Japan's largest hospitality company, APA Hotel, opened its first American property Friday in Woodbridge at the site of the former Woodbridge Hilton.
WOODBRIDGE -- Japan's largest hospitality company, APA Hotel, opened its first American property Friday in Woodbridge at the site of the former Woodbridge Hilton.
The Hotel Woodbridge at Metropark in the Iselin section of Woodbridge is a joint venture between APA Hotel and Friendwell Group of Companies, a New Jersey-based real estate investment company founded in Taiwan.
Speaking through an interpreter, Toshio Motoya, APA Hotel's founder and chairman, said "we're planning a grand opening of the hotel on May 20, 2016."
More: Middlesex County news
Motoya said, "we'd like to establish 500 hotels" in five years. He said the venture is looking at creating a hotel in Manhattan as its second hotel.
Jason Cheng, the younger brother of Tsun-Jen Cheng, chairman of Friendwell Group, said he believed the joint venture is "ready to go across the Hudson River to New York City."
Hotel Woodbridge will remain open and is already welcoming guests during the renovations, according to officials.
Sue Epstein may be reached at sepstein@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @susan_epstein. Find NJ.com on Facebook.