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Welcome to the August 2021 edition of the Japan Meetings & Events Update for Australia and New Zealand.
Did you miss our
Japan. New Ideas Start Here virtual event back in March? If so, you can now view the recordings of the JNTO and supplier presentations on our website. If you would like a one-on-one lesson in tea ceremony I would also be happy to schedule a virtual call with you -- just drop me a line!
Fukuoka Convention & Visitors Bureau is the first Japanese city to be welcomed into the Hybrid City Alliance, joining members such as Business Events Sydney, Ottawa Tourism Business Events, The Hague Convention Bureau and more. The objective of the Alliance is to provide a solution to international event organizers seeking to plan their international events safely and choosing to do this using the multiple city hub formats.
Asahikawa Tourist & Convention Association (Hokkaido) is now offering financial support to conventions held in Asahikawa City. For more information on this support, please contact me.
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Fabulous Fukuoka Online Fam Trip
Fukuoka Convention & Visitors Bureau held an online fam trip targeting incentive planners in March this year, and has uploaded a recording for planners to view at their leisure. This 45-min video takes you on a trip around Fukuoka City when the sakura are at their peak, highlights COVID-19 prevention taking place, as well as lots of activities to add to future itineraries.
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Osaka made a Featured International LGBTQ+ Travel Association Destination for 2021
The Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau (OCTB) is proud to announce that Osaka, which joined IGLTA in 2018, has this year become a featured destination. For more information on why Osaka is such an excellent destination for LGBTQ+ travellers, including a new promotional video directed at LGBTQ+ travellers, check out Visit Gay Osaka, an official site launched by OCTB.
Further, OCTB recognised Aloft Osaka Dojima, a Marriott International property which just opened on 28 June 2021, as their first certified LGBTQ-friendly hotel.
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Outdoor and cultural experiences for team building
Looking for an exciting new angle for your group's next trip to Japan? Consider adding one of these activities in Japan's great outdoors, like diving with manta rays in Okinawa and canyoning on the Niyodo River in Kochi. Or learn firsthand from the Ama divers, said to be the mermaids of Japan. Read the full article for 5 great ideas!
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Hotel News
・ Moxy Kyoto Nijo, a Marriott International property, opened in Kyoto near the World Heritage Site of Nijo Castle on 01 July 2021. The playful brand is in stark contrast to the historical district it is located in; the perfect 'old meets new' juxtaposition.
・As mentioned above, Aloft Osaka Dojima, another Marriott International property, opened on 28 June 2021, and is the first hotel to be certified by Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau as a LGBTQ-friendly hotel.
・IHG will refurbish and rebrand three properties in Appi Kogen, Iwate (a popular ski resort area) in December 2021. * ANA Crowne Plaza Resort (
Appi Grand)
* ANA Holiday Inn Resort (
Appi Hills Shirakaba no Mori & Appi Kogen Onsen Hotel)
* ANA Intercontinental Resort (
New building or L4+ in an existing building)
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Upcoming Openings
・ ANA Crowne Plaza Akita, an IHG property, will open in December 2021. This will be the first international premium hotel brand in Akita Prefecture.
・ Candeo Hotels Utsunomiya will open in mid-2022. Directly adjacent to JR Utsunomiya Station (Tochigi Prefecture), this property will prove convenient for business travellers.
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JNTO Educational and Inspirational Tools |
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Japan Convention Cities Guide
The 2021 version of this brochure introduces 52 cities and regions in Japan, providing a brief summary of key information on each location and support measures offered for meetings and events held there.
*Only available in PDF at this time.
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JNTO Incentive Travel Webinar
In March 2021 we held a virtual trade event for incentive planners - Japan. New Ideas Start Here. You can now view the presentations on our website, including a product update from JNTO and supplier updates from:
*Airline: Japan Airlines
*Hotels: Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel | Tokyu Hotels Asia
*DMCs: The J Team | Toppan Travel Service
*Destinations: Chiba Convention Bureau | DMO Tokyo/Marunouchi | Fukuoka Convention & Visitors Bureau | Sapporo Convention Bureau
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JNTO Sydney YouTube educational tools
Our webinar series gives in-depth information on Japan. Whilst the information in this series is somewhat general and targeted at leisure travel advisors, incentive travel planners may also find it useful for increasing destination knowledge. Please note this series does not cover any Covid-specific travel restrictions or measures.
Many of our partners in Japan have begun launching 360-degree interactive VR videos. We have collated some of these from various regions across Japan into a consolidated YouTube playlist to give you a taste of the country as a whole.
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Explore Japan for a few minutes with our VR Video!
We still have to wait a little longer to travel to Japan again. But what if, in the meantime, you visited it virtually? Thanks to our VR 360° video, you can immerse yourself in some of Japan’s most iconic spots from your home or office. Click the link, switch to full screen and use your mouse to look around you!
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Experiences in Japan microsite
In 2019 JNTO launched the 100 Experiences in Japan brochure, featuring a curated list of hands-on activities across the country, categorised by 'passion points' such as Tradition, Cuisine and Cities; the dedicated microsite has expanded this resource to 369 experiences.
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Many local convention bureaus in Japan have a financial support scheme for MICE groups who have selected their city as a destination for their event (subject to certain requirements).
Some also have a support scheme to subsidise inspections for groups that are still in the process of deciding on a location.
If you have a group which has decided on or is considering Japan as a destination, please let me know and JNTO can enquire with the local convention bureaus on your behalf to see if your group is eligible for any subsidies they may provide.
JNTO also has limited support available for incentive groups only which meet certain criteria. If you have an incentive group which has decided on or is considering Japan, please let me know and I can give you more information on this.
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You are receiving this email as either I or one of my colleagues have met you at a MICE related event or exchanged emails with you in the past. This newsletter will be sent out periodically, featuring news from Japan in the Meetings & Events industry tailored to the Australia and New Zealand markets.
Remember to bookmark www.japanmeetings.org for resources to help you with planning your meeting, incentive or event. These include photos and videos, venue search, supplier search, statistics, model courses, and more!
For agents with leisure clients, please see the Travel Trade section of the local JNTO Sydney website for resources.
If you can't find what you need on the above websites, please contact me directly at sally_miles@jnto.go.jp or by phone at +61 2 9279 3177 and I will be happy to assist however I can.
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