MICE News
News
2024.03.08
Osaka MICE Business Alliance Seminar on the Umeda district
All about Umeda, western Japan's business hub!
Wednesday, March 6, 2024 was the 3rd edition of our FY2023 Osaka MICE Business Alliance seminar series, held at the Hotel Hankyu Respise Osaka.
The Osaka MICE Business Alliance is a collaborative partnership managed by the OCTB among local businesses who offer a wide variety of services within the MICE industry. The Alliance strives to provide a one-stop service so that organizers of meetings, incentive tours, exhibitions, and trade shows can find success and ease in hosting their international events in Osaka.
Our seminar this time was focused on the Umeda district in Osaka. Umeda is Osaka's main business, commercial, and transportation hub. Known for its high-end department stores and abundant entertainment options, the area is also full of incredibly versatile and inter-connected meeting and event venues.
Our seminar attracted over 120 meeting and event professionals from around Osaka, demonstrating the high level of interest in the Umeda district. The first portion of the event focused on the venue for this event, Hotel Hankyu Respire Osaka, where general manager Shozo Yoshida spoke on the hotel's excellent facilities and services. Hiroshi Mizohata, president of the Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau, then gave a presentation on the OCTB's initiatives for 2024.
Following a networking session, the second part of the seminar focused on Umeda, where Akihiko Kondo of DMO Osaka Umeda, a newly-launched organization established on October 31, 2023, spoke on promoting MICE events in the entire area as well as on DMO Osaka Umeda and its future activities. Rina Tanabe of Hankyu Hanshin Real Estate Development then spoke about Grand Green Osaka, an exciting development project currently underway and pre-opening in September 2024 with a full opening in 2027. In the center of this commercial, business, and residential complex will be Umekita Park, which will be one of the largest urban parks in the world. Grand Green Osaka has also been designated as a Super City National Strategic Special Zone.
Seminar Talks
Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau's Upcoming Initiatives
Mr. Mizohata, Chairman of the Osaka Tourism Bureau, explained the OCTB's overall strategic initiatives for 2024, not only related to MICE but also to the entire Osaka tourism industry. The OCTB aims to become Asia's No. 1 international city for tourism and culture and a world-class city for living, work, study and travel.
DMO Osaka Umeda
DMO Osaka Umeda is an organization established on October 31, 2023, to promote the attracting and support of MICE events across the entire area. Organization chief Akihiko Kondo explained the background of the organization's establishment as well as its future activities.
Grand Green Osaka
Pre-opening later in 2024 and fully opening in 2027, Grand Green Osaka will be a massive urban complex with commercial, business, and residential facilities. These facilities will include hotels (such as Japan's very first Waldorf Astoria) and office space, as well as Asia's very first Time Out Market. Rina Tanabe of Umeda Project Departmen at Hankyu Hanshin Real Estate Development, talked about Grand Green Osaka's development and overall composition. The complex includes Umekita Park, which will be one of the largest urban parks in the world.
About the Venue
In a convenient location with easy access to JR Osaka, Hankyu Osaka Umeda, and other Umeda stations, Hankyu Hotel Respire Osaka has a large lobby and outdoor garden, as well as a wide variety of room types, a spacious restaurant, and a banquet hall. These facilities provide ideal accommodation for business, leisure, and all other travelers.
See more information here: