Yokohama Convention & Visitors Bureau (YCVB) held a briefing session on Yokohama MICE 2012 in Kansai on Nov. 8. Yokohama MICE promotion team held a session to introduce Yokohama’s fabulousness, inviting convention management companies (PCOs) and travel companies in Kansai area.

The session was started by opening greetings by Mr. Yamauchi from YCVB and Mr. Amemiya, manager of convention promotion division at Yokohama city tourist bureau. They were followed by a briefing on Yokohama MICE support by Mr. Nomoto, senior convention sales staff at YCVB. The briefing covered the support programs provided by the city, such as financial aid for promotion which was included in the Yokohama MICE support plan, provision of attractions, financial aid for lodgment of speakers from overseas, and excursion, etc. 33 cases have been supported during 2012.

YCVB interlocks with the Japan MICE Year which has been promoted by Japanese government, and collaborates with MICE service providers that have proven track record. It also founded Yokohama City MICE promotion team with 76 service providers in April 2010 to promote a city-wide effort for MICE. Since then it has expanded its support scope and promoted MICE visitors to tour around the city.
As a new effort in its third year, it held the “Yokohama MICE Briefing Session 2012 in Kansai” to bring further MICE activities to Yokohama. As a result, they now see increased number of sales from Kansai area.

Japan Association for the Promotion of Creative Events (JACE) held an extraordinary general meeting on Nov. 7.

This meeting is about the amendment in articles of association, for transition to General Incorporated Associations from 2013. Reflecting the result from the general meeting, JACE is planning to submit an application to the Cabinet Office to being authorized as an general incorporated associations by April 1st, 2013.

In the change process, it is also included to add “Associate Membership” to the existing “Regular Membership” and “Sponsor membership”. “Associate Member” is to be the corporations or individuals involved in the event management industry who do not have a business place in Tokyo Metropolitan Area. The addition is in order to respond to the local needs for our membership service. For Associate Membership, admission fee is 10,000 Yen and annual fee is 60,000 Yen per year.

Mr. Narita, new chairman, is also an executive director of the Event Society so even stronger relationship with the society is expected. Mr. Narita was a director of TV and radio division at Hakuhodo, leading its media marketing. Later on he was promoted to be an executive managing director, assuming the critical role as a head of sales. His leadership in utilizing media and promoting more collaboration is expected at JACE, as JACE will be facing an important transition period to become a general incorporated association.

Photo – New chairman Junji Narita (left) and Deputy chairman Masaru Watanabe  (right)

The trade fair “JIMTOF2012 / 26th Japan international machine tool fair” is held in Tokyo Big Sight.

The fair intended  to increase the promotion of the transactions for a machine tool and the apparatus, and international technical interchange to contribute to promotion of the industrial development.  816 exhibition companies including 82 companies from the foreign countries participate. It is started on Thursday, November 1, 2012 until Tuesday, November 6.

The official homepage of the JIMTOF2012 / 26th Japan international machine tool fair is below.
http://www.jimtof.org/

セル型ホーニング盤 Gシリーズ F50G-M2DR – 株式会社日進製作所	船舶用ディーゼルエンジン加工用旋盤 HI1-CLL35 – ホンマ・マシナリー株式会社	5軸制御立形マシニングセンタ MAM72-35V – 株式会社松浦機械製作所
ハウザー社製 CNSジグ研削盤 H35-400 – エクストリーム株式会社	金属加工油 – ブラザー・スイスルーブ・ジャパン株式会社	横型マシニングセンタ a61nx – 株式会社牧野フライス製作所

Good news for those who are interested with Latest trends and market development in Thailand.

They use “Grasp the chance of automation / mechanization that happens in Thai market! “ as a catchphrase to held an “The 2nd overseas market development seminar.”

For the details of lecture 1, “ Latest trends in the business environment and the machinery industry of Thailand” (Isamu Wakamatsu, JETRO), and  lecture 2 “Points for the Thai market strategy for small and medium enterprises machinery industry” （Masakazu Okamoto, Y.M.P Co.Ltd）will discuss the latest Thai situation.

Points for business chances will be discussed for the small and medium enterprises since the reconstruction are still on going due to the experienced from heavy flood .

Singapore’s SACEOS (Singapore Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers) and Japan PCO (Japan Association of Professional Congress Organizers) signed a memorandum centered on information exchange.

The signing ceremony was held last October 19 at the office of SACEOS and was attended by the Managing Director Ms. Rosalind Ng and Japan PCO’s president, Mr. Chikanami Hirotake.

Both societies have jointly agreed on the following 5 points:
1. Information exchange and cooperation in providing information.
2. Cooperation for the conventions to be held in Singapore and Japan and cooperation of the members in the activities of both of the two societies.
3. Strengthening of cooperation ties of both societies, working together on activities and issues of both societies.
4. Cooperation of both of the societies in programs and activities for the members.
5. Mutual support for a delegation to participate in a convention to be held in Singapore and/or Japan.

Toho leo, makers of green roof, has developed a rooftop package called “+1 (plus one) stage” which has a specialized ‘high’ design and is low cost. It will be on sale starting October 22.

A product that is to address no ‘land price/cost’, using “rooftops” of urban and even vacant area buildings. It is said that it’s already being used in office buildings as a meeting room.

The following are the 3 big features of this product:
(1) Cost reduction in high quality design from  12,600 yen / square meters (tax included)
(2) Specialized to welfare facilities, offices, condominiums
(3) Contributions in both hardware and software for owner.

In the future, Toho Leo enhance service like “event barbecue service” (providing one-stop service of equipment and ingredients) , “beauty salon treatments service” (as a service and welfare facilities welfare office) in association with the rooftop.

I went to an interview with “IT & CMA 2012” exhibition business meeting, which was held in Bangkok on October 2.

Business meeting presentations on the manner of operation and awards have been written so far. And there were many questions like “How was the event?” that were received. And because of that, a business meeting presentation and event type of press conference will be reported.

– Keynote –

Mr. Martin Winter, District President of ICCA Asia Pacific Ocean, delivered the keynote address. “Innovation encourage growth beyond the region” is the theme.
He said,”New technologies will be the engine to advance the industry, and improve networking and diversification of method information transfer”, “especially in mature markets, only innovation and creativity are the new business opportunities.”
After that, he also talk with Mr. Welf Ebeling of GBTA.

– Opening Ceremony –

TTG’s event is known for networking, and it programs a lot of events that let participants interact with each other.

Before the opening ceremony, a cocktail party lasted roughly for an hour. Many Japanese, including myself, do not feel comfortable at a gathering like this, but you only need one chatty friend. You just need to listen to that person talking, and others gather around him, so you can meet people easily.

After the greetings from the people involved, surprisingly a fashion show started.

– Press Conference –

A press conference was held every half hour.

The photograph below is Mr. Thomas Tsou of Taiwan Convention & Exhibition Association,　and the woman staff who publicized it in a T-shirt of “Say Yes to Taipei.”

◆ Pictures of the exhibition hall
(a photograph is enlarged when click it)