Communication is key when access to the event venue is an issue for delegates
The SIGGRAPH conference and exhibtion is the largest single event on the annual calendar of Asia-Pacific’s computer graphics and interactive technology sector.
That fact, in addition to the success of previous ACM Asia events, meant that organisers were feeling the pressure in the run up to the 2015 conference.
“I thought in advance that many of our visitors from overseas were going to experience difficulties in reaching the venue,” said Yoshifumi Kitamura, a professor at Tohoku University who oversaw the organisation of the event.
“Some of them arrived at Kansai International Airport and had to make several transfers, by bus or train, to get to Kobe, while others were arriving in Tokyo, which is even further away and requires a journey by bullet train,” he told TTGassociations.
A solution needed to be worked out ahead of the conference, Kitamura said, particularly after all the hard work that had gone into securing Japan as the host nation for the pan-Asian event.
“The city authorities in Kobe are very professional and organised, as are the operators of the convention centre, the hotel where we held the reception and the MICE section of the local tourism promotion office,” he said. “They helped us a great deal.
“They already had a lot of detailed information available and we worked very closely with them to ensure that everyone coming to the event had all the information they needed on access.
“The lesson that I have taken away from the event is that it’s very important to communicate very closely with all of the organisations involved in the event to ensure that it goes smoothly,” he added.
The main reception for the convention was held at The Port Pier Hotel and based on the theme Revolutionary and Evolutionary. The highlight of the evening’s entertainment was a performance by 10 dancers wearing clothing dotted with LED lights, creating a unique light-and-sound show.
Event The 8th ACM SIGGRAPH Conference and Exhibition on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques in Asia
Organiser Japan office of SIGGRAPH
Date November 2-5, 2015
Venue Kobe Convention Centre
Number of Participants 7,000
Challenges Access, particularly for first-time visitors to Japan
