Tokyo, Japan — IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG) is today proud to launch its ‘myBenefits’ programme in Japan – a strategic initiative to enhance its colleague offer and attract the next generation of talent to its hotels.

The introduction of ‘myBenefits’ in Japan builds on the successful launch in Australia and New Zealand in 2021. The programme has been thoughtfully crafted to recognise the changing needs and preferences of the workforce, catering to the needs of our current and future colleagues, and to support colleagues in both their personal and professional lives.

With remarkable growth in the hospitality sector, it has been increasingly vital to retain our talented team members while attracting new talent to pursue a career in this dynamic industry where IHG offers unending opportunities with its diverse brands and unique culture.

Abhijay Sandilya, CEO of IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan and Managing Director of IHG Hotels & Resorts Japan & Micronesia, said: “We are delighted to announce the launch of ‘myBenefits’ for colleagues in IHG managed hotels in Japan. This wide-reaching new benefits programme will enable them to plot career paths that suit their ambitions, while ensuring they flourish in their roles as they deliver IHG’s True Hospitality for Good to our guests.

“We plan to double our IHG estate in Japan and with that growth recognise the need to strengthen our competitiveness when it comes to attracting talent to our hotels. By offering great benefits through our ‘myBenefits’ programme, we’re showing potential candidates why they should join our team, stay with us and forge successful careers.

“Following its successful launch in Australia and New Zealand in 2021, our move to bring ‘myBenefits’ to Japan extends our commitment to protect and improve our IHG employer brand around the world. Through this, we’re showing how our current hotel colleagues – and those who will join us in the future – can feel valued and thrive as part of our team.”

The Employee Perspective

IHG adopted a comprehensive approach to gain a balanced understanding of what our colleagues need and expect from the organisation. This involved an external benchmarking exercise against a cross section of Japan based companies to identify best practice and emerging trends. These insights were then validated with feedback from 800 colleagues across IHG hotels in Japan on a wide range of key offerings including typical core benefits, career development, leave practices, workplace flexibility, work environment, and leadership.

The findings revealed that after fair compensation, work-life balance was overwhelmingly the next most important consideration of employees in IHG hotels, followed by the importance of working for a supportive team and manager, recognition for performance, paid time off and flexible working arrangements. These insights highlighted that non-financial elements of an employer’s total offering are equally important and crucial to fostering an engaged workforce.

— Source: IHG

‘myBenefits’ in Japan

We know how a warm welcome is important to our guests, and IHG extends this same commitment to our colleagues through three “room” promises: Room to Grow, Room to Belong and Room to Make a Difference. The ‘myBenefits’ programme is aimed at supporting these promises.

Room to Belong: IHG myBenefits offers a competitive number of days off, paid sick leave, and birthday leave. Colleagues also enjoy significantly discounted room rates across 6500+ hotels globally, food and beverage discounts in hotel outlets, and enhanced benefits under IHG’s One Rewards loyalty program, making their time off and work-life balance even more rewarding.

Room to Grow: From day one, colleagues access IHG University for personalised learning plans, enhancing hospitality excellence and leadership skills. Talent acceleration programs fast-track careers, while domestic and global mobility options offer diverse brand and role exploration through short and long-term assignments, providing a comprehensive and enriching career development experience.

Room to Make a Difference: IHG’s Journey to Tomorrow, launched in 2021, aims to positively impact people, communities, and the planet. Giving for Good month is a highlight, with colleagues across 100+ countries dedicating time to support communities, with a goal to improve 30 million lives by 2030, fostering a culture of giving and sustainability.

The timeline for implementing each myBenefits program and the specific details may vary by hotel, allowing for tailored and flexible solutions that best meet the unique needs of each location.

— Source: IHG

*IHG conducted online surveys with 797 employees of its managed hotels in Japan in October 2023. Demographics: Gender: 52% Female, 48% Male; Departments: 82% Operations, 18% Administration; Age: 2% under 20, 39% 20-29, 18% 30-39, 21% 40-49, 17% 50-59, 4% 60+

Lisa Sakaguchi
Senior Manager, Corporate Affairs Japan & Micronesia
IHG