Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau has won the bid, for the first time, to host the 10^th International Congress on Industrial and Applied Mathematics (ICIAM) in 2023.

The congress will take place in Tokyo’s Waseda University in August 2023. This announcement was made at the ICIAM board meeting held in Valencia last month.

Tokyo won the bid due to Japan’s longstanding contribution to the mathematical society and ICIAM, as well as the combined proposal effort of both the Japan Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, and the Mathematical Society of Japan. As well, the congress has been assured financial and in-kind support by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

Founded in Paris in 1984, the congress is held once every four years and attracts more than 3,000 participants from around the globe.

GainingEdge, the management company of BestCities Global Alliance, has appointed Lesley Williams as director, market development, effective July 1.

In her new role, she will help drive the alliance’s strategic goal of discovering new markets on behalf of its partners.

Gary Grimmer, CEO of GainingEdge added that Williams will work closely with the BestCities management team and partners to generate results from new markets, evaluate and advance the alliance’s conferences strategy, and develop a global ambassador programme.

Prior to joining GainingEdge, Williams was head of business tourism for marketing Edinburgh for seven years. In addition, Williams has served on a number of committees focused on raising the profile of Scotland as a world leading conference destination such as the deputy chair of Business Tourism for Scotland; and also as the chair of ICCA UK and Ireland chapter.

Sengan-en, a traditional Japanese garden and cultural complex in Kagoshima Prefecture, has begun a six-month renovation ahead of the 150^th anniversary of the Meiji Restoration in 2018.

Currently, most business event groups to the complex are on incentive packages that include a tour of the historic house, followed by a meal or a day of cultural activities, but Sengan-en spokesperson Alex Bradshaw believes the anniversary could create a greater appeal.

Alex Bradshaw

Sengan-en’s owner Shimadzu Limited concurs, and expects a boom in domestic business as the site had played a critical role in the creation of modern Japan.

According to Bradshaw, one restaurant is to lose 100-150 seats moving from cafeteria seating to mixed spaces that allow groups greater privacy.

Meanwhile, the kiriko glass factory will be refurbished to allow direct access to craftsmen while they work. As well, shops are being replaced to allow an emphasis on local brands, and English signage is being improved.

“Japan was the only country in Asia to modernise (150 years ago) and the key to that economic growth potential is in Kagoshima,” Bradshaw said, adding that Sengan-en’s museums and historic artefacts remain relevant to businesses today.

In the lead up the Rugby World Cup and Olympics, the renovated facilities will also be promoted to small international business groups seeking unique venues or to get off the beaten track.

Taiwan is on the rise as an incentive destination, with CSR and teambuilding activities at the top of companies’ bucket lists, said industry players at a networking event hosted by Meet Taiwan, the Bureau of Foreign Trade’s business events promotion agency.

Lucia Lan, manager of Taiwan Tour, said her agency incorporates local stories and experiences into teambuilding exercises, such as building and sailing a raft and staging an opera performance. Lan added that the country’s abundance of natural attractions and cultural experiences makes it fertile ground for creative teambuilding activities.

Other popular CSR activities include beach clean-ups and handicraft workshops that give back to local communities. For instance, Ably Conference and Exhibition organised a student charity event for a Shanghai delegation.

Even traditions like face threading – facial hair removal believed to bring luck to brides-to-be – can be integrated into teambuilding contests as a ‘penalty’, shared assistant supervisor of inbound agency Lion Travel Service, Jose Hsu.

Such experiential activities are sought after by companies. Corporate event management agency 8th Wave’s senior sales executive, Kristen Jade, told TTGmice: “We would like our clients to experience the local culture and food. Taiwan’s CSR and teambuilding activities are very interactive – that’s what I find attractive about Taiwan.”

Meanwhile, Meet Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy has prompted stronger promotional efforts in the 10 ASEAN countries, six South Asian countries, as well as Australia and New Zealand.

Among these, India is Taiwan’s fast-growing source market for business events, noted Taiwan Tourism Bureau Singapore Office’s director, Trust Lin.

“Indian groups look for more traditional, luxurious and ‘flashy’ experiences,” observed Lin.