TokyoTomo Travel Guide

Bernard Granier, CEO of Concorde Hotels & Resorts, said at a reception held for the media on April 14 that the Japanese market is so stable even in economic turbulence that his group puts much value on it. In the performance of Japanese guests for 2009, business travelers dwindled in number but pleasure travelers were steady, he continued.

Concorde Hotels & Resorts makes it a point this year to focus on “corporate business,” “meetings and events (M&E)” and “leisure market.” Granier is prepared to “continue investment in group hotels individually” and to “upgrade the computer system.”

In relation to investment, Hotel Lutetia is going to celebrate the centenary this year and stage a series of events with feature on culture, arts, and foods. In such an incidence, a corner suite will be modified into an art gallery. At the restaurants, special menu will be offered at the price of 100 euro per person or 100 euro for two, just to remind people of the hotel’s 100th anniversary. Moreover, commemorative postage stamps, books, and champagnes will soon be out. Investment will go to other hotels of the group as well in a way to elicit their own features and characteristics, Granier said.

As far as the upgrading of the information technology is concerned, he disclosed the plan to follow through on investment in the system in the amount of 1.2 million euro or more annually group-wide under the assumption that online transactions will gain momentum all the more. He recognizes the fact, meanwhile, that some travelers still prefer visiting a real store of travel agencies for making travel arrangements; therefore, he is open to any distribution strategy, while keeping watching travel agencies’ move in how to respond to consumer needs and to follow them.

Granier was accompanied on his visit to Japan this time by seven general managers from member hotels. They hosted a workshop for travel agencies on April 14 in Tokyo as part of their sales activities.

Source: Travel Vision

Travel Vision Inc. provides information on the travel industry in Japan via "Daily Travel Vision", a Japanese-language e-mail newsletter, and the "Travel Vision" website. There are nearly 110,000 people working in the Japanese travel industry, and Travel Vision is proud to be bringing travel news to more than 30,000 people through Daily Travel Vision.

IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan starts in April its original MICE Program “Intercontinental Meeting” at Intercontinental Yokohama Grand. The program is created based on the Intercontinental Hotel’s concept, that is, “irreplaceable experience unique to the locality,” offering community-based or experience-based meeting plans. Intercontinental Hotels and Resorts has launched the program globally since last autumn. Jean Baptiste Pigeon, general manager of Intercontinental Yokohama Grand, said that his hotel would like to have a bigger share in the MICE market by offering original and high quality services with introduction of this program. He is positive in working with the neighboring facilities for generating MICE demand as is quoted as saying, “We are ready to collaborate with the adjacent PACIFICO Yokohama and the Convention Bureau to make Yokohama a high-profile city for MICE.

Ryozo Oya, COO of IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan, while confirming his policy to promote MICE business under the Intercontinental brand name, is determined to upgrade the contents and services to bring the program to near perfection. Keeping a sustainable growth in view, he is eager to make MICE business the mainstay of the hotel’s income as it entails demand for accommodation. The abovementioned program starts operating, according to Oya, in 10 cities around the world including London, Paris, and Hong Kong as well as Yokohama. The program’s introduction this time was the first in Japan and the fifth in the world. The program is scheduled to be adopted later this year at five other Intercontinental hotels in Japan.

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On the occasion of the visit by the tourism mission of the state-owned Paradores hotel chain, National Tourist Office of Spain hosted a sales seminar on February 24 in Tokyo and introduced the diverse allure of Paradores’ difference from the other hotel chains and its high quality services. Ignacio Ducasse, Director for Japan, Korea & Taiwan at National Tourist Office of Spain told the seminar that the year 2009 was indeed a difficult year for the travel industry, but the number of Japanese visitor arrivals started to increase since last August and the improvement convinced him that it demonstrates an upward trend will continue during the year 2010, adding that he would expect Paradores, above all, to motivate travelers to visit Spain.

At present, a majority of foreign guests are from UK, Germany and France. The number of Japanese guests, ranked sixth among other countries, enjoys the highest share in the Asian market. Carlos Abella Picazo, General Manager of Sales Department, Paradores said that many Japanese show interest in the Spanish culture and history and Paradores would like to welcome Japanese as their guests. The Paradores hotel chain endeavors to improve its market recognition and boost the number of guests from Japan, by continuing its promotional events and sales seminars targeting the Japanese travel industry and the general consumers.

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