New Resort To Vie For Japan's Island Mtgs. Business

<B> New Resort To Vie For Japan's Island Mtgs. Business</B>

By Judy Jacobs

Awaji, the largest island in the Inland Sea located just off the coast of Kobe, will become Japan's newest meetings destination when the Westin Awaji Island Resort & Conference Center opens March 9.

The 201-room resort, the first hotel ever designed by Tadao Ando, one of Japan's most noted architects, is expected to host national, regional and international meetings. "At the beginning, we expect 25 percent of our business to be meetings, but in five years we're hoping that percentage will increase to 50 percent," said Kazuko Ogura, the hotel's planning and public relations officer.

Located west of Kobe and within easy access of Osaka's Kansai International Airport, the resort will be a valid alternative for companies that need to meet in the Osaka region, but prefer a natural rather than urban setting.

What will set the Westin Awaji apart from other conference facilities in nearby Kobe, Kyoto and Osaka is its natural beauty. "Our hotel is surrounded by nature--ocean, woods, flowers, birds and other animals. Such beautiful surroundings cannot be provided by any of the hotels in Kobe, Osaka or Kyoto. This is a very strong competitive advantage for us," Ogura said. Among meeting facilities is a ballroom accommodating 340 attendees for banquets and 610 theater- style, as well as four smaller meeting rooms seating up to 60 people each.

To attract the meetings market initially, the Westin Awaji Island has created a meetings package that includes one-night's accommodation, three meals, two-day's use of a conference room, audiovisual equipment and use of spa and fitness facilities. The package applies to groups of 10 to 70 participants and is valid from March 9, 2000, through Dec. 31, 2001.