BY MAUREEN N. MARATITA
Journal Staff
TOKYO — Two events on May 9 and May 10 in Tokyo offered perspectives on Guam, as well as mutual networking and promotional opportunities related to the new flight on the Haneda-Guam route, which launched May 1.
Participants in the Guam Visitors Bureau mission to Tokyo also had some opportunities to see for themselves the attractions that Tokyo can offer island residents.
Interest in the United Airlines new flights on the Haneda-Guam route was high and drew more than 80 representatives of tour agents and trade partners from hotels and businesses in Guam to a seminar and reception on May 9 at the Azabudai Hills Mori JP Tower. Click here to see more photos from the event.
Attendees were given a presentation on Guam and a subsequent chance to mix and mingle with visitors at a cocktail reception, which was hosted by United Airlines. Following that, attendees were treated to island style fiesta food, and drawings for trips to Guam.
Various Guam hotels are expected to have offerings for early arrivals from Japan.
Misaki No, a sales and marketing executive with Hoshino Resorts, the parent company of Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Guam; told the Journal Hoshino Resorts is supporting the flight. “We have a campaign rate for the flight,” which offers an early check-in, she said.
No has traveled to the island herself, and as a visitor she told the Journal she’s happy with the new flight. “Haneda is near my house,” she said. Her favorite activity in Guam is going to the beach. Other travel professionals also said Haneda’s proximity is an advantage.
Japan media were also in attendance at the event.
The following evening GVB hosted a reception and dinner at the Happō-en gardens, attended by a variety of senior executives from the travel and tourism industry, as well as the management team from the Japan Airport Terminal Co. Ltd.
Arita Kozo, executive officer and general manager of HIS Co. Ltd., which owns the Guam Reef & Olive Spa Resort, said the hotel would also support the early arrivals.
Fumihiko Nagatomi, general manager of Rakuten Travel said he hopes the flight will be successful. “The demand for outbound travel among Japanese, it’s still very weak,” he said.
Rakuten is the leader in travel within Japan, he said. “In terms of the domestic market, we are No. 1.”
The Guam-Haneda route has potential, he said, but needs support.
“That’s what Guam has to do: make new demand. You have to emphasize more [what you have],” Nagatomi said.
Guam may have a unique opportunity to promote travel in Japan and nip away at Hawaii-bound Japanese. Hawaii is often mentioned as a competitor as it is also an island vacation destination with American ties. Japanese visitor numbers to Hawaii were up over last year at 62,912 visitors in March this year.
Whether Guam’s reputation as a family destination, it’s shorter travel time, and the attractions it offers families is enough to counter the flight time for families remains to be seen.
On the verge of departure from Tokyo the evening of May 11, Carl T.C. Gutierrez, president of the Guam Visitors Bureau; said, “Four days ago the whole delegation from Guam including the media, mayors, senators and GVB personnel came to celebrate the Haneda-Guam, Guam-Haneda flight that we have been working for three decades.”
He addressed the reasons for the group’s visit, telling the Journal that there was also a regional perspective to marketing. “We came here to celebrate with United Airlines, the people that run Haneda, the people that run the Guam hotels. They were all present including 100 travel agents that are going to promote this new route.”
Gutierrez recognized the route will need support.
“We need to sustain this route, and I think that the whole Guam delegation did a wonderful job in selling Guam and getting United to be a true partner and getting PHR hotels other hotels that came here to be partners, not only to sell Guam as a Haneda flight but also to look at Guam as one Marianas to include the Northern Marianas and include Micronesia,” he said.
“When they start selling it, I think this Haneda-Guam [route] would be a good opportunity to sell the rest of the blue ocean continent that we have always wanted to be able to promote. I think that’s what is going to get us to really sell the whole area which is bigger than the United States.”
The Guam Visitors Bureau delegation led by Guttierez, also included Nadine Leon Guerrero, director of global marketing; Elaine Pangelinan, senior marketing manager; Mai Perez, marketing manager; Lisa Bordallo, public information officer; and Nichol Cruz, accountant.
Also attending were Sen. Tina Rose Muna Barnes, vice speaker; Sen. Telo Taitague; Mayor Anthony P. Chargualaf of Inalajan; Artemio “Ricky” Hernandez, deputy executive manager, Rolenda Faasuamalie, marketing administrator; and Elfrieda Koshiba, program manager, all from the A.B. Won Pat International Airport, Guam; Ike Q. Peredo, director, and Franklin Taitague, supervisor, both from the Guam Customs & Quarantine Agency.
From the Northern Mariana Islands, invitees included Sen. Celina R. Babauta of Saipan, Sen. Donald M. Manglona of Rota, Rep. Edwin K. Propst, Edward M. Calvo, chief of staff to Propst, Rep. John Paul P. Sablan, Rota Mayor Aubry M. Hocog, and Tinian Mayor Edwin P. Aldan of Tinian.
Arriving from a visit to Okinawa were Lt. Governor Joshua F. Tenorio, Vera Topasna, executive director of the Guam Military Buildup Office and Clynt E. Ridgell, deputy chief of staff of the Office of the Governor.
United operates the flight with a 737-800 with 166 seats, 16 of which are in business class.
The evening that the Guam and NMI group returned from Tokyo, the plane had 80 passengers according to a crew member, which included delegation members. However, it was a Saturday night, which may not reflect visitors drawn to a long weekend stay in either destination.
Gutierrez said the route definitely has potential. “We’re doing a good job with it and the partnership that we put together with those involved from the airlines and the people that actually sell tickets, I think that you’re going to see the airplanes start to get more booked and fuller.
“We want people from Guam to also to take this opportunity to fly to Tokyo through this route. Tokyo is just 20 minutes away from this airport in Haneda. You’ll enjoy it. Including Disneyland, that is only 10 minutes away from Tokyo. People of Guam, we got to sustain this flight. Fly to Tokyo and we’ll get the Japanese to fly to Guam and then we’ll share all our experiences together,” Gutierrez said. mbj
Click here to see more photos of the Guam Visitors Bureau Reception and Dinner at the Happō-en Gardens, Japan on May 10, 2024.
- Pauly Suba contributed to this story.
GVB promotes Guam in Tokyo as flight settles in to second week
GVB promotes Guam in Tokyo as flight settles in to second week
- Date Posted: May 15, 2024
- News: Guam, Japan
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GVB promotes Guam in Tokyo as flight settles in to second week