshop
We invite artists such as Taro Takamitsu and Toshinobu Takamitsu of OPEN STUDIO to work on Kumamoto's famous products such as "Susuki broom making" "Tin accessories making" "Bamboo flute making" "Kaleidoscope making" "Higo Temari" A shop will be held (scheduled once a month).

Scheduled date of the first implementation: Sunday, January 12, making bamboo

 In addition, the lounge will offer a unique welcome service unique to Kumamoto every Saturday.

■ Service Features

-Free of charge for children under 18 years old. Free of charge if sharing bed with parents and grandparents. Breakfast is free for children 12 and under.

-For children, abundant rentals such as baby cots, baby amenities such as diapers and wipes are provided free of charge. Recommended for families with young children.

-Female guests can use a full range of amenities such as serum, and male customers can use lotion.

-Complimentary welcome drink on arrival.

■ Facility Overview

Name REF Kumamoto by VESSEL HOTELS(REF Kumamoto by VESSEL HOTELS)
Location: 7-2 Shinmachi, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City
Opening date: Saturday, December 21, 2019
Client: Plaza Estate Co., Ltd.
Operated by Vessel Hotel Development Co., Ltd.
Design & Construction Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd.
Start of construction: August 2018
Completed: November 2019
Outline of the building Site area: 1,361.74㎡
Floor area: 7,844.44㎡ of which the floor area of the hotel is 6,386.41㎡
Structure: Steel structure, 12 floors above ground, hotel floor (2nd ~ 12th floor)
Number of guest rooms: 229 rooms