I went all over the world (for business, though) together with my boss (current chairman) before the COVID. It was common for us to visit multiple countries at a time. This may sound gorgeous, but it was tough. Making matters worse, I always chose cheap hotels to contain costs. In some hotels, we felt like we might as well sleep in a tent outside. He often complained “Please sell more furniture, make more money, and let me stay at better hotels.” This year, he resigned from the president position, and we will never go on overseas business trips together. I feel sorry I couldn’t fulfill his wish in the end, though I always enjoyed the penniless trips with him.
Last week, the chairman came to my desk and talked to me delightedly. This is the reason why I remembered his complaint about hotels, by the way. He said he had been invited for a private viewing of a new hotel in Sapporo (the capital city of Hokkaido). It’s Royal Park Canvas. What features the hotel is its concept: “Make it happen,” with a wish for guests to create a new value through experiencing Hokkaido. Local wood is used in many parts of the building. It’s an 11-story building: RC up to the 8th floor, wooden structure above it (1380 tons less in carbon dioxide emissions). Wood waste from the construction is used for interior finishing. I’m sure the hotel restaurant will provide food made with local ingredients, in addition.
It’s not a super luxury hotel, though I think it may be still over our travel budget by my strict standards. The good news is our furniture is installed in the lounge space, which, I hope, would ease his frustration about hotels during our business trips, even a little bit. If you have a chance to come to Sapporo, please stay at the hotel and experience Hokkaido with our furniture locally made of local wood.
Shungo Ijima
He is travelling around the world. His passion is to explain Japan to the world, from the unique viewpoint accumulated through his career: overseas posting, MBA holder, former official of the Ministry of Finance.
Photo Credit: https://www.the-royalpark.jp/canvas/sapporoodoripark/