JR Kyushu Hotels and Resorts Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Fukuoka City; President & CEO: Hidehiko Kadoya) jointly launched our first industry-academia collaboration project at the accommodation-focused hotel "JR Kyushu Hotel Blossom Hakata Chuo" in collaboration with Nakamura International Hotel College (located in Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City; Principal: Munehiro Nishida). Students analyzed over 3,000 reviews from four competing hotels and compiled new breakfast menus and measures to enhance experience value in anticipation of the rapidly increasing number of travelers from Asia.

In this project, students conducted research and analysis to revamp the breakfast menu, reflecting the real voices of hotel guests. While maintaining the existing concepts of "health, local production and consumption, and vegetables," the project proposed improvements with the theme of enhancing the "experiential value of enjoying the morning while traveling." In response, the restaurant management company developed new products, resulting in the creation of the iconic new menu item, "Selectable Vermicelli Noodles."​ By allowing customers to freely choose their ingredients and seasonings, and having their meals prepared fresh in our live kitchen, we designed an experience that combines "seeing, choosing, and tasting," enhancing the enjoyment of breakfast time itself.

The signature dish, "Vermicelli Noodles," is a customizable dish where you can freely choose the ingredients and seasonings

The new breakfast features a colorful presentation centered around vegetables

Furthermore, we pay close attention to presentation, pursuing photogenic and visually appealing dishes with a focus on vegetables, balancing health consciousness with customer satisfaction. In addition, we have enhanced our services for international guests, particularly from Asia, by providing easy-to-understand dish names and English translations, intuitive signage design, and a smooth restaurant flow.

Hotel breakfast is a crucial point of contact that greatly influences the overall satisfaction of a guest's stay. Meanwhile, with the rapidly increasing demand for inbound tourism, meeting the expectations of guests from diverse cultural backgrounds has become more important than ever. In particular, our hotel, located in a tourist hub just a two-minute walk from the Hakata Exit of Hakata Station, welcomes many guests from both Japan and abroad, and the need to further enhance the quality of the breakfast experience has become increasingly important. Against this backdrop, we have decided to incorporate a new perspective into our operations, not only from our internal expertise, but also from vocational school students who are the next generation of hoteliers with overseas experience.

■Analysis of over 3,000 customer reviews—a data-driven initiative spanning approximately six months

This initiative was conducted over approximately six months, from May to October 2025. Students engaged in practical field research from the perspective of "reputation management," which involves improving services based on customer reviews. Their research included breakfast surveys of competing hotels, customer review analysis, and research into the needs of target audiences. The main contents are as follows:　　

[Implementation Period]
​May ~ October 2025 (about 6 months)
[Survey Target]
Four competing hotels
[Total Number of Analyzed Reviews]
Over 3,000 cases (including about 300 focused on breakfast-related analysis)
[Output]
New breakfast menu composition and experiential value enhancement measures

Students who participated in the project

One participating student commented, "I realized how important it is to think from the customer's perspective. We were able to work together as a team, conducting breakfast surveys (tastings) of competing hotels, analyzing negative words obtained from customer reviews, and repeatedly calculating and refining our opinions based on various data when setting breakfast prices." Another feature of this menu is that it inherits and evolves the existing concept of "health, local production and consumption, and vegetables."

■Future Outlook

We position this initiative as the first step in our industry-academia collaboration. Moving forward, we will deepen our partnerships with local educational institutions and strive to create sustainable value through both improving service quality and nurturing the next generation of talent. This achievement, born from the fusion of students' fresh ideas and on-the-ground experience, symbolizes our hotel's commitment to growing together with the community. In Fukuoka and Hakata, where we welcome a diverse range of guests, we will continue to refine the morning experience that enriches the start of each visitor's day. Adding a small touch of wonder to the morning of a trip is something we believe is an important element in enriching the memories of the stay itself. Moving forward, we will continue to work together with local communities and educational institutions to create a hotel loved by both domestic and international guests, and to share the vitality of Kyushu with the world.

■ JR KYUSHU HOTEL Blossom Hakata Chuo Overview

A hotel conveniently located about a 2-minute walk from Hakata Station Hakata Exit, making it convenient for both sightseeing and business. [Address] 2-2-11 Hakataekimae, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka City, 812-0011​​​​​
［TEL］+81-92-477-8739 [Access] About a 2-minute walk from JR Hakata Station Hakata Exit
［URL］https://www.jrk-hotels.co.jp/Hakatachuo/

■Breakfast Information

・Venue: Nanatsu-no-Hana (Operated by: Grano24K Co., Ltd.)
・Business hours: 06:30 ~ 10:00 (last entry 09:30)
・Price: Adults: 2,200 yen (tax included)
Children: 1,320 yen (tax included) / Infants: Free

■ Overview of Nakamura Hotel School

Nakamura International Hotel College offers a comprehensive curriculum for students aiming for careers in the hospitality industry, including hotels and bridal services.

[School name] Nakamura International Hotel School
[Location] 〒810-0014 Hirao, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture 2-1-21
[Category] Private vocational school (vocational school specialized course)
[Establishment] 1991 year
[URL] https://hotel.nakamura-s.ac.jp/