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NEWS
Minor Hotels enters joint venture with Royal Holdings to establish foothold in Japan – targeting 21 hotels by 2035
POSTED 30 Jan 2025 . BY Megan Whitby
RMH is aiming to open 21 hotels in Japan by 2035 under Minor's Anantara, Avani and Tivoli brands Credit: Shutterstock/Sakarin Sawasdinaka

Credit: Minor International
We want to drive wellness into all of Minor’s brands
– Dillip Rajakarier
Minor Hotels has established a new strategic partnership with Royal Holdings
The companies have formed a 50/50 joint venture called Royal Minor Hotels
The partnership marks Minor’s entry into Japan’s dynamic luxury and lifestyle hotel market
The operator has ambitious global growth plans and is on track to surpass 850 global properties by 2027
Thai-based hospitality giant Minor International (MINT), the parent company of Minor Hotels, has formed a 50/50 joint venture with Japanese hotel and restaurant operator Royal Holdings.

The new entity, Royal Minor Hotels (RMH), is set to launch in March and operate properties under Minor’s Anantara, Avani and Tivoli hotel brands. The joint venture aims to open 21 hotels by 2035.

Global growth strategy
RMH is part of Minor’s broader global expansion, which aims to add 285 hotels – an increase of more than 50 per cent – across multiple regions.

Minor currently operates more than 70 spas across its 560 hotels, resorts and residences spread throughout 58 countries, with a plan to surpass 850 global locations by 2027.

While more than 50 per cent of Minor’s current portfolio is concentrated in Europe, the company is now aggressively scaling in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Australia and New Zealand, with more than 200 new properties in these regions alone.

Wellness at the core of expansion
Dillip Rajakarier, group CEO of MINT and CEO of Minor, has emphasised that wellness is a cornerstone of Minor’s expansion plans.

“We want to drive wellness into all of Minor’s brands,” he told Spa Business in an exclusive interview.

New horizons: breaking into Japan
RMH will leverage Minor’s international expertise and Royal’s local market knowledge to create destinations which appeal to both domestic and international travellers.

Properties will be developed through a combination of management agreements and lease arrangements, allowing RMH to scale efficiently across key urban and resort destinations.

MINT and Royal have a long-standing partnership, having already successfully collaborated on the Sizzler steakhouse brand in Japan. The two companies say this history of cooperation lays a solid foundation for RMH’s ambitious expansion plans.
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  Anantara debuts brand new medi-wellness concept rooted in Traditional Thai Medicine in Phuket


Minor Hotels has celebrated the official launch of its new medi-wellness concept, Life by Anantara, and opened a brand new retreat space at its Anantara Layan Phuket Resort in Thailand.
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Uniting the world of spa & wellness
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News   Products   Magazine   Subscribe
NEWS
Minor Hotels enters joint venture with Royal Holdings to establish foothold in Japan – targeting 21 hotels by 2035
POSTED 30 Jan 2025 . BY Megan Whitby
RMH is aiming to open 21 hotels in Japan by 2035 under Minor's Anantara, Avani and Tivoli brands Credit: Shutterstock/Sakarin Sawasdinaka
Credit: Minor International
We want to drive wellness into all of Minor’s brands
– Dillip Rajakarier
Minor Hotels has established a new strategic partnership with Royal Holdings
The companies have formed a 50/50 joint venture called Royal Minor Hotels
The partnership marks Minor’s entry into Japan’s dynamic luxury and lifestyle hotel market
The operator has ambitious global growth plans and is on track to surpass 850 global properties by 2027
Thai-based hospitality giant Minor International (MINT), the parent company of Minor Hotels, has formed a 50/50 joint venture with Japanese hotel and restaurant operator Royal Holdings.

The new entity, Royal Minor Hotels (RMH), is set to launch in March and operate properties under Minor’s Anantara, Avani and Tivoli hotel brands. The joint venture aims to open 21 hotels by 2035.

Global growth strategy
RMH is part of Minor’s broader global expansion, which aims to add 285 hotels – an increase of more than 50 per cent – across multiple regions.

Minor currently operates more than 70 spas across its 560 hotels, resorts and residences spread throughout 58 countries, with a plan to surpass 850 global locations by 2027.

While more than 50 per cent of Minor’s current portfolio is concentrated in Europe, the company is now aggressively scaling in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Australia and New Zealand, with more than 200 new properties in these regions alone.

Wellness at the core of expansion
Dillip Rajakarier, group CEO of MINT and CEO of Minor, has emphasised that wellness is a cornerstone of Minor’s expansion plans.

“We want to drive wellness into all of Minor’s brands,” he told Spa Business in an exclusive interview.

New horizons: breaking into Japan
RMH will leverage Minor’s international expertise and Royal’s local market knowledge to create destinations which appeal to both domestic and international travellers.

Properties will be developed through a combination of management agreements and lease arrangements, allowing RMH to scale efficiently across key urban and resort destinations.

MINT and Royal have a long-standing partnership, having already successfully collaborated on the Sizzler steakhouse brand in Japan. The two companies say this history of cooperation lays a solid foundation for RMH’s ambitious expansion plans.
RELATED STORIES
Hoshino Resorts to make North American debut with authentic Japanese onsen retreat in New York


Luxury Japanese hospitality brand Hoshino Resorts is set to make its mark in the US wellness market with a new hot springs development in New York state's historic spa village of Sharon Springs.
Anantara debuts brand new medi-wellness concept rooted in Traditional Thai Medicine in Phuket


Minor Hotels has celebrated the official launch of its new medi-wellness concept, Life by Anantara, and opened a brand new retreat space at its Anantara Layan Phuket Resort in Thailand.
Wellness to play pivotal role in Minor Hotels’ ambitious global expansion strategy, says CEO Dillip Rajakarier


Minor Hotels is on a trajectory for significant expansion, with plans to open 200 extra hotels by 2026. According to CEO Dillip Rajakarier, wellness is a cornerstone of the company’s growth strategy, as he explained in an exclusive interview with Spa Business.
Balinese mythology and dragons inspire tropical Anantara retreat launching in 2027


Luxury hotel and spa operator Anantara Hotels & Resorts has signed an agreement to manage a new-build resort, spa and branded residences on the black volcanic shores of Bali’s Seseh Beach.
MORE NEWS
Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai creates Global Wellness Day programme rooted in nature
Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai in Hoi An, Vietnam, has put together a Global Wellness Day (GWD) agenda with activations rooted in nature and shaped by four pillars of Joy – in alignment with the day’s theme #JoyMagenta.
Wellness care hospital opens in Vilnius with innovative spa and hospitality concept
Lithuanian care operator Addere Care has launched a new “wellness care hospital” in Vilnius.
Rainer Maelzer joins Therme Group as chief entertainment officer
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Global Wellness Summit announces 2026 theme: the science, art and soul of wellness
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+ More featured suppliers  
COMPANY PROFILES
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+ More catalogues  

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09-11 Jun 2026

World Sauna Forum 2026

Savutuvan Apaja, Haapaniemi, Finland
09-12 Jun 2026

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ADVERTISE . CONTACT US

Leisure Media
Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385

©Cybertrek 2026

ABOUT LEISURE MEDIA
LEISURE MEDIA MAGAZINES
LEISURE MEDIA HANDBOOKS
LEISURE MEDIA WEBSITES
LEISURE MEDIA PRODUCT SEARCH
PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS
FREE DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS