Hotels & Venues News

Hotels & Venues News

【Opening in June 2026】Japan’s First Beach Resort-Style Courtyard Opens in Nago, Okinawa — Designed for Both Leisure and Business Stays (Courtyard by Marriott Okinawa Resort)

Business Stays at Japan’s First Beach Resort-Style Courtyard Opening in Nago, Okinawa Courtyard by Marriott Okinawa Resort, Japan’s first beach resort-style Courtyard hotel, is scheduled to open on June 15, 2026 along the scenic Kise Beach in Nago City, Okinawa Prefecture. Located approximately 60 minutes by car from Naha Airport, the property is surrounded by...

Hotels & Venues News

Sphere Abu Dhabi to Open on Yas Island in 2029 — First Sphere Development Project Outside the United States Expected to Support MICE Events with Capacity of Up to 20,000

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi has announced Sphere Abu Dhabi, the first Sphere development project to be built outside the United States. Approximately USD 1.7 billion will be invested during the construction phase of the project ahead of its planned opening in 2029. Equipped with cutting-edge immersive technology, the venue is...

Hotels & Venues News

South Gate Hotel Okinawa Opens in Naha on May 23 — A New Hub Offering Facilities and Accessibility for Growing MICE Demand

Plan・Do・See Co., Ltd. will open South Gate Hotel Okinawa, an urban resort hotel directly connected to the Tomari Port Passenger Terminal Building in Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture, on May 23, 2026. Located approximately 11 minutes by car from Naha Airport, the hotel offers excellent accessibility along with banquet facilities accommodating up to 570 guests and...

Hotels & Venues News

Tradimo Kyoto Gojo, Hilton Grand Vacations Club to Open on March 18, 2026A timeshare resort in Kyoto offering all-suite accommodations of 50 square meters or more, designed for extended stays

A new style of stay will be introduced in Kyoto, a historic city that continues to attract travelers from around the world. Hilton Grand Vacations will open Tradimo Kyoto Gojo, Hilton Grand Vacations Club—its first timeshare resort in Kyoto—on March 18, 2026. Following properties in Odawara and Sesoko Island, this will be the company’s third...

Exhibitions & Events

KINTEX, Korea’s Largest Exhibition Venue—Within 30 Minutes of Seoul by High-Speed Rail: KINTEX and Goyang City’s MICE Strategy, with Reports from Exhibitions Held on Site [Korea 2025 Autumn Feature 2]

KINTEX (Korea International Exhibition Center), the largest exhibition and convention center in South Korea, is positioned as one of Asia’s leading MICE innovation platforms. Established on April 29, 2005, as a joint investment project between the national government and local authorities, KINTEX was developed with the dual objective of internationalizing Korea’s exhibition industry and addressing...

Hotels & Venues

【On-the-Ground Report】A Comprehensive Guide to Major MICE Facilities and Unique Venues in Busan, South Korea, Featuring Over 70 Images (BEXCO, BPEX, Nurimaru, and More)

Every autumn, the Busan International Film Festival brings together approximately 12,000 industry professionals from around the world and attracts nearly 200,000 spectators, generating a high level of enthusiasm across the city. Busan’s profile continues to rise internationally, extending beyond Asia. Today, Busan is increasingly recognized as one of Asia’s leading MICE cities. The city offers...

Hotels & Venues

Hoshino Resorts’ Series of New Openings Toward 2026:Adaptive Reuse of Historic Buildings and New Travel Bases Rooted in Local Culture, with Potential for MICE Use

Hoshino Resorts is planning the phased opening of eight new properties nationwide by 2026. These developments include consecutive openings in the Yokohama area and Japan’s first luxury hotel created through the adaptive reuse of a former prison designated as an Important Cultural Property. Each facility reflects the unique history and culture of its location and...

Games & Pop Culture

Pokémon’s First Outdoor Theme Park, PokéPark KANTO, to Open in Spring 202626-Hectare Facility Planned Within Yomiuriland

The Pokémon Company has announced the opening of PokéPark KANTO, the first outdoor facility dedicated to Pokémon.The new park is scheduled to open in spring 2026 and will be developed on a site of approximately 2.6 hectares within Yomiuriland, an amusement park located in western Tokyo. Tickets are scheduled to go on sale starting in...

Hotels & Venues News

FUTATABI FUTABA FUKUSHIMA to Open in June 2026 in Futaba Town, Fukushima—A Retreat-Style Hotel with One of the Region’s Largest Conference Rooms

Daiwa Lifenext Co., Ltd. will open a retreat-style hotel, FUTATABI FUTABA FUKUSHIMA, in Futaba Town, Fukushima Prefecture, on June 1, 2026. Located within the Nakano District Reconstruction and Industrial Hub—an area progressing in its recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake—the facility combines one of the largest conference rooms in the region with a retreat...

