Ken Yokoyama, ex-GM Hyatt Regency Kyoto.
Now sadly (for us) retired from hospitality, we were fortunate to meet this most gracious and charming man on our first visit to Kyoto in 2014. The way Ken told it, he was the accidental hotelier. As a Literature undergraduate trying to pay his way through college, he was interested in any work that paid the bills. So, when a close friend asked him to cover his shift as a hotel porter, Ken readily agreed. His friend neglected to mention it was the graveyard shift. 12 hours later, exhausted and blinking, was Ken smitten? Not really but he did go on to accept temporary work as a bell-hop in the Hilton Tokyo. Ken's ambition as a young man was a career in commerce. Hospitality wasn't his first choice but it just wouldn't leave him alone. He found himself having to choose between two job offers and two conflicting sets of advice. His decision was to go for the aptitude test with Hilton and so this humble, dignified man was forever captured by hospitality. Which was very much to everyone's benefit, because he's very good at it. Not that he would tell you that but I can tell from having stayed in his hotel.
We have met a number of hotel general managers now and it seems the hospitality industry has a way of testing and nurturing talent by exposing them to all facets of hotel life. Ken is no exception. Hilton gave him his first "break" as a fitness centre receptionist in Shinjuku, Tokyo. It was one of the first hotels to open a proper fitness club. He recalls fondly his mixture of duties; basically anything that needed doing, including cleaning the machines! His skill and grace with guests must have been apparent early on because he went on to be a front desk clerk at Hilton Tokyo before being despatched with little warning to Guam in 1990. He almost went straight home as the management forgot his arrival and left him stranded at the airport, then gave him the night-shift on his first day!. His first taste of life outside Japan was pretty much home from home as it is a popular destination with Japanese holidaymakers and businessmen. He laughs now about the many frantic trips to the airport to intercept guests and escort them to other hotels as the Hilton Guam was frequently overbooked but you can tell he enjoys having to pull out all the stops to get things done. Next stop front office manager at Hilton Tokyo Bay, a huge development with over 800 rooms. This was an incredibly busy post and he managed to achieve 99.8% occupancy for the hotel during August, shortly after opening. In other words, that walk policy was often in action again. Ken has also served time as a sales manager for Shangri La in Penang, Malaysia and spent some time with Hilton in Tahiti for a full immersion in F&B. He took on every role including waiter, kitchen assistant and even butcher!
His career with Hyatt Hotels and Resorts began when he was persuaded to join for the opening of the world famous Park Hyatt Tokyo. He took some persuading as he was moving from Tokyo Hilton with over 800 rooms to a Hyatt with fewer than 200. After 5 meetings, he signed up to the company and spent 5 years at PHT, his stay including the timer of the filming of Lost in Translation. He recalls it as a fun time. Thence to Park Hyatt Sydney Australia, where he was too busy to watch the most spectacular fireworks of the Millennial celebrations and spent the first day of 2001 sweeping water out of a flooded car-park. That's one of the things you notice about Ken, he always lends a hand when needed no matter how menial the task. He is the kind of GM who might carry your bags if he sees you waiting.
After 2 years in Sydney, Ken was given his own command at last with the opening of Hyatt Regency Kyoto. Seven years on, it has clearly been a great success. Many of the comments I have read online from other travel bloggers who have visited are to the effect that this seems like a Park Hyatt rather than a Regency. A lot of that is down to Ken's hard work and quiet attention to detail. Ken will tell you it is all about the team. The hotel is immaculately kept, the welcome is very warm and every member of staff seems to take a pride in their work. Just like Ken used to do. Whatever you're doing now Ken, we wish you well. You certainly earned a rest.
We have met a number of hotel general managers now and it seems the hospitality industry has a way of testing and nurturing talent by exposing them to all facets of hotel life. Ken is no exception. Hilton gave him his first "break" as a fitness centre receptionist in Shinjuku, Tokyo. It was one of the first hotels to open a proper fitness club. He recalls fondly his mixture of duties; basically anything that needed doing, including cleaning the machines! His skill and grace with guests must have been apparent early on because he went on to be a front desk clerk at Hilton Tokyo before being despatched with little warning to Guam in 1990. He almost went straight home as the management forgot his arrival and left him stranded at the airport, then gave him the night-shift on his first day!. His first taste of life outside Japan was pretty much home from home as it is a popular destination with Japanese holidaymakers and businessmen. He laughs now about the many frantic trips to the airport to intercept guests and escort them to other hotels as the Hilton Guam was frequently overbooked but you can tell he enjoys having to pull out all the stops to get things done. Next stop front office manager at Hilton Tokyo Bay, a huge development with over 800 rooms. This was an incredibly busy post and he managed to achieve 99.8% occupancy for the hotel during August, shortly after opening. In other words, that walk policy was often in action again. Ken has also served time as a sales manager for Shangri La in Penang, Malaysia and spent some time with Hilton in Tahiti for a full immersion in F&B. He took on every role including waiter, kitchen assistant and even butcher!
His career with Hyatt Hotels and Resorts began when he was persuaded to join for the opening of the world famous Park Hyatt Tokyo. He took some persuading as he was moving from Tokyo Hilton with over 800 rooms to a Hyatt with fewer than 200. After 5 meetings, he signed up to the company and spent 5 years at PHT, his stay including the timer of the filming of Lost in Translation. He recalls it as a fun time. Thence to Park Hyatt Sydney Australia, where he was too busy to watch the most spectacular fireworks of the Millennial celebrations and spent the first day of 2001 sweeping water out of a flooded car-park. That's one of the things you notice about Ken, he always lends a hand when needed no matter how menial the task. He is the kind of GM who might carry your bags if he sees you waiting.
After 2 years in Sydney, Ken was given his own command at last with the opening of Hyatt Regency Kyoto. Seven years on, it has clearly been a great success. Many of the comments I have read online from other travel bloggers who have visited are to the effect that this seems like a Park Hyatt rather than a Regency. A lot of that is down to Ken's hard work and quiet attention to detail. Ken will tell you it is all about the team. The hotel is immaculately kept, the welcome is very warm and every member of staff seems to take a pride in their work. Just like Ken used to do. Whatever you're doing now Ken, we wish you well. You certainly earned a rest.
