January 2024
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Journey to a Sustainable Future: Nippon Travel Agency Joins GSTC
(Source: Nippon Travel Agency) Nippon Travel Agency Co., Ltd. announced its membership in the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) in January 2024. This membership aligns with the company's commitment to the international standards set for sustainable tourism, which have been developed and managed by the GSTC since its establishment in 2007. The GSTC criteria serve as the global standard for the ongoing promotion of sustainable tourism.
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New Soccer Stadium “Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima” Opens February 1st!
（Source：Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima） Sanfrecce Hiroshima Co., Ltd. is set to welcome the "Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima" as its new home base, with the grand opening scheduled for February 1, 2024. Starting from the 2024 season, the company plans to hold a "Kick-off Presentation" to introduce the appeal of this new soccer stadium. The stadium, a seven-story building covering an area of 49,914 square meters, boasts the largest seating capacity in the Chugoku and Shikoku regions, with approximately 28,520 seats. It is located in the heart of Hiroshima City.
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Hotel Toranomon Hills Opens on December 6! The Unbound Collection by Hyatt Makes Its Debut in Tokyo
(Source: Hyatt) Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced the opening of the new "Hotel Toranomon Hills" in Tokyo on December 6, 2023. This hotel marks the debut of Hyatt's "The Unbound Collection by Hyatt" brand in Toranomon Hills. Toranomon Hills is recognized as an international new city center and a global business hub, poised to be a base for "bleisure" travelers who combine business and leisure.
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Toyoko Inn’s Upcycle Project: Original Watches Made from Discarded Uniforms
（Source：Toyoko Inn） A joint project by Onward Corporate Design Co., Ltd. and Work Studio Co., Ltd. has transformed used uniforms from Toyoko Inn Co., Ltd. into upcycled original watches. This initiative, under the philosophy of "creating hotels with the future of the planet in mind," aims for sustainable development by repurposing uniforms that would otherwise be discarded.
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Hilton’s First Foray into Southeast Asia: The Grand Opening of ‘Umana Bali LXR Hotels & Resorts’ in Bali
（Source：Umana Bali LXR Hotels & Resorts） Hilton's LXR Hotels & Resorts announced the opening of 'Umana Bali LXR Hotels & Resorts' on the island of Bali in Indonesia on November 23, 2023, marking the brand's first venture into Southeast Asia. This new resort comprises 72 villas offering a unique experience that blends wellbeing, culture, and community.
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Bringing Japanese Harmony and Modern Comfort to Jiangsu Province: Hotel Okura Suzhou (Tentative Name), Scheduled to Open in 2027
（Source：Hotel Okura Co., Ltd） Hotel Okura Co., Ltd. has entered into a management contract to operate the Hotel Okura Suzhou (tentatively named, scheduled to open in 2027) in partnership with Suzhou Yuanrong Development Group, Marimo Holdings, Inc., and Sumitomo Corporation, investors in Suzhou Ronghe Real Estate Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Jiangsu Province, China).
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Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport has acquired the “4 Gyokou Sakura” international SDGs certification, a first for an airport-connected hotel
（Source：Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport ） Located directly connected to Kansai International Airport, "Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport" obtained the "4 Gyokou (Imperial Yellow) Sakura" under the "Sakura Quality An ESG Practice" (commonly known as Sakura Quality Green) international certification for domestic lodging facilities on January 12, 2024. This certification is a quality certification system focused on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and is an international standard approved by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council in the United States. To acquire this certification, the hotel needed to respond to a 172-item checklist based on the 17 SDGs goals and undergo an on-site inspection. It was recognized in the second-highest tier, "Regenerative," of the five-level evaluation.
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Takayama City Enhances International Understanding through Multilingual Awareness Videos: Initiatives as an International Tourist City and Etiquette Promotion for Foreign Travelers
（source：Takayama City） Takayama City, as an established international tourist destination, is actively undertaking initiatives to help foreign travelers understand cultural and customary differences and to encourage them to follow local manners. To support a safe and comfortable stay in the city, the city has produced awareness videos featuring a welcome message from the mayor, an introduction to tourist resources, and showcasing how the city's traditional culture and beautiful nature are maintained through the efforts of its residents. The videos can be accessed here.
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Formation of Shiretoko Nature Chefs Club (SNCC): Promoting the Appeal of Working as Hotel Chefs
（Source：SNCC） In Hokkaido's Shiretoko, Kitakobushi Resort has launched the Shiretoko Nature Chefs Club (SNCC), aiming to enrich the region's unique food culture. This club, centered around restaurant chefs, strives to develop new culinary methods using the limited ingredients available in Shiretoko's harsh natural environment. It also communicates the appeal of working as hotel chefs, contributing to the development of new talent. SNCC's activities are based on five pillars: 'Meeting the people who nurture', 'Valuing experiences', 'Creating cooking methods', 'Communicating cuisine', and 'Creating fun', where chefs deepen their connections with producers to cultivate the local food culture.
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Exploring the Evolution of Digital Trends: The Transformation of Smartphone and Travel Consumption
Posted on 2024.01.25The "Smartphone Usage and Travel Consumption Survey (2023)" conducted by the JTB Research Institute analyzes how lifestyles and values of consumers affect their consumption behavior and travel. This longitudinal survey, initiated in 2013, marks its eighth iteration with the latest study conducted four years after the 2019 survey. The survey highlights a shift in the role of SNS from a communication tool to a source of information gathering, along with the changes in the usage of travel-related AI services due to technological advancements. ▶Click here for detailed investigation results
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Timee Inc. Publishes Report on Part-time Job Usage in the Hotel Industry Amidst Rising Inbound Tourism
（Source:Timee） In December 2023, the hotel industry saw a record number of part-time job listings, driven by a recovery in inbound tourism demand and a resulting labor shortage. According to the Japan Tourism Agency's "Accommodation Travel Statistics Survey," the total number of overnight stays in November 2023 increased by 7.9% compared to the same month in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. This increase is largely attributed to a rise in foreign visitors, corroborated by the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), which reported that the number of foreign visitors in November 2023 nearly matched the figures from 2019.