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Hotels & Venues

TOFROM YAESU Named as the District Designation for a National Strategic Zone Directly Connected to Tokyo Station — Completion Scheduled for 2026, with Theater and Conference Facilities Positioned as a New MICE Hub

A new urban landmark emerges in front of Tokyo Station, integrating facilities and programs designed to enhance well-being. The Tokyo Station Yaesu 1-chome East District Type 1 Urban Redevelopment Project, promoted by Tokyo Tatemono Co., Ltd., is a large-scale redevelopment initiative designated as a National Strategic Special Zone. The district name has been officially decided...

Hotels & Venues

Hilton Tokyo Completes Renovation of All Banquet Halls becoming Next Generation MICE Facility with Largest LED Wall in Japan

Hilton Tokyo, located in Shinjuku, has completed a large-scale renovation of its entire banquet floors on the 3rd and 4th levels. This renovation was conducted with a multimillion-dollar investment to meet the growing demand for MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) from both domestic and international markets. With themes of flexibility, audiovisual integration, and experience-driven...

Hotels & Venues News

Japan’s MICE Venues See a Wave of Environmental Certifications: TOYOTA ARENA TOKYO and Sapporo Convention Center Earn LEED Gold

Japan’s events and MICE sector is accelerating efforts to benchmark venue sustainability against international standards. In December 2025, major facilities in Tokyo and Sapporo announced they had attained Gold-level certification under the globally recognized LEED rating system. This milestone—achieved by a newly built arena and an existing convention center with distinct characteristics—highlights significant progress on...

Hotels & Venues News

Sanrio, known for Hello Kitty and Cinnamoroll, unveils a basic plan to turn Oita’s Harmonyland into an “entertainment resort,” reimagined as a “Sky Park”

Sanrio Co., Ltd. and Sanrio Entertainment Co., Ltd. have announced a basic development concept to transform Harmonyland, a theme park in Oita Prefecture, into a resort. Under the “Sky Park” concept, the project will embark on large-scale upgrades, including an all-weather grand roof and the potential construction of a new hotel. In collaboration with Oita...

Hotels & Venues News

Toei Uzumasa Eigamura rebrands as “Uzumasa Kyoto Village”; Phase 1 opens March 28, 2026 — a full renewal into an immersive park for adults

Toei Uzumasa Eigamura Co., Ltd. has announced a full renewal of the entire “Toei Uzumasa Eigamura” facility as it marks its 50th anniversary this year. Phase 1 is set to open on Saturday, March 28, 2026, and the facility will be renamed “Uzumasa Kyoto Village (UZUMASA KYOTO VILLAGE)” in conjunction with this launch. Under the...

Hotels & Venues News

Imperial Hotel Kyoto Opens March 5, 2026 — A small luxury hotel in harmony with history debuts in Kyoto’s Gion

Imperial Hotel, Ltd. will begin accepting reservations for “Imperial Hotel Kyoto,” which opens on Thursday, March 5, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. on Monday, November 17, 2025. Carrying forward the architectural design of Yasaka Kaikan, a Registered Tangible Cultural Property, the property draws attention as a new-era small luxury hotel that harmonizes with Gion’s historic streetscape....

Hotels & Venues

Opening Event Report: STATION Ai, Aichi–Nagoya’s Startup Support Facility, Opens — Seven Standout Features We Found On Site

I’m Fujii, Editor-in-Chief of MICE TIMES ONLINE. Are you familiar with STATION Ai (ステーション エーアイ), the startup support hub that opened on October 1, 2024 in Tsuruma Park, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture? To commemorate the opening, an inaugural event was held from November 1 to 2, 2024. Along with coverage of that event, this article introduces...

Hotels & Venues

A Complete Guide to “Messe Taoyuan,” Taiwan’s New MICE Hub — 23 Minutes from the International Airport; A Full Look at the Exhibition Hall, Conference Center, and Commercial Mall / Interview with the Operating Representative

Opened in 2024, “Messe Taoyuan” (桃園会展中心, Taoyuan Convention and Exhibition Center) stands at Taiwan’s gateway as a new landmark that blends artistry with functionality. It is designed as an ideal platform for large-scale international conferences, specialized trade fairs, corporate events, and industry exchange. With the potential to elevate Taiwan’s MICE industry into an Asia–Pacific hub,...

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MICE TIMES ONLINE is a Kyoto-based web media platform dedicated to MICE, conventions, and events. We deliver news and insights from Japan and across Asia, with the concept of “Capturing the Now of MICE” — staying on top of the latest trends and developments in the industry. We welcome contributions of information as well as inquiries regarding potential business partnerships.

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