15 Jan 2013, Yokohama, JAPAN: The latest announcements were the icing on Yokohama CVB’s 2012 list of achievements – winning the Goldschmidt Conference and 17th International Symposium on Olfaction and Taste (ISOT) just before the year ended. Both international meetings will take place in 2016 at PACIFICO Yokohama, the city’s flagship facility.
The Goldschmidt Conference will be hosted by the Geochemical Society, European Association of Geochemistry, and the Geochemical Society of Japan. Japan has a strong track record in this field, having hosted the same conference in 2003 at the Kurashiki Sakuyo University.
Meanwhile, Kyoto has hosted the 29th International Geological Congress in 1992, and Kanazawa was host of the 1990 Western Pacific Geophysics Meeting. “Research in areas like seismology, environment, resources, and natural energy are becoming more important and Japan is proud to be able to showcase its science and share its intellect in this field with other respected leaders,” said Kana Nomoto from Yokohama Convention & Visitors Bureau.
The Bureau and PACIFICO Yokohama worked closely with the local professors to present the bid and secure the privilege to host the 2016 conference over 2 other cities.
Dr. Harue Masuda, head of the local Council who was responsible for the site selection, recognized the capability of PACIFICO Yokohama as an all-in-one venue, ease of access both from international and domestic cities, and the wide variety of shops and restaurants close to the venue which will be convenient for all Conference attendees. Some 2500 delegates are expected.
Yokohama has also been selected as the host city for the 17th International Symposium on Olfaction and Taste (ISOT2016), which will be held in June 2016 in collaboration with East Asia and Oceania region. At this once-in-4-years conference, the latest developments will be discussed between the world’s leading researchers in the field of chemosensory sciences. The meeting rotates between Europe, United States and Japan.
According to Dr. Yuzo Ninomiya from the Japanese Association for the Study of Taste and Smell (JASTS), and who is also Chair of the Japan Host Committee, the Association found Yokohama to be ideal site for ISOT as Yokohama was the first Japanese port to be opened to the world and served as the gateway to hundreds of thousands of overseas visitors. This then led to the fusion of international and Japanese culture and cuisine, making Yokohama the birthplace of modern Japanese culture.
Yokohama is accessible from both Haneda and Narita Airports. Boasting of more than 1,500 weekly flights from 40 countries and direct flights from over 100 cities around the world, Yokohama is a successful convention city, well known for its ability to attract large attendance number to its conventions. PACIFICO Yokohama is the city’s largest all-in-one convention complex with a plenary capacity of 5,000. 18 hotels which are a 15-mins walk away from the centre, offer some 4,500 rooms
