Phoenix Resort Ltd., defunct operator of the Seagaia resort complex in Miyazaki Prefecture, said Monday it will entrust management of most of the sprawling facility to Starwood Hotels & Resort Worldwide Inc. of the United States.
Management of Seagaia's golf courses will be entrusted to Troon Golf, another U.S. firm.
Phoenix Resort, owned by U.S. investment fund Ripplewood Holdings LLC, said it hopes to improve itself by adopting the worldwide hotel group's management techniques.
Phoenix Resort President Michael Glennie said Starwood, which has such internationally recognized hotel brands as the Sheraton and Westin hotel chains under its wing, will will help raise Seagaia's standing.
One of Seagaia's core hotels will be renamed the Sheraton Grande Ocean Resort, company officials said.
Ripplewood purchased Seagaia for 16.2 billion yen in June after Phoenix Resort collapsed in February with debts of 326.1 billion yen.
Last month, Phoenix Resort reported its operating loss grew by 430 million yen to 1.09 billion yen in the fiscal first half that ended Sept. 30.