RIHGA Royal Hotel’s World-Renowned Banquet Service
The ROYAL ISM Vol.2
We interviewed staff members active in various areas of the hotel about scenes and episodes from the field.
The RIHGA Royal Hotel is renowned for its attentive services tailored for each occasion, especially for big international summits such as APEC and G20 held in Osaka and, more recently, G7 in Hiroshima. Along with the liaison team we introduced in the previous The ROYAL ISM, the party and banquet service staff play a crucial role in providing top-quality hospitality to our guests.
International conference image
“At international summit banquets, where world leaders gather, it is our responsibility to set up the venue in accordance with protocol, a global standard of regulations and rules, and to always be flexible to any requests so that the dinner goes smoothly.”
Haruta Koshin, a party and banquet service staff member with extensive experience in VIP services, served as the exclusive butler to the President of South Korea during the APEC summit in 1995. Upon the South Korean government’s request, he was appointed as the butler following a rigorous interview process conducted at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and he was entrusted with significant responsibilities, such as attending to the president and serving at dinners.
“We paid special attention to hygiene, making sure all the dishes and cutlery were polished and made sure nothing was lacking. We also had to be flexible at times. Upon discovering that ‘the president does not like spiky plants,’ we changed the floral arrangements on the table to feature more rounded ones.”
For international summits, the seating assignments and the order of service, as well as the display of flags at the venue and the direction of the flags placed on the tables, must all be executed perfectly in accordance with the protocol; therefore, the party and banquet service team must ensure that everything is perfect through multiple rehearsals. According to Haruta, “We cannot afford to have any flaws; 99% is not good enough. No less than 100% is expected.” It is not easy to provide services without any flaws, especially amidst such a tense atmosphere. However, it is also an excellent opportunity to show off the skills and knowledge accumulated through daily duties, along with the expertise of great services cultivated throughout the hotel’s long history.
Dinner party standby image
The RIHGA Royal Hotel’s party and banquet service is available not only for large conferences like international summits but also for weddings and other parties, providing hospitality to make sure each and every guest’s time here is special.
“We arrange the food and staging according to the purpose of the banquet and the wishes of the guests, and we create a meticulous time management plan to ensure seamless service throughout the party, embodying the highest standards of banquet service. We also make sure that we, the staff, are all well-groomed and that we create a special atmosphere with our sophisticated voices and movements.”
Furthermore, while providing austere service, we, as professionals, always keep the entire venue in check and troubleshoot unexpected issues that come up and possibly prevent them before they occur. For example, we attentively serve our guests by closely keeping our eyes on changes in the bride’s physical condition during the reception and leading her out of the venue if necessary.
“The style of banquets and the services provided during them have changed over time, and even breakfasts are now primarily served buffet-style. The plating of the food has also changed, and we have more and more staff members who do not have experience in traditional service. Having experienced the heyday of the banquet and French service, I believe it is my duty to teach, pass on, and mentor the younger generation.”
Our heartfelt hospitality will remain a hallmark of all future banquet services at the RIHGA Royal Hotel.
Text by Yamamoto Ikuko
Illustration by Sensyu Yasuko
