New Otani Co., Ltd. President Kazuhiko Otani Passes Away | TOPICS

It is with great sadness that we announce that Mr. Kazuhiko Otani, President and CEO of New Otani Co., Ltd., President of TOC Co., Ltd., and Chairman of Otani Kogyo Co., Ltd., has passed away on January 7, 2025, at the age of 78, due to esophageal cancer.

Mr. Otani was the grandson of Hotel New Otani founder Yonetaro Otani, and joined the family business in 1964. He had since directed the launch of 12 properties within the group. Hotel New Otani Tokyo, which is one of the few Japanese hotels that is run by the ownership, celebrated its 60th anniversary last year. Throughout his 31 years of leadership, Mr. Otani was essential in implementing various innovative projects in one of the biggest hotels in central Tokyo.

A public memorial service co-hosted by New Otani Co., Ltd., TOC Co., Ltd., and Otani Kogyo Co., Ltd., will be held at a later date. (Details to be announced in due course.)

About Kazuhiko Otani
Born in Tokyo on July 8, 1946, Mr. Otani joined New Otani Co., Ltd. in 1964, and was appointed an Executive Director in 1981. After being named Executive Managing Director in 1983, he became Senior Managing Director of the company and General Manager of Hotel New Otani Tokyo in 1984. He became Executive Vice President in 1987, and President and CEO in 1993. Mr. Otani also served as the top executive of numerous subsidiaries within the New Otani group.

Through his 31 years of leadership, Mr. Otani took the initiative in opening branch locations of internationally acclaimed brands such as Tour d’Argent Paris and Pierre Hermé Paris within the hotel, thus contributing to the boost of the food and beverage industry in Japan. The hotel served as the venue for many international events, such as the three G7 summits held in Tokyo, and the enthronement banquets hosted by the prime minister for Emperors Akihito (in 1990) and Naruhito (in 2019). Prior to the surge in inbound travelers to Japan, he led the renovation project in 2007 that updated the hotel facilities to provide enhanced comfort and pleasure to guests while reducing burdens on the environment. Japan’s first hotel-in-hotel EXECUTIVE HOUSE ZEN was also launched through this renovation, offering luxury accommodations that are also sustainable and winning five stars from Forbes Travel Guide five years in a row.