CHICAGO – Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) announced today that a Hyatt affiliate has entered into a franchise agreement with JR Tokai Hotels Co., Ltd for Hotel NEI Nara in downtown Nara. Situated in the historic heart of the city, the luxury hotel will be at the entrance to Nara Park and overlook iconic UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The property will be the first The Unbound Collection by Hyatt hotel in western Japan, and third overall in Japan, joining Fuji Speedway Hotel in Shizuoka and Hotel Toranomon Hills in Tokyo. The project is a joint undertaking between Central Japan Railway Company, JR Tokai Real Estate Co., Ltd., and JR Tokai Hotels Co., Ltd.

The Unbound Collection by Hyatt brand caters to travelers seeking an elevated yet unscripted experience. The collection is a curated compilation of one-of-a-kind, story-worthy hotels, each one offering guests unique experiences in special locations, ranging from luxurious boutique hotels nestled in historic landmarks to modern stays that serve as hidden urban havens. Hotel NEI Nara will join 39 other hotels within The Unbound Collection by Hyatt portfolio globally.

NEI Nara is written 寧 奈良 in Japanese characters. The character Nei (寧) connotes serenity and tranquility. It embodies a deep respect for tradition and a return to origins, inviting guests to experience and discover the city’s timeless heritage and mystical charms alongside modern hospitality.

The ancient city of Nara has a history of over 1,300 years. It was the spiritual center where Buddhism first flourished in Japan. Home to eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites with preserved temples, shrines and scenic gardens of natural beauty, Nara is a top year-round travel destination in the Kansai region. Hotel NEI Nara will be an ideal base for exploring Nara Park and its free-roaming deer, the distinctive Kasuga Taisha Shrine, the renowned Kofuku-ji Temple, and the magnificent Todai-ji Temple housing one of the world’s largest bronze Buddha statues. The property’s prime location will easily connect guests through Kintetsu Nara Station and JR Nara Station. Nara is an hour from Kyoto and Osaka by express train and about 3 and a half hours from Tokyo via Kyoto with the Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train.

According to the Nara City Tourism Survey for 2023, the number of tourists visiting Nara in 2023 increased by over 30% year-on-year, totaling to more than 12 million. Overnight tourists exceeded 1.7 million, surpassing the pre-pandemic level in 2019. Overseas visitors topped 1.8 million, eight times more than the previous year.

We are honored to join hands for the first time with JR Tokai Group to bring The Unbound Collection by Hyatt to western Japan. We look forward to the opening of this luxury boutique hotel that will appeal to guests and World of Hyatt members from all over the world. Sam Sakamura, vice president of Japan and Micronesia, Hyatt
As the eastern terminus of the Silk Road, Nara is a very special place. The city’s historical and cultural importance is awe-inspiring, and adding a Hyatt hotel in this location is a unique opportunity that we couldn’t be more excited about. Tom Pritzker, executive chairman of the board of directors, Hyatt
We actively promote the uniqueness of Nara to people in Tokyo and across Japan, with tremendous support from the people of Nara. We are honored by this collaboration with Hyatt, which has luxury hotels around the world. Through our planned first base in this wonderful city, we are excited about working with the local community to create even more attractive travel opportunities to Nara. We hope to entice both domestic and international travelers to have culturally rich experiences in this historic and spiritual city. Shunsuke Niwa, president of Central Japan Railway Company

The term “Hyatt” is used in this release for convenience to refer to Hyatt Hotels Corporation and/or one or more of its affiliates.

About Hyatt Hotels Corporation

Hyatt Hotels Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is a leading global hospitality company guided by its purpose – to care for people so they can be their best. As of June 30, 2024, the Company's portfolio included more than 1,350 hotels and all-inclusive properties in 78 countries across six continents. The Company's offering includes brands in the Timeless Collection, including Park Hyatt®, Grand Hyatt®, Hyatt Regency®, Hyatt®, Hyatt Vacation Club®, Hyatt Place®, Hyatt House®, Hyatt Studios, and UrCove; the Boundless Collection, including Miraval®, Alila®, Andaz®, Thompson Hotels®, Dream® Hotels, Hyatt Centric®, and Caption by Hyatt®; the Independent Collection, including The Unbound Collection by Hyatt®, Destination by Hyatt®, and JdV by Hyatt®; and the Inclusive Collection, including Impression by Secrets, Hyatt Ziva®, Hyatt Zilara®, Zoëtry® Wellness & Spa Resorts, Secrets® Resorts & Spas, Breathless Resorts & Spas®, Dreams® Resorts & Spas, Hyatt Vivid Hotels & Resorts, Alua Hotels & Resorts®, and Sunscape® Resorts & Spas. Subsidiaries of the Company operate the World of Hyatt® loyalty program, ALG Vacations®, Mr & Mrs Smith™, Unlimited Vacation Club®, Amstar DMC destination management services, and Trisept Solutions® technology services. For more information, please visit www.hyatt.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Forward-Looking Statements in this press release, which are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "may," "could," "expect," "intend," "plan," "seek," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "continue," "likely," "will," "would" and variations of these terms and similar expressions, or the negative of these terms or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable when made, are inherently uncertain, and are subject to numerous assumptions and uncertainties, many of which are outside of Kiraku, Inc. or Hyatt's control, which could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such statements. Forward-looking statements made in this press release are made only as of the date of their initial publication and neither party undertakes an obligation to publicly update any of these forward-looking statements as actual events unfold, except to the extent required by applicable law. If one or more forward-looking statements is updated, no inference should be drawn that any additional updates will be made with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.

Masayo Imai
Hyatt