Hokido's Kitahiroshima City Partners with SQUEEZE for Sustainable Urban Tourism Transformation

Kitahiroshima City and SQUEEZE Unite for Sustainable Urban Tourism

On July 15, 2025, Kitahiroshima City in Hokkaido signed a comprehensive partnership agreement with SQUEEZE, a company specializing in digital transformation (DX) for the lodging and tourism sector. The agreement aims to boost local tourism and activate industry and civic services through collaboration among municipal entities, businesses, and citizens. A press conference was held at the Escon Field Hokkaido Hotel, located right by Kitahiroshima Station.

The Essence of the Partnership

This agreement signifies a collective goal, where the city, corporations, and communities work in unison to tackle regional challenges and create valuable urban experiences. Focusing on the concept of "building a city where one can stay," SQUEEZE will leverage its hotel management expertise and the operational platform "suitebook" to enhance tourism, industry promotion, citizen service improvement, and support for startups.

Background of the Partnership

Kitahiroshima City is undergoing redevelopment around the western exit of the station, driven by the opening of the Hokkaido Ballpark, Escon Field, a project that has drawn national attention due to unprecedented land price growth in regional revitalization efforts. Established in 2014 and rooted in the founder’s personal experience of converting vacant homes in Hokkaido into lodgings, SQUEEZE envisions itself as a platform that expands the possibilities of both space and time. The company has established multiple hotels in Kitahiroshima, relocating its headquarters from Tokyo to Kitahiroshima this year. Together with the municipality, SQUEEZE is set on building a sustainable urban model driven by tourism, digital transformation, and community collaboration.

Details of the Press Conference

The press conference took place at the fifth-floor conference room of Escon Field Hokkaido Hotel. Key speakers included Masakazu Ueno, Mayor of Kitahiroshima, Shinichi Tatebayashi, CEO of SQUEEZE, and Tomohiro Nakagawa, Executive Officer at SQUEEZE.

Message from the CEO

In his address, CEO Shinichi Tatebayashi expressed his gratitude for the partnership with Kitahiroshima, citing a commitment to contributing positively to the local community through innovative urban development.

He remarked, "Now, a new stage of urban development is dawning in Kitahiroshima, and we are proud to be a part of it. As we ground ourselves in the community, our aim is to accelerate the creation of unique value by merging technology with real-world experiences. With our roots in Hokkaido, we will connect with various locations, including Tokyo, and move forward toward realizing a society rich in value."

Tatebayashi, originally from Asahikawa in Hokkaido, graduated from Tokai University with a degree in Political Economics. He previously worked at Goldman Sachs in Singapore and managed display advertising for TripAdvisor's Singapore office before founding SQUEEZE in September 2014.

About SQUEEZE

SQUEEZE is a startup based in Hokkaido, managing 38 hotels nationwide. In Hokkaido alone, it operates eight facilities, including the tower eleven hotel at Escon Field Hokkaido and the Escon Field Hokkaido Hotel at Kitahiroshima Station. SQUEEZE is engaged in developing and operating accommodation facilities that leverage local characteristics while offering cloud-based lodging management systems like "suitebook," as well as remote service and smart hotel planning. Their focus extends to participating in community revitalization projects and establishing global operations based in Cambodia, addressing broader societal challenges.