The Retreat

Aspire’s annual overseas VIP event The Retreat will be held in Japan in 2023, it has been revealed. The event will be held between November 23 and 30, and is being organised in partnership with Tourism Exchange Japan, ANA - All Nippon Airways, hotel brand Prince Hotels & Resorts and specialist tour operator InsideJapan. The trip will see 25 top UK luxury-focused agents travel to Japan alongside 15 suppliers, with the aim of helping the group build stronger business relationships.

The group will initially stay at Prince Park Tower Tokyo for three nights, where one-to-one business meetings between agents and suppliers will be held alongside fun experiences showcasing the destination. The agents and suppliers will then be split into small groups and taken on two-night fam trips across the country before everyone returns to Tokyo for one additional night to share their experiences. One the last night, agents will be hosted at Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo.

Aspire editor Hollie-Rae Brader said: “I’m delighted to announce that our annual Retreat will be heading to Japan next year. I’ve been wanting to host this event there for several years, but the pandemic put those plans on pause. As the country emerges from the pandemic, having only recently fully opened its borders, there’s never been a better opportunity to showcase this very special place to the trade. This is going to be a trip of a lifetime. A huge thank you to our headline partners for working with us at Aspire to pull the event together.”

Numerous suppliers have already confirmed their participation. Atlantis The Royal, Carrier, Explora Journeys, Ikos and Sani Resorts, Oceania Cruises, One&Only and Silversea have signed up to attend, with more suppliers set to be announced in the coming weeks. Any supplier brands interested in attending should email hollie@travelweekly.co.uk