Hotels & Accommodations
InterContinental Osaka’s Sky-High Urban Sanctuary Celebrates a Decade of Distinction
FOR TWELVE REMARKABLE YEARS, InterContinental Osaka has carved out a reputation as Japan’s premier urban retreat, securing the coveted number one position in Osaka and a spot among the Top 10 best city hotels nationwide.
Under the visionary leadership of General Manager Jerome Palacoeur, this 272-room property — comprising 215 luxurious guest rooms and suites plus 57 exclusive residences — has mastered the art of personalised hospitality that transforms everyday stays into extraordinary experiences.
What sets this property apart isn’t just its accolades, but a deep commitment to crafting guest journeys you simply can’t find elsewhere. A new and exclusive Insider Partnerships programme allows the concierge team to orchestrate moments of pure magic for guests. Its inaugural offering is authentic — and on-trend — a Matcha tea ceremony at Isshin-an, a heritage tea house nestled in the heart of Kyoto, where guests discover firsthand the profound traditions and ceremonial beauty of Japan’s most revered beverage ritual.
Design That Speaks to the Soul
The hotel’s breathtaking interiors emerge from the collaborative genius of Hong Kong’s Bilkey Llinas Design Ltd and Tokyo’s celebrated Yukio Hashimoto Design Studio. Together, they’ve woven what they call “Contemporary Luxury” into every corner, using locally sourced natural stone, wood and glass to create spaces that breathe modern sophistication through each space while honouring Japan’s timeless aesthetic principles.
Hashimoto Yukio Design Studios’ award-winning and philosophical approach to the property was to design ambience instead of spaces. This vision manifests spectacularly in the dramatic 20th-floor lobby, where guests are greeted by sweeping views of Osaka’s urban expanse.
The design narrative continues through generously sized guest rooms, averaging 50 square metres each, featuring floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors that separate the sleeping and bathing areas, flooding the spaces with natural light.
Local artists’ innovative works grace both the ground-floor entrance and the sky-high lobby, creating a gallery-like experience that celebrates regional creative talent.
The design journey reaches its crescendo in the wedding chapel, where an awe-inspiring Aji Stone waterfall invites nature’s mystical essence to each ceremony. A gracefully curving seven-metre stairwell was crafted to convey feminine beauty and form across two floors.
Culinary Theatre in the Clouds
In addition to the Hotel lobby, InterContinental Osaka offers most compelling culinary destination, housing fie distinct dining experiences that showcase everything from Michelin-starred French cuisine to sweets and cocktails.
Pierre, the hotel’s signature French eatery and crown jewel, has maintained its Michelin star for an impressive nine consecutive years. It’s a place where master chefs transform seasonal ingredients using classical French techniques while an extraordinary wine collection boasts over 200 labels, including rare vintages and prestigious Champagnes.
NOKA Roast & Grill brings Osaka’s vibrant energy to life through an open kitchen concept, where culinary theatre meets curated seasonal ingredients in an atmosphere that reflects the city’s dynamic spirit. When evening arrives, adee Lounge & Bar becomes the stage for Osaka’s most sophisticated nightlife, featuring original cocktails, projection mapping that transforms walls into living art and weekend live music performances against the backdrop of the glittering Yodogawa River.
For quieter moments, Lounge ‘3-60‘ offers floor-to-ceiling windows that gracefully frame the city below, creating an intimate setting for important conversations or romantic evenings. The ground-level Patisserie ‘STRESSED‘ serves as your gateway to indulgence, offering artisanal cakes, chocolates, and baked goods perfect for fueling daytime adventures or business meetings.
Your Urban Escape Awaits
Beyond dining, this vertical sanctuary has comprehensive wellness facilities that include a 24-hour fitness centre, traditional Japanese bathhouse, MEGURI Spa, and an indoor pool, while four versatile event spaces and a complete wedding complex make it Osaka’s most sought-after venue for celebrations.
Located just five minutes from three major transportation hubs — JR Osaka Station, Umeda Station and Hankyu Umeda Station — InterContinental Osaka positions you at the heart of everything while providing an elevated refuge from the city’s bustle. Discover why discerning travellers have chosen InterContinental Osaka as their Osaka sanctuary for over a decade. Experience the difference that comes from twelve years of refined hospitality, where every detail serves a single purpose: making your stay unforgettable.
InterContinental Osaka
3-60 Ofuka-cho, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Japan
Tel：+81 6 6374 5700
Website: www.icosaka.com
Article Sponsored by InterContinental Osaka.
Images courtesy of InterContinental Osaka.
