[Bright future ahead]

Our daily lives have been affected greatly by COVID-19 in the past 36 months. It is very encouraging to witness that the situation has stabilized and the world has gradually returned to normal in the past six months. Japan has started to welcome international guests again since October last year, this has given everyone in our Company excitement and energy to fulfill our vision of providing “A Collection of Beautiful Japan” experience to all of our guests.

Since few years ago we have announced our strategy of expanding our portfolio of new urban boutique hotels including the opening of Tsuki in 2019 with the aim of increasing our brand recognition in the market and further promote our vision. Since then, in order to continue building on this strategy and vision, despite the pandemic crisis we have successfully opened three new properties in Ginza, Kyoto Karasuma and Kyoto Shijo. Recently in November last year, we have opened our latest property in Tokyo, the ONE@Tokyo designed by the world-renowned architect Kengo Kuma.

While we are achieving growth with our new properties opening, during COVID period it was also a good timing for us to further enhance our internal qualities and efficiencies. A hotel is only as good as its staff. The Agora Hotel Alliance is redefining the concept of "hospitality," as "people who think and act with compassion for others”. While having the knowledge and open mind to welcome the world to Japan, at the root, we will focus on developing human resources who can provide warm and homely hotel services with high quality. We are starting a Agora Hotel Alliance Base-up Academy to provide skill up training. These are targeted to be available to all our staff throughout the alliance from General Manager to new graduate joiners. In addition, we aim to establish a "section trainer" system where mentors will provide psychological and technical care for all new employees, including mid-career hires, and also serves as a workplace education manager.

The coming years will be important years for Agora. We look forward to continuing execution of our growth plan and also welcoming again our domestic and international guests.

Agora Hospitalities Co., Ltd.
President & Chief Executive Officer
Kwok Gary Yan Kuen