JLL appoints dedicated Hotel Asset Management team in Japan
Expansion of its Asset Management platform in Japan to serve clients' evolving needs in the market.
SINGAPORE, 13 September 2021 – JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group today announced a broad expansion of its Asset Management platform in Japan to serve clients' evolving needs in the market and to service its growing hotel portfolio. The appointment of a dedicated leadership team within this market segment will ensure that JLL becomes the first international advisor to offer a global hospitality specialized asset management platform in Japan, which is well-established as one of Asia Pacific's most mature hotel markets.
The Japan Asset Management business will be led by Nathan Cook, who brings over 20 years of Japanese hospitality experience to JLL. A New Zealand national fluent in Japanese, he joins the firm as Head of Asset Management, Japan, and will immediately assume his role. Nathan and his team will be supported by the existing Hotel Advisory & Capital Markets team of 12 hotel specialists in Tokyo, as well as the broader Property Asset Management and Project & Development Services teams across the market.
His appointment is significant for JLL, bringing expertise directly from leading hospitality brands to meet the changing needs of investors in the Japanese hospitality industry. He will report to Xander Nijnens, Head of Hotel Advisory & Asset Management, Asia Pacific, and Takahiro Tsujikawa, Head of JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group, Japan.
“Asset management is a well-recognised service in Japan for real estate investors, yet there is a distinct lack of hotel investment and operating knowledge in this sector. As hotel investment is maturing rapidly, and operating models are becoming more dynamic, there is a real need for hotel specialists to support owners in getting the most from their hotel investments. With our deep knowledge of the Japan hotel market through sales, valuation and advisory – we can leverage off so much intel to benefit asset management clients,” says Nijnens.
Nathan's appointment comes as the Japanese hotel sector continues to transform to meet the demands of both domestic and international travelers and attract interest from global investors owing to its longer-term solid fundamentals. According to JLL, the decision to establish a dedicated Asset Management and Advisory presence was driven by heightened activity in the Japanese market and the requirements of many hotels to upgrade facilities and reposition strategies during and post-pandemic. His role will complement JLL's legacy hospitality presence and provide the most comprehensive service offering to clients domestically and internationally.
Nathan joins JLL from InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) in Japan, where he has served as Cluster General Manager, responsible for properties including The Strings by InterContinental Tokyo and Kimpton Shinjuku Tokyo. Before joining IHG in 2017, he worked for Hilton for seven years, holding positions including Director of Operations at Hilton Tokyo and Director of Operations and Business Development at its Odawara property in Kanagawa, Japan. He also brings experience from Hilton UK and Ireland and the hospitality industry in New Zealand.
"Japan remains a desirable hospitality market and will likely recover more rapidly than others globally due to its strong domestic base. However, hotels have realized to expand competitiveness requires a rethink of strategies and offerings to guests, which Nathan's rich experience from the industry will provide clients. We see the establishment of a dedicated Asset Management and Advisory platform in Japan as a key step in providing a more comprehensive service to our clients and the market and look forward to further building out our offering," says Tsujikawa.
JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group provides a full suite of services to clients operating in Japan, ranging from investment advisory, market research and analytics, hotel operator selection and valuations, and related consultancy.
About JLL
JLL (NYSE: JLL) is a leading professional services firm that specializes in real estate and investment management. JLL shapes the future of real estate for a better world by using the most advanced technology to create rewarding opportunities, amazing spaces and sustainable real estate solutions for our clients, our people and our communities. JLL is a Fortune 500 company with annual revenue of $16.6 billion in 2020, operations in over 80 countries and a global workforce of more than 92,000 as of June 30, 2021. JLL is the brand name, and a registered trademark, of Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated. For further information, visit jll.com.