E-Newsletter

Tokyo welcomed 2017 Global Summit of Women

A record of over 1,300 attendees from more than 60 countries gathered at the Grand Prince New Takanawa to join the 2017 Global Summit of Women on May 11-13.

The Summit successfully attracted participation of top-ranked officials such as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Philippine Vice President Leni Robredo, Vietnamese Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh, and Governor of Tokyo Yuriko Koike as well as ministers of foreign countries and worldwide company CEOs.

The largest ever global women empowerment summit in Tokyo, to discuss practical strategies and practices in improving women's economic status, contributed to the global recognition about Japan's positive action to improve women's business and status conditions, while expanding Tokyo's involvement in the global agendas.
As both the Prime Minister and Governor of Tokyo put women's active participation in business at the top of their policy priorities, it can be said that the Summit was held in the right place at the right time.

Highly evaluating the services and hospitality provided by Tokyo, Ms. Irene Natividad, President of Global Summit of Women and Chair of Corporate Women Directors International, commented on the significance of the Summit in Tokyo as follows, "The biggest-ever 2017 Global Summit of Women was held in the country with the third largest economy in the world, where the Prime Minister is a prime advocate for women's economic empowerment. That is especially significant.
In addition, Tokyo is always a welcoming place for visitors. Everybody is very kind and gracious in paying attention to help us have an enjoyable time. I appreciate this opportunity to come here."

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) and Tokyo Convention and Visitors Bureau (TCVB) jointly contributed to the success of the Summit providing welcome desks at the airports/on-site as well as complimentary city tours and Japanese cultural programs.

Cultural experience for a large incentive group in Tokyo

During March to May this year, multiple incentive groups of insurance/consulting/retail companies in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines and other Asian countries visited Tokyo.

Among them, a major Hong Kong direct selling company incentive group consisting of 270 participants enjoyed the 4-day stay in Tokyo this May. For the success of this tour, Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau (TCVB) provided a warm welcome at the airport, complimentary gifts and a unique cultural experience program.

Specially arranged "Wagashi (Japanese confections/sweets) making and Sencha (type of Japanese green tea) practicing" program was prepared for the first time so that the participants could actually experience the Japanese culture at Happo-en in two large groups.
With profound knowledge, a Monk from Ryokusenji Temple in famous Asakusa downtown area explained an old Japanese way of eating sweets, so that the participants could fully enjoy trying the sweets they made. After the wagashi-making, another unique opportunity of self-tea-making practice based on mindfulness meditation was provided.

This program was highly evaluated as a perfect experience that help to understand deeper culture of Japan.

Tokyo's rise up the ICCA ranking

ICCA Statistics Report 2016 announced that Tokyo, with 95 international meetings held in 2016, has jumped up from 28th (80 meetings) to 21st place worldwide.
Japan managed to keep 7th place with a total of 410 meetings.

Application Now Open! BestCities Global Forum 2017: 'Building Global Connections Across Cultures'

BestCities and Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau are partnering to host the BestCities Global Forum in December 2017. The three day Forum will include education, insight and networking around the theme of inclusivity and multi-culturalism within the business tourism industry. The program will also give participants to enjoy Japan's rich and unique culture.

The main venue, the Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo, is a luxury garden oasis in the heart of Tokyo. Their garden is blessed with natural beauty including the camellia hills, with a long history dating back some 700 years. Guest rooms will have a magnificent view of the vast Japanese garden, as well as impressive scenery of Tokyo's skyscrapers in the background.

The Forum is open to senior association executives considering business events that rotate globally, relevant to any of the 12 BestCities Global Alliance partner cities (Berlin, Bogotá, Cape Town, Copenhagen, Dubai, Edinburgh, Houston, Madrid, Melbourne, Singapore, Tokyo and Vancouver).

To register interest and for the latest program and speakers, please click here.