Hotel Tomo
From the high-tech vending machines in the lobby to the oversized bean bags in the guest rooms, the Hotel Tomo channels anime and manga (comics and print cartoons) throughout the guest experience. From the moment a guest steps into the lobby they enter a world that has created a buzz in technology, gaming, art and fashion circles. Huge murals by Japanese artist, Heisuke Kitazawa, are splashed on walls and ceiling, and Godzilla and Japanese commercials run in video monitors. Drawing from its environment in Japantown, the hotel blends together Japan’s fascination with animation, graphic novels, cartoons, bright colors, funky furniture and elaborate street fashion. Two outdoor geo-domes in an interior courtyard are equipped to handle everything from birthdays and weddings to corporate retreats. The Buckminster Fuller-inspired venues are connected by a tube and light up at night creating a scene. The hotels transformation from the Best Western Miyako Inn to the Hotel Tomo represents a completely new hotel option in San Francisco. RevPAR has gone up 40%, but more importantly, its popularity has helped invigorate the revitalization of San Francisco’s Japantown.