Tokyo's 'Imperial' tradition should be exported to the rest of the world

Tokyo

TOKYO'S Imperial Hotel has been ranked the "highest luxury-class hotel in Japan" in a recent survey. But anyone who knows the 126-year-old Grand Dame of the Tokyo hotel scene may think that it has more to offer by way of lessons to the hotel industry in general than simply luxury.

In fact, the overdone concept of "luxury" so beloved of hotel designers and copywriters, along with other terms such as "exclusive, legendary or iconic" illustrates why many of the "great" hotels of Asia and beyond are no longer so great or grand as they used to be.