Recently,
SuccessfulMeetings.com interviewed Akira Segawa, the president of Tokyo-based
Fujita Kanko, the hotelier behind the
Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo (formerly the Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Chinzan-so), the Kyoto Kokusai Hotel, and more than 60 other properties throughout Japan. Here’s what Segawa had to say about the current meetings climate in Japan, and what the destination offers for meetings from the U.S.
SM: How are meetings from U.S-based organizations faring in Japan now? What is the overall meetings business like now in Japan?
Segawa: Japan is one of favorite destinations for global leaders and international executives to hold meetings. In 2011, even though we had the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami disaster in March, Japan ranked number-three in the world for the number of international conventions being held, according to the Union of International Associations. Japan ranked number two in 2010. Between 2002 and 2010, the number of international conventions being held in Japan more than tripled while it decreased in the U.S. and some European countries.
One of Fujita Kanko’s properties, Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo (formerly the Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Chinzan-so), was chosen as an official hotel for The Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group in 2012. The hotel, which we reflagged on January 1st as Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo, has 36 meeting and banquet rooms, the most extensive meeting/banquet facilities in Tokyo, so it holds many international conferences including ones for U.S. organizations. Because the hotel is closely located to Tokyo University, Japan’s top academic institution, we also hold many academic conferences there as well.
SM: Many U.S. planners have the following conceptions about Japan as being expensive, too far away, and not structurally safe. Can you comment about these common misconceptions and describe how planners can avoid or overcome these types of preconceptions?
Segawa: I understand that there are misconceptions and the Japanese tourism industry needs to make a greater effort to communicate that
Tokyo is, in fact, the most convenient location to visit and to hold meetings in Asia for North American visitors.
There are many reasons. First, there are many flights to Tokyo from U.S. cities and the flight time is shorter than to other Asian destinations. Tokyo is a gateway city to Asia, so your Asian colleagues can easily join the meetings. International flights are now landing at Haneda International Airport in addition to Narita International Airport, and Haneda is closer to the center of Tokyo than Narita, so it’s even more convenient to get here. Japan has one of the best public transportation systems and infrastructures in the world, making it easy and efficient to get around. Customer service is overall excellent and everything functions quite well so you rarely waste time waiting. It is clean and safe — there are fewer worries and precautions to be concerned about here. Many stores and restaurants are also open 24/7.
As for earthquakes, the world’s largest earthquakes, like the one that struck Japan in March 2011, are very rare. Nobody can predict with any certainty when and where earthquakes will strike. Would you refuse to consider San Francisco or Los Angeles as a meeting site? There is just as much likelihood that those cities will have big earthquakes as Japan. And, Japanese [hospitality workers] are well trained in case of earthquakes so your hotel staff members will guide you.
As for the cost, if you compare hotel rates and airfares among major cities around the world, you can see that Japan actually can be reasonable, especially due to the weakening Yen (as of May 2013.) Japan offers a broad range of hotels/facilities in terms of cost, so planners have a lot of options.
I recommend that planners do a little research, like talking to the Japan National Tourism Organization, which has U.S. offices, and Japanese hoteliers like us. We can prove to U.S. meeting planners that it’s easier to hold meetings in Japan than you would think. We want to encourage international organizations to hold meetings in Japan, and we’re eager to help in any way we can. It’s a good idea to talk to your industry colleagues who have actually held meetings in Japan, too.
SM: What can you tell us about Fujita Kanko’s properties in Japan? How do you strive to cater to meetings groups at these properties?
Segawa: We have a broad range of properties. Our 60 properties/facilities include our flagship five-star property, Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo; 30 mid-priced hotels throughout Japan in two chains: Gracery Hotels and Washington Hotels; resort hotels; and other types of leisure facilities such as hot springs, golf clubs and an aquarium. It is our strength that we can plan and offer a variety of activities in our own network for our clients who are holding conferences at our properties.
Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo, for example, is a perfect hotel for meeting groups. Not only does it have the most extensive meeting facilities in Tokyo, but it also has the largest hotel spa in Tokyo, 12 superior restaurants and, most notably of all, a majestic Japanese botanical garden in the middle of Tokyo, which makes the hotel a true urban resort. It’s a perfect place to take a break from meetings. The hotel also has a one-of-a-kind event facility on the rooftop of the hotel, called the Serenity Garden; it’s an open-air, artificial garden that accommodates many types of events.
We also offer Japanese art and cultural experiences at the hotel, featuring our historic heritage: the traditional Japanese tea ceremony is offered at the hotel’s authentic tea house; kokedama (moss ball) bonsai workshops are taught by our licensed gardener; and we also offer Japanese language lessons. These can be incorporated into your networking activities. Needless to say, the hotel offers top-quality service, including some very upscale services such as a 24-hour private concierge. It also offers baby-sitting and other services that cater to working parents who may traveling with children.
SM: In what ways, in your opinion, do you think meetings are evolving, especially in Japan? Are there any specific trends that you are seeing with regard to meetings that are just now emerging and becoming more popular?
Segawa: The overall economy in Japan has been doing better and there are more hotels/facilities opening here. This means the market is becoming even more competitive, which is, I believe, good for meeting planners. Japan is known for its advanced technologies and the meeting industry is certainly taking advantage of that. Our company, Fujita Kanko, has always been a pioneer in the hospitality industry and we are “early adopters” of new technologies. For example, to minimize operating costs and improve efficiency for busy business travelers, we’ve developed new features such as the world’s first automated check-in/check-out system for our Washington Hotels. Japan is also always quite eco-conscious and meetings here are going greener, too.
These days, international visitors seem to be drawn to authentic Japanese experiences. As I mentioned, we offer various Japanese cultural experiences, and these are very popular. It is very important that we in the Japanese hospitality and meeting industry offer things that are truly unique to Japan.
SM: What other advice would you give to a U.S. meeting planner who is thinking about bringing a meeting to Japan?
Segawa: Japan, especially Tokyo, offers a broad range of hotels and convention facilities from budget to luxury so that meeting planners can find a wide range of options without sacrificing quality, because even budget hotels offer quality services in Japan. This is something that meeting planners can take advantage of. Another big reason to consider holding meeting in Japan is, in fact, the spirit of Japanese hospitality. We cater to every need that clients have before they even realize what they need. It’s a part of the Japanese tradition and culture. Meeting planners can expect that they will be well taken care of working with Japanese hotels/facilities, but there’s likely to be more details discussed and planned in advance.
SM: What is your outlook on meetings in Japan in the near future?
Segawa: Tokyo has more than 300 convention facilities, 96,000 guest rooms and 150,000 restaurants so it is ready to meet any meeting demands. There are even more international luxury hotels entering Japanese market, especially in Tokyo and Kyoto. I expect that the meeting industry will keep growing in Japan, although the industry in some other Asian countries is rapidly growing, too.
Tokyo is also a fun place to visit with many sightseeing spots and activities offering a mixture of old and new. Meeting participants will find a lot of things to do in their spare time. The Japanese government is aiming to increase the number of overseas visitors to Japan from 8 million in 2012 to 18 million in 2016 and we expect more business visitors from many parts of the world.