Hotel tries to make life easier for Japanese

Press, 16 September 1982, Page 18

Hotel tries to make life easier for Japanese

While New Zealanders work to live, the Japanese live to work, says Mr Raymond Black, of Christchurch, who has just returned from an exchange trip to Tokyo. "They really take pride in what they do." said Mr Black, the assistant manager of Noahs Hotel. Mr Black has spent about seven weeks visiting hotels and eating at more than 80 restaurants to learn how to improve the treatment of Japanese tourists staying at the hotel. The trip was the second half of an exchange arranged between Noahs and Tokyo’s Shiba Park Hotel. Changes that Mr Black would like to make include serving dinner at 5.30 p.m. for tourists who have just arrived. While Japanese tourists agreed to wait until 6.30 p.m. or 7. p.m., they resented the delay, he said. In their own country, they ate as early as 4.30 p.m. Also, because the big New Zealand portions embarrassed the Japanese, the hotel would try to serve small but nicely arranged and decorated platters.

Providing a true Japanese breakfast of foods such as rice, raw egg. and soup would create the greatest challenge. "We are looking at making breakfasts for Japanese tours more like airline meals, served in compartments on a tray in the Japanese way, but this may

be too difficult," said Mr Black. The Shiba Park Hotel had made considerable efforts to attract New Zealand and Australian tourists, which now conwrised more than 40 per cent of its business. Bigger and cheaper meals were served in the hotel to encourage New Zealanders and Australians to dine there rather than seek the smaller, less expensive restaurants. The increased patronage made up for the smalller amount made on the meals. Mr Black said. More English-speaking Japanese had been put on the hotel's information desk, which would soon stay open longer until the Air New Zealand flight arrived. "They have tried. You have to give them 100 points. They are so willing to listen and improve," Mr Black said. Although the exchange programme had been a onetimer, both hotels hoped eventually to send other employees to learn the customs and' requirements of the people they were trying to attract, he said.