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Hotels & Accommodations
Will ITC demerge its IT business similar to ITC Hotels? Sanjiv Puri responds – Markets
Updated Jul 28, 2025 09:53 IST
Will ITC demerge its IT business similar to ITC Hotels? Sanjiv Puri responds (Pic: ET NOW)
“We look at the business strategy, the competitive context, maturity of the business, and weigh the pros and cons of the current structure. Whatever is best, we recommend for shareholders’ approval,” he responded to a query on the possibility of ITC Infotech’s demerger as a separate listed company.
“Just like we did for hotels, whatever is right will be done at the right time. Nothing is cast in stone,” Sanjiv Puri added.
ITC Infotech is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ITC Ltd. It is a technology solutions and services provider with focus on banking, healthcare, manufacturing, consumer goods and other industries.
ITC Ltd completed the demerged its hotel business — ITC Hotels — into a separate listed company in January this years. Under the demerger scheme, ITC had issued 1 share of ITC Hotels for every 10 shares held in the parent company as on the record date. ITC Hotels shares were listed on the NSE at Rs 180 and on BSE at Rs 188.
Sanjiv Puri also cited an analyst report at the AGM to say that ITC has created one of the most capital-efficient FMCG businesses, despite the total addressable market being as high as Rs 5 lakh crore. Referring to studies by leading consulting firms in 2002, 2006, and 2017, he said that studies by leading consulting firms have “observed that conglomerates delivered superior shareholder returns in about 50 per cent of cases”.
On value creation, Sanjiv Puri said that it is “not a function of diversification” but of “how that diversity is managed”. “With distributed leadership, strong governance and institutional synergies, ITC has turned this into a strength”.
(Disclaimer: The above article is meant for informational purposes only, and should not be considered as any investment advice. ET NOW DIGITAL suggests its readers/audience to consult their financial advisors before making any money related decisions.)
End of article
Hotels & Accommodations
This is one of world’s tallest hotels, but it has never had a guest, reason is…, not located in US, China, Russia, India, UAE, Saudi Arabia
Known for its pyramid-like shape, the hotel is often compared to the ancient Egyptian pyramids.
When we think of grand buildings, countries like the United States or the United Arab Emirates usually come to mind. But here’s a surprising fact: the tallest hotel in the world is not in Dubai or New York—it’s in North Korea. The Ryugyong Hotel in Pyongyang stands at a height of 330 meters and has 105 floors. Yet, despite its impressive size, the hotel has never welcomed a single guest, according to reports.
Known for its pyramid-like shape, the Ryugyong Hotel is often compared to the ancient Egyptian pyramids. It is nearly twice as tall as India’s Statue of Unity, which stands at 182 meters. Built with the dream of becoming a symbol of North Korea’s growth and modern architecture, the hotel is now more famous for being unfinished and empty.
Construction of the hotel began in 1987 and was initially completed in 1992. However, due to the collapse of the Soviet Union and the resulting economic crisis in North Korea, the interior work was never finished. For many years, the building stood as an empty shell.
In 2008, an Egyptian company took on the task of improving the exterior of the hotel. They invested around USD 180 million to add glass panels and aluminium cladding. This work was completed in 2011. Today, the outside of the hotel is fitted with LED lights, which are used to display patriotic videos and symbols during national celebrations. But inside, the hotel remains deserted, according to reports.
Interestingly, despite being completed from the outside, the hotel has never been officially inaugurated. The lack of guests is simply because the interiors are still incomplete.
Hotels & Accommodations
Lords Ishwar Hotels Shows Shift in Market Sentiment Amid Financial Challenges
Lords Ishwar Hotels, a microcap player in the Hotels & Resorts industry, has recently undergone an evaluation adjustment that reflects a shift in its technical outlook. The stock’s technical indicators have shown a transition from a bearish stance to a mildly bearish position, suggesting a nuanced change in market sentiment.
In terms of key financial metrics, Lords Ishwar Hotels has reported a flat financial performance for the quarter ending Q4 FY24-25. The company has demonstrated a modest average Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) of 2.87%, indicating challenges in long-term fundamental strength. Over the past five years, net sales have grown at an annual rate of 2.11%, while operating profit has increased by 5.22%. However, the company faces a high Debt to EBITDA ratio of 3.29 times, which raises concerns about its ability to service debt.
Despite these challenges, the stock has generated a return of 9.57% over the past year, outperforming the BSE500 index in each of the last three annual periods. The stock is currently trading at a discount compared to its peers’ average historical valuations, with a fair valuation indicated by an enterprise value to capital employed ratio of 1.7.
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