Dragonair hosted an inaugural trip for VIPs and some of Hong Kong's top travel agents on November 19-22 to celebrate the airline's recent launch of services to the Japanese cities of Fukuoka and Sendai.

Dragonair's Chief Executive Officer Kenny Tang led the Hong Kong VIP delegation, together with 16 leading travel agents, for a four-day familiarisation trip to experience first-hand the many attractions the two cities have to offer.

Gala dinners were held in Fukuoka on November 19 and Sendai on November 21, attended by more than 100 guests in each city including local government officials, industry partners and Japanese media representatives.

The events highlighted Dragonair's latest additions to its network and demonstrated its commitment to this important market for Hong Kong business and leisure travellers. It also provided an opportunity to raise the airline's profile in Japan and strengthen relations with various industry partners.

Fukuoka and Sendai are the third and fourth destinations added to the Dragonair network since the airline became part of the Cathay Pacific Group in September last year. Another destination will be added on December 2 when Dragonair launches a new service to Kathmandu in Nepal.

Photograph 1: Breaking a sake barrel at the gala dinner in Sendai are Kenny Tang, Dragonair CEO (centre), Yoshihiro Murai, Governor of Miyagi Prefecture (second from left), and Katsuhiko Umehara, Mayor of City of Sendai (second from right).

Photograph 2: Pictured at the celebration for the launch of Dragonair's Fukuoka service are (from left): Ryusuke Hideshima, Director, Overseas Division, Kyushu Tourism Promotion Board; James Woodrow, General Manager - Japan, Cathay Pacific; Kunio Kano, Regional Director - North Asia, Hong Kong Tourism Board; Hiroyuki Takada, Deputy Mayor, Fukuoka City; Clement Lam, General Manager, PRD & HK, Cathay Pacific; Kenny Tang, CEO, Dragonair; Etsuko Ebii, Vice Governor, Fukuoka Prefecture; Shinichi Nakatani, Airport Administrator, Japan Civil Aviation Bureau, Fukuoka Airport Administration Office; and Hiroshi Hashimoto, President, Fukuoka Chamber of Commerce & Industry.