Doubling Down on the Doubletree

[2triky]

[Taro Toporific]

Kyoto Grand Could Become a Doubletree
http://blogdowntown.com/2010/11/5847-kyoto-grand-could-become-a-doubletree

When I used to stay there back in 1978-79 as the New Otani, the hotel (complete with a very lonely sento) was already a failure. The hotel has many Japanese-size, business-hotel type rooms---It's micro-rooms are sure way to displease guests in America. The only way "to bring the structure out of bankruptcy" would be to remodel the micro-rooms by combining them 2-into-1 or by dropping the micro-room prices by more than half (in 1979 the micro-room prices for government per-diem customers were some of the lowest in the city).

[2triky]

When I used to stay there back in 1978-79 as the New Otani, the hotel (complete with a very lonely sento) was already a failure. The hotel has many Japanese-size, business-hotel type rooms---It's micro-rooms are sure way to displease guests in America. The only way "to bring the structure out of bankruptcy" would be to remodel the micro-rooms by combining them 2-into-1 or by dropping the micro-room prices by more than half (in 1979 the micro-room prices for government per-diem customers were some of the lowest in the city).

I agree the property needs to be renovated up to current accommodation standards. In comparison to other hotels that have emerged in the vicinity of downtown, most notably the J.W. Marriot/Ritz Carlton Tower, this hotel is behind the times. I'm sure the lack of the long since gone influx of Japanese tourists didn't help matters much.