After the devastating earthquake and tsunami that took place in northern Japan on March 11th, 2011, several events were cancelled or postponed by their organizers due to concerns over safety and transportation. In the several months that have passed, meetings are now returning to Japan, and the country's MICE industry is back on its feet and more than ready to welcome back meeting delegates and incentive groups.
One such meeting that has recently been held in Japan is The Academy of International Business (AIB) Annual Meeting. This conference of approximately 1,000 delegates was held in Nagoya from June 24th - 28th. Dr. Tunga Kiyak, Managing Director of the AIB Secretariat, said after the event, "The conference went beautifully. When everything was said and done, we had over 950 participants, and they were all very appreciative of the fact that we decided to stay with Nagoya for the conference. We all loved the Japanese hospitality and professionalism, not to mention your delicious cuisine and amazing history and culture. It was also very nice to have the Mayor of Nagoya, the Chairman of Toyota, and the CEO of JR-Central all speak at our conference, as they provided many valuable insights to our participants about business in Japan. Overall, it has certainly been a memorable experience. Thank you again for all your support throughout the conference."
The gala party for the AIB Annual Meeting was held at Atsuta Shrine, which will be marking the 1,900th anniversary of its foundation in 2013. The participants enjoyed a fresh summer evening at the shrine surrounded by the deep, tranquil forest with an event based on a typical Japanese summer festival.