Soaring Worldwide - Powering Reputations

The Hotel Granvia has become the first meetings and events focused hotel in Kyoto to provide a high speed wireless internet service throughout the building for free.

In 2009, the hotel introduced a Wi-Fi service in its 13 function and conference rooms, lobby and restaurant areas. But to meet the demands from visitors, the Hotel Granvia has completed a Wi-Fi upgrade and free internet access is available throughout the hotel’s facilities, including guest rooms, to satisfy the needs of smartphone and tablet computer users.

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The Granvia Hotel, Kyoto, is now offering organisations hosting business events the opportunity to participate in a traditional Summer Festival as part of its MICE package.

A number of Kyoto hotels incorporated Summer Festivals into their international conference reception parties during 2011 such as when the Grand Prince Hotel Kyoto hosted a reception organised for the International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis.

The scheme achieved most success at the Granvia that has recognised the benefits it can offer to planners and the fun it can offer to attendees. A Summer Festival is an integral part of Japanese culture. The event involves the venue being decorated with traditional lanterns, a range of market stalls, caricature drawing and yoyo sukui – a traditional Japanese fishing game.

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The World Molecular Imaging Congress 2010, held at Kyoto International Conference Center, Japan, has been hailed as one of the country’s most successful events by the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO).

The event was recognised at the JNTO Award Ceremony, held on December 14, 2011.  The awards formed part of the 21st International Meetings Exhibition at the Tokyo International Forum.

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Communications and PR specialist, Soaring Worldwide has been appointed by Certification International to take on its PR activities.

The campaign is the next step in Certification International’s partnership with Soaring Worldwide, which started with message development, branding and internal promotion.

Soaring Worldwide, with its extensive knowledge of strategic communications and PR activities will be helping Certification International to effectively focus on its core markets and audiences. As a global organisation with 5,000 clients in 26 countries Certification International is a business improvement company, providing accreditation, analysis and management services to companies of all sizes.

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Swindon based communications and PR agency Soaring Worldwide has welcomed Sarah Carless to its team as a reputation manager.

Soaring Worldwide has doubled in size year-on-year since its foundation in 2006, and Sarah will be a part of the company’s strategic growth plans.

Commenting on Sarah’s appointment Adam Baggs, managing director of Soaring Worldwide, says: “We are confident that Sarah’s background and experience will enable her to make a valuable contribution to the growth of the company. It’s an exciting time for Soaring Worldwide, and we look forward to Sarah’s influence and enthusiasm: in particular, her industry knowledge and experience of working across a range of sectors in PR and marketing.”

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Kyoto celebrates unique local produce.  It is a no secret that one of the attractions of visiting a place is to taste the local food. However, for those delegates and tourists visiting Kyoto there is twice the opportunity for their taste buds to experience the unusual.  The city not only has the second highest number of Michelin starred restaurants of any city in the world; it also boast 41 unique varieties of locally grown vegetable and fruits, used throughout its recipes and delegate menus.

Kyoto Convention Bureau, international marketing manager, James Kent comments: “There are officially 41 varieties of vegetables traditionally grown within the city limits of Kyoto. They are all vegetables that anyone can recognise like turnips and radishes but have features distinct enough to merit a specific variety and are a pride of the city. By sourcing the vegetables locally we not only serve healthy and fresh food to our delegates but also considerably reduce the food miles.” Read the rest of this entry »

Following the release of official figures, it has become clear that the worldwide recession has had little impact on the city of Kyoto’s event figures in 2010.

Kyoto Convention Bureau recorded a 66% jump in total attendees and an increase of 35.8% in overseas attendees despite the rest of the world seeing a slowdown of business due to the global economic recession.

Kyoto Convention Bureau’s international marketing manager James Kent said: “The increase in number of attendees is very encouraging.  In fact the average attendance at events has risen dramatically from 381 to 691 per event.  Most exciting though for our team is the 36% increase in international business, which clearly demonstrates the impact our global marketing and promotional campaigns are having.”

Year                           2008           2010

Total Attendees        65,200       108,619

O/S Attendees         11,966         16,246

James continues: “We expect the number of meetings to remain low in Japan through 2011, due to the tragic tsunami and earthquake disaster. However, we are extremely delighted that the ISTH Council has unanimously decided that the Society’s XXIII Congress and 57th Annual SSC meeting will proceed as planned in Kyoto, July 23-28, 2011. We welcome ISTH’s decision to proceed with their conference in Kyoto and thank them for this show of solidarity with the people of Japan.”

“Japan has been going through a tough time recently but we want to send out the message to the world that not all of Japan has been affected by the disaster and that the country is still open for business. We hope that ISTH’s conference will be able to carry that message and their attendees will help us retain positive growth figures for the future.”

Two international hotel brands: Ritz Carlton and Four Seasons have announced plans to open new hotels in the ancient capital of Kyoto in the spring of 2014.  The new hotels are expected to boost the inflow of high end tourists, whilst providing Kyoto with additional options for international events and business summits in the region.

Kyoto Convention Bureau, international marketing manager, James Kent comments: “This is fantastic news for Kyoto.   As a city, Kyoto already is a unique destination in the sense it brings alive history and tradition with a modern touch. The city already has great infrastructure and high class hotels, along with the second highest number of Michelin starred restaurants of any city in the world.  However, the investment needed to build these new properties clearly demonstrates the importance of the city as well as its rising place amongst the elite destinations in the world.”

The Ritz-Carlton is expected to start construction as early as next year. It will have 140 guest rooms, upscale restaurants and a spa, featuring a combination of traditional Japanese and western luxury hotel styles. It will be located on the picturesque banks of river Kamo near the high end district of downtown Kyoto.

Four Seasons plan to open a 200 room hotel featuring Shakusuien, the famous Japanese garden as its centrepiece. The hotel will also feature a spa, and there are plans to pay homage to the site’s former custodian by specialising in medical tourism.

James continues: “Along with its great cuisine, the new hotels will expand the accommodation capacity of the city. As the country recovers from the disaster caused by the tsunami and the earthquake, Japan will once again be at the centre of many global conferences and events, and Kyoto is increasingly looking forward to hosting them.”

Kyoto Convention Bureau will hand out 50 comprehensive guides to meditation complied by a famous Zen Buddhist priest Reverend Matsuyama at its IMEX stand – B420.   This initiative follows Kyoto’s recent research findings that state delegates can achieve an average of 12.5% higher retention of content if they meditate prior to a meeting.

The guides, which have been personally signed and printed on fine Japanese paper, will be given to the first 50 visitors to the Kyoto stand.  In addition, a highly unusual and insightful book will also be given to the first person to ask for it at the stand.

James Kent from Kyoto Convention Bureau said: “We want to present our visitors something that is traditionally Japanese and linked to our current focus and marketing.  The Zen meditation guide provides an unique insight into the techniques of meditation as well as their benefit to delegates.  Reverend Matsuyama is an expert on meditation, and his techniques are known to have great effects in dealing with stress, increasing motivation and efficiency.  The guides are unique and individually numbered, having been exclusively printed for this occasion.”

Research on Reverend Matsuyama’s Zen Buddhist meditation was undertaken in spring 2011 by the Kyoto Convention Bureau.  It was based on the assumption that a short meditation at the start of a meeting helps clear the mind and allows the participants to take in more of the taught material than if meditation is not practiced.  The research concluded the following: •    Average improvement of 12.5% across all tasks •    Largest improvement for single task 117% •    Largest individual improvement 21% (across all tasks) •    Smallest individual improvement 2%

James continues: “It is a simple principle, if your tea cup is already filled; there is no point in pouring more tea in it. People who come to attend meetings are often under pressure and tired either because of long journeys or work based stress. If they are to take on-board new information and be at their most productive, they must first make room in their minds.  Simple meditation exercises can make all the difference – enter the meeting in a calm state of mind, take a few deep breaths.  The difference is profound and it can also bring out the positive energy in you.” 

The ISTH Council has unanimously decided that the Society’s XXIII Congress and 57th Annual SSC meeting will proceed as planned in Kyoto, July 23-28, 2011.  ISTH stands for – International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis.

The council has taken this decision after carefully considering the health and transportation safety hazard in Kyoto, which is deemed to be safe for visitors. The decision was taken following an official assessment report, including a joint report by six United Nations, and an independent analysis that ISTH commissioned with a professional risk assessment company.

ISTH, Chairman of Council Henri Bounameaux said “We reiterate our sympathy for the brave and loving people of Japan who have suffered immensely in the wake of the tsunami and the earth quake in March. Our assessment show that is no threat to health and safety in Kyoto which is located 500 kilometres from Fukushima. We also appreciate the efforts made by our partners to ensure that all the elements are in place for a successful congress in Kyoto, and we hope for the supportive presence in Kyoto of delegates, speakers and sponsors. Indeed, given the reassurances that the situation is safe, this would be the worst moment to abandon our Japanese colleagues.”

Kyoto Convention Bureau’s international marketing manager James Kent said: “We welcome ISTH’s decision to proceed with their conference in Kyoto and thank them for this show of solidarity with the people of Japan. Japan has been going through a tough time recently but we want to send out the message to the world that not all of Japan has been affected by the disaster and that the country is still open for business. We hope that ISTH’s conference will be able to carry that message.”