-GM Interview-“Living, Working, and Playing” come together in a new kind of stay -Coliving Hotel lyf Tenjin Fukuoka
If the purpose of staying in a hotel is to provide some kind of extraordinary experience, why not have a “hotel that accompanies you in your daily life?
We interviewed the GM (general manager) of a new hotel that overturns the role that hotels have played up to now, and delved deeply into its charms.
This time, we interviewed Mr. Suji Park, GM of lyf Tenjin Fukuoka, a co-living hotel in Singapore, which landed in Japan for the first time in 2021.
A Coliving hotel that blends in as an extension of daily life
-lyf What is the concept of “co-living” that you are promoting?
Born in South Korea, Suji Park started his hotel career in Japan in 2014, and after building up his career in hotel operations, he has been the manager of lyf Tenjin Fukuoka since September 1. She is trilingual in Japanese, Korean, and English.
Basically, “coliving” means having a “place to live” and a “place to work,” or to use a familiar term to describe it, a coworking space in a share house.
The theme of lf Tenjin Fukuoka’s coliving is “live, work, and play,” which adds one more element to the above.
The third floor, where you will be welcomed, will be the co-living space. Here you will find the hotel reception, living space, bar, kitchen, and laundry.
This space is the entrance to the hotel, the living room during your stay, a place to work, socialize, and have fun.
-When I actually visited, I felt that customers really spend their time as they wish in the lobby on the third floor, as if they were “living, working, or playing”.
Was it used by customers as such a coliving space from the beginning?
When we had only Japanese guests at Corona Disaster, many of them used the space in a different way than now.
In Japan, the majority of people used the coworking space quietly by themselves, but with the increase in the number of international guests, people using the space while talking with their friends or having online meetings became more noticeable.
One interesting point is that the tables used as coworking space during the day transform into billiard tables in the evening.
Some people are working, some are playing on the side, and some are cooking and eating meals on the side.
The atmosphere has changed a lot since people from overseas started coming here.
I think this is largely due to the fact that people know about coliving.
Currently, about 70% of our guests come from overseas. The atmosphere is global and free, and I feel that it is becoming the form we were aiming for.
-I see. It’s exactly like the living room of a house.
That’s really how I imagine it!
So, the lobby on the third floor is positioned as the living room and kitchen in a house, and the guest rooms are positioned as bedrooms.
When you want to be alone or relax, you can stay in your guest room, and when you want to talk with people, you can come down to the 3rd floor and enjoy socializing.
Cycle generated by the lf community
-I think you are focusing on community building. What is the hotel-based community that lyf is aiming for?
We aim to create a community based on diversity, equity and inclusion.
People will come and go between communities that originate from lyf, and collaborations will be born. New communities are born from these collaborations. We would like to build such a good cycle.
We at lyf are a hotel, so we provide a place where community members can gather, and a place where travelers can meet and enter the community.
-What is Diversity Equity & Inclusion?
Diversity is a word that many companies have already used, but we feel that a major problem in Japan is that diversity alone is not enough.
In the case of lf, we place great importance on creating an “inclusive” culture that accepts the diversity of our customers as well as our staff, which includes nationalities, backgrounds, and other invisible diversity. We also place great importance on creating a culture of “equity” that allows us to be fair to people of all backgrounds and characteristics.
For example, when we hold events, we do not divide people according to gender, and we create an environment that welcomes people of all nationalities. We are also conscious of the structure that allows everyone to come in, whether they are tourists or local residents.
For example, at the “Japanese Traditional Art Exhibition & Workshop” held in September, the company we partnered with this time supports female traditional artisans. We didn’t mention the word “women” at all.
We explained this process to them, and they understood and agreed to collaborate with us.
In a similar pattern, we sometimes bind ourselves to a country, but we do not limit ourselves by nationality.
For example, we hold “Korean Night” events where people who love Korea gather, but we do not limit them by nationality, such as “only for Koreans.
We are always aware of this kind of discomfort that is difficult to notice.
-How can the community and travelers interact?
There are two patterns.
One is that people come to lyf to participate in community activities. The other pattern is that people come across the community by chance during their stay at llyf and join in.
At lyf, we hold community events in cooperation with local people, and just recently we held a workshop to make “nerikiri” Japanese sweets.
We welcome people to come and join us at our workshops and events. When people see how much fun you are having, they may say, “I want to join in too! They seem to have had a memorable experience and are very happy to be able to leave behind some good photos.
Comfortable “freedom” welcomes guests
-At lyf, we call our staff “lyf guards,” right?
That’s right, the role of the lyf guard is to protect the “FUN” of our customers.
The thing that has surprised me the most since I became the manager of lyf Tenjin Fukuoka is the freedom of the lyf guard.
The etymology of the word “lyf” is “Live Your Freedom.
As a brand that places great importance on “being free,” not only is there freedom in the way guests spend their time, but the lyf guard also asks, “What is the best way to talk like this?” or “What would be the best way to connect with other guests? The lf guard makes decisions on his own.
So, in most hotels, once you are in charge of the front desk, you often do not leave the front desk, but at lyf guard, we stand at the bar or rush to the guest rooms for the “FUN” of our guests. Each of them is not just doing their assigned duties, but rather, they are focused on making sure that guests enjoy their stay at llyf Tenjin Fukuoka to the fullest.
The key to your stay at lyf Tenjin Fukuoka is how great a time you can have in the shared space on the 3rd floor.
When you visit the 3rd floor, we at lyf guard will be happy to talk to you, and we encourage you to talk to us as well.
-The “lyf” brand is expanding all over the world, but HafH also has partnerships not only in Japan but also overseas, is the style of “lyf” overseas the same?
Since they are under the same lyf brand, they share many events for customer interaction and a close feeling of closeness between customers and staff.
It is more of a feature than a difference, but the interior and design of each place is based on the characteristics of each land and culture.
For example, the cafe & bar at lyf Tenjin Fukuoka is designed in the image of a container at the Port of Hakata, the kitchen is decorated with “tonkotsu ramen” objects, and the hallways and guest rooms are decorated with illustrations of Fukuoka’s famous “yatai” stalls and “Hakata textiles,” giving the building a very Fukuoka feel.
Thai lyf can enjoy designs that incorporate the local atmosphere typical of Thailand.
-What are the future plans for lyf in Japan?
The second llyf Ginza Tokyo in Japan will open on November 30, 2023. llyf Ginza Tokyo is also a hotel full of fun, so please look forward to its opening!
Reservations at HafH will begin on October 6, 2023! Courtesy of lyf Ginza Tokyo
Travel more freely and experience the finest everyday life
-What is the GM’s final recommendation for HafH users?
Please come down to the 3rd floor after you check in and leave your luggage in your room!
I think it is difficult to go out of your way to cook, eat, and talk to people in the shared kitchen.
Even so, please try to do it, and let the tension of lyf take over your life.
If you do so, I believe you will encounter new encounters and new forms of travel.
I know it is difficult to suddenly talk to a stranger, but please try talking to me or a lyf guard.
We will help you have a new experience!
lyf Tenjin Fukuoka
RESORA Imaizumi Terrace 3F, 1-2-13 Imaizumi, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka, Fukuoka, Japan
～ Ascott’s Group Promotion ～
To celebrate the opening of lyf Ginza Tokyo, Ascott’s Group Hotels is offering a special limited time offer.
Until December 20, 2023, “lyf Tenjin Fukuoka” will offer you a better discount than usual with the benefits of early check-in, late check-out, and welcome drink.
Promotion valid for stays from 0:00 on October 6, 2023 to 23:59 on December 20, 2023.
*Reservations made prior to October 5, 2023 are not eligible for the promotion.
Promotional offer 1: Early Check-in Check-in time: Usually 14:00 → 12:00
Promotional offer 2: Late check-out Check-in time: Usually 11:00 → 13:00 *
Depending on the operating status of the room, there is a possibility that the normal check-in / check-out time will be introduced.
Promotional offer 3: Welcome drink One complimentary cup of coffee at the Cafe & Bar
