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The Japan Meetings and Events Newsletter is sent to you by the London office of the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO).
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Japan leads the way in MICE sustainability
Welcome to our second newsletter of 2021. While opportunities to do business continue to be limited, we are reassured by recent figures suggesting a steady reduction of COVID-19 case in Japan for six consecutive weeks. This coupled with roll out of the vaccine programme gives hope for a brighter future for our industry in months to come. Meanwhile we continue to look for opportunities to innovate and do business differently and welcome input from industry colleagues, peers and partners who are keen to collaborate. This newsletter offers a flavour of what Japan can offer, now and when travel opens up again. In the meantime, keep safe and well.
Eleanor Wyllie | Convention Manager
Japan Convention Bureau
Japan National Tourism Organization
3rd Floor, 32 Queensway, London, United Kingdom
E: eleanor_wyllie@jnto.go.jp
T: +44 20 7398 5670 |
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With Wakayama’s recent Lonely Planet Readers Choice Award for most sustainable destination hot off the press, it felt appropriate to share details on Japan’s wider extensive sustainability efforts. The Japanese word mottainai reflects respect for the resources around us, conveying the idea that waste is unacceptable. This permeates throughout Japanese culture, from electric vehicles to space-conscious urban planning, to hydroelectric, geothermal, and even ocean-wave clean energy initiatives. As the climate emergency climbs the agenda and is sure to be a top priority for PCOs when we can return to normal business, we are incredibly proud of these efforts. The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) criteria is central to planning of all conventions and business events in Japan, while leading destinations Kyoto and Sapporo are part of the Global Destination Sustainability Index, whereby business events are used as a platform to help achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Read more about the progress we are making in this area here.
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Destination Focus: Yokohama, Japan’s First Port of Call
As our case study of the month below showcases, Yokohama is one of the country’s leading destinations for conferences and events, boasting excellent accessibility via two major international airports and a convenient gateway to other cities like Tokyo, Kamakura and Kyoto.
A compact convention quarter and a thriving and diverse culture offering plentiful business tourism opportunities for incentive travel make the city an attractive destination for PCOs. The city also offers meeting organisers access to a sustainability programme inclusive of the ‘Yokohama Blue Carbon Offset Program', a project that utilises the city’s marine resources as part of the city’s efforts to tackle global warming. As a result, a number of new world-class events facilities are scheduled to open by spring 2022, including a multi-functional convention center in PACIFICO Yokohama which features one of Japan’s largest multi-purpose halls. Towards 2026, music halls and more international brand hotels are scheduled to open.
Online tools and resources offer a useful planning resource and requests for proposals can be submitted via the CVB website. |
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Meet Japan: Mathias Posch case study
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After 30 years of hosting association executives and meeting professionals at Meet Japan, this year’s program held from 26 Jan until 4 Feb was the first year international travel restrictions saw the event pivot to an online format. Live sessions carefully planned around time zones for participants in the Americas, Europe and Asia included virtual fam trip sessions, live Q&As and interactive workshops. One of our highlights was a presentation from Mathias Posch on a collaborative effort between Yokohama and the Japanese Society of Lung Cancer to deliver the IASLC 18th World Conference.
“Japanese societies, especially in the medical field and in the scientific field, are really strong in their research and international standing, so they can really enhance the international meeting and experience by bringing additional delegates, additional sponsors and also a lot of very interesting science to the occasion”. Mathias Posch, Chairman and Partner at International Conference Services.
As well as highlighting the benefits of a collaborative approach with the host city, Mathias noted some useful learnings:
- Japan has a regulatory environment requiring permits which can be intimidating for core PCOs so an ongoing conversation with suppliers is paramount.
- Do good research on suppliers to ensure English speakers are available. Alternatively have a Japanese speaking liaison between your organisation and suppliers to ensure efficient communication.
- Plan ahead. Japan is very well organised and detail orientated so last-minute flexibility isn’t always possible. Being on site to work closely with suppliers in good time before the event can open up communication and make this easier. If you don’t have that luxury, use the telephone rather than email.
IASLC 2017 was the best attended meeting the association had ever had in Asia Pacific with a 38% uplift on previous years. “You will see when you go to Japan and you really work with the Japanese societies, your numbers will go up”, Mathias Posch.
It was also the highest rated conference for delegate satisfaction and delivered significant membership growth in the Asia Pacific, not just Japan.
Mathias closed with these parting words: “I highly encourage you to bring your meeting to Japan. It is one of those places where you will never forget the experiences you have, the people that you meet. It’s a once in a lifetime experience for many but it should become a many times in a lifetime experience, because […] every time I go to Japan, and that’s a lot of times, I always learn new things. So, meeting in Japan will be an experience that is not to be missed, that will really make a difference, for your organisation, but also for everybody who’s been part of that meeting”.